BRYANT GIVES OWLS AN OPTION AT TIGHT END
Junior with ‘NFL talent’ gives FAU a viable target.
BOCA RATON — For the first time since the Howard Schnellenberger era, the Florida Atlantic Owls are poised to enter a football season with a proven – and dangerous – starting tight end.
Not only did Harrison Bryant become the first FAU tight end to catch 30 passes in a season since Nexon Dorvilus in 2012, the Georgia product was establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in Conference USA before seeing his season end early due to a fractured ankle suffered in a Nov. 18 win against FIU.
Bryant restored respect to a position group that had mostly underwhelmed since Rob Housler’s graduation after the 2010 season.
“Harrison was one of our most productive players — and arguably the most productive player in the pass game,” coach Lane Kiffin said this spring.
Bryant finished with 32 catches for 408 yards and five touchdowns, emerging as a viable target in the Owls’ passing game.
Bryant and junior John Raine return for the 2018 season, but the group has had a heavy makeover in recent months. D’Anfernee McGriff moved to running back and redshirt freshman Chase Lasater converted to linebacker, meaning the Owls are set to enter training camp with only four tight ends on scholarship. Projected depth chart: 40 — Harrison Bryant, Jr. (6-5, 240): Bryant showed flashes as a freshman, but his jump last year was an unexpected gift for an already powerful Owls offense. Whether lining up as a receiver going out for a pass or an H-back preparing to block, Bryant finds ways to get involved in every play. Bryant might be the Owls’ most underrated player.
10 – John Raine, Jr. (6-2, 230): Raine has switched his jersey number after two seasons of wearing 30. The change follows a spring camp in which Raine’s speed and agility earned Kiffin’s praise. Raine caught six passes for 50 yards last season and should play a bigger role this season. Kiffin has hinted that the team might use more two-tight end sets.
44 – Jacob Wilson, R-Sr. (6-4, 245): Wilson has made more of an impact on special teams at FAU and has yet to record a catch at the Division I level. Following Dustin Bowens’ graduation, he is likely to replace Bowens as the additional tight end in extra blocking sets.
47 – Logan Peterson, R-Fr. (6-2, 230): Peterson redshirted last season but could climb the depth chart if he can stay on the field and make plays. Peterson was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports coming out of Aledo High School in Texas.
The big question: Can the tight ends behind Bryant produce? McGriff had a touchdown against FIU, and Raine had a 23-yard catch in the Boca Raton Bowl, but the unit struggled to get involved with the offense after Bryant’s season-ending injury. The positive news is Raine, who was limited at times in the spring, ended camp on a positive note by recording four catches for 50 yards and a TD in the spring game.
Newcomer to watch: Peterson redshirted last year so he’s not exactly a newcomer, but he’s a receiving tight end who spent his first collegiate season learning from Kiffin and position coach Clint Trickett. With the limited depth, Peterson should be the next man up if Bryant or Raine suffer injury.
The pressure is on... Bryant, but it’s positive pressure. After years of minimal production from the tight end unit, FAU appears to have found a star. Opposing coaches think highly enough of Bryant that they named him to the C-USA Preseason Team and Kiffin has called him an “NFL talent.”
Fun fact: The last time FAU had two tight ends with double-digit catches in a season was 2013, when Dorvilus had 19 and Darion Howard had 13.