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Phil Steele Magazine Gives Nods to 10 FAU Football Owls
6/20/2019 12:06:00 PM | Football
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Ten Florida Atlantic University Owls saw their names in print as Phil Steele Magazine made its Conference USA preseason football selections. Additionally, FAU was picked to win the league's Eastern Division.
First Team Selections
TE – Harrison Bryant is expected to return and hold down his role as the Owls' starting tight end for the third consecutive season. Bryant started each of the team's 12 games a year ago and finished his junior campaign with the second-most receiving yards and the second-most receiving touchdowns. The Georgia native uses his size to provide protection, and consistent hands to assure himself as a quarterback favorite. He has played in 35 games over the last three seasons improving his production in each. Bryant has a career total of 1,133 yards receiving and nine scores.
OL – Brandon Walton will return for his third season as a starter, but will move from right tackle to left tackle. Walton has appeared in 30 games as an Owl and has seen time at several positions on the offensive line.
Second Team Selections
OL -- BJ Etienne worked into the lineup as a redshirt sophomore in 2018 and served as the Owls' starting left tackle, seeing action in each of the Owls' 12 games. It is anticipated that he will return to that role in 2019.
LB – Rashad Smith will return as the Owls' top tackler (with a team-high 86, including 5.5 for a loss of 16 yards), while proving his "ball hawk" skills with a team-high four interceptions, one fumble recovery, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. Smith will return for his third season as an everyday starter. He has seen action in 37 games as an Owl and has tallied 207 tackles, including 19.5 for a loss of 71 yards.
Third Team Selection
RB – BJ Emmons joined the squad in January and quickly made an impact during spring practices as a primary back in a well-disciplined and strong running back room. Emmons began his career at Alabama, seeing action in the Tide's backfield as well as on special teams. He transferred to Hutchinson CC in 2017 where he averaged 4.62 yards per carry and scored 10 times.
Fourth Team Selections
WR – John Mitchell is a lanky receiver who saw action in seven contests in 2018, the bulk of that time coming at the end of the year. Mitchell tallied six receptions, averaging 11 yards per reception. He played in 12 games in 2016 with six receptions and one TD. The Tallahassee native, who missed all of 2017, is a pre-med major with aspirations of becoming a doctor.
C - Junior Diaz joined the Owls in 2018 as a graduate student transfer and quickly became the Owls' starting center. Following the 2018 campaign, the Miami native petitioned the NCAA for a sixth season which was granted, providing FAU with a seasoned and intelligent center to help anchor a young offensive attack.
DL – Noah Jefferson joined the Owls midway through 2018 and used his size and experience to make an impact for FAU right away. Jefferson played in six games and recorded seven tackles in that span, including a sack for a loss of 10 yards
DB – James Pierre saw action in each of the team's 12 games and leads all returning defensive backs with 55 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of 11 yards. The rising junior broke up a team-high nine passes and had a forced fumble. Pierre has tallied 26 games played in his two-year career and has recorded 76 total tackles.
PR – Willie Wright joined the Owls in 2017 and held a starting position as a true freshman. He has played in 25 games since that time with a total of 102 receptions for a 1,131 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Wright has carried the ball 34 times, tallying 210 yards and one rushing touchdown. The junior, from Jacksonville, has 12 career punt returns for a total of 93 yards. His longest return came in 2018 and it was for 51 yards. He will look for his first scoring return in 2019.
The majority of the squad is on campus and participating in summer conditioning. The Owls will return to camps the first week of August to begin preseason preparation for the 2019 season. For the full 2019 FAU Football schedule click HERE. 2019 football season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by clicking HERE.
Winning In Paradise Tour
The FAU Winning in Paradise Tour's final stop will be June 25 at Two Georges Deerfield Beach. The event will feature head football coach Lane Kiffin, head men's basketball coach Dusty May, head women's basketball coach Jim Jabir, head softball coach Joan Joyce and Director of Athletics Brian White, as well as other FAU head coaches and staff members. All tour stops are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. and will feature a Q&A session with the attending coaches. Live giveaways as well as food and drink specials, which showcase the restaurant host, also will be featured.
First Team Selections
TE – Harrison Bryant is expected to return and hold down his role as the Owls' starting tight end for the third consecutive season. Bryant started each of the team's 12 games a year ago and finished his junior campaign with the second-most receiving yards and the second-most receiving touchdowns. The Georgia native uses his size to provide protection, and consistent hands to assure himself as a quarterback favorite. He has played in 35 games over the last three seasons improving his production in each. Bryant has a career total of 1,133 yards receiving and nine scores.
OL – Brandon Walton will return for his third season as a starter, but will move from right tackle to left tackle. Walton has appeared in 30 games as an Owl and has seen time at several positions on the offensive line.
Second Team Selections
OL -- BJ Etienne worked into the lineup as a redshirt sophomore in 2018 and served as the Owls' starting left tackle, seeing action in each of the Owls' 12 games. It is anticipated that he will return to that role in 2019.
LB – Rashad Smith will return as the Owls' top tackler (with a team-high 86, including 5.5 for a loss of 16 yards), while proving his "ball hawk" skills with a team-high four interceptions, one fumble recovery, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. Smith will return for his third season as an everyday starter. He has seen action in 37 games as an Owl and has tallied 207 tackles, including 19.5 for a loss of 71 yards.
Third Team Selection
RB – BJ Emmons joined the squad in January and quickly made an impact during spring practices as a primary back in a well-disciplined and strong running back room. Emmons began his career at Alabama, seeing action in the Tide's backfield as well as on special teams. He transferred to Hutchinson CC in 2017 where he averaged 4.62 yards per carry and scored 10 times.
Fourth Team Selections
WR – John Mitchell is a lanky receiver who saw action in seven contests in 2018, the bulk of that time coming at the end of the year. Mitchell tallied six receptions, averaging 11 yards per reception. He played in 12 games in 2016 with six receptions and one TD. The Tallahassee native, who missed all of 2017, is a pre-med major with aspirations of becoming a doctor.
C - Junior Diaz joined the Owls in 2018 as a graduate student transfer and quickly became the Owls' starting center. Following the 2018 campaign, the Miami native petitioned the NCAA for a sixth season which was granted, providing FAU with a seasoned and intelligent center to help anchor a young offensive attack.
DL – Noah Jefferson joined the Owls midway through 2018 and used his size and experience to make an impact for FAU right away. Jefferson played in six games and recorded seven tackles in that span, including a sack for a loss of 10 yards
DB – James Pierre saw action in each of the team's 12 games and leads all returning defensive backs with 55 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of 11 yards. The rising junior broke up a team-high nine passes and had a forced fumble. Pierre has tallied 26 games played in his two-year career and has recorded 76 total tackles.
PR – Willie Wright joined the Owls in 2017 and held a starting position as a true freshman. He has played in 25 games since that time with a total of 102 receptions for a 1,131 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Wright has carried the ball 34 times, tallying 210 yards and one rushing touchdown. The junior, from Jacksonville, has 12 career punt returns for a total of 93 yards. His longest return came in 2018 and it was for 51 yards. He will look for his first scoring return in 2019.
The majority of the squad is on campus and participating in summer conditioning. The Owls will return to camps the first week of August to begin preseason preparation for the 2019 season. For the full 2019 FAU Football schedule click HERE. 2019 football season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by clicking HERE.
Winning In Paradise Tour
The FAU Winning in Paradise Tour's final stop will be June 25 at Two Georges Deerfield Beach. The event will feature head football coach Lane Kiffin, head men's basketball coach Dusty May, head women's basketball coach Jim Jabir, head softball coach Joan Joyce and Director of Athletics Brian White, as well as other FAU head coaches and staff members. All tour stops are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. and will feature a Q&A session with the attending coaches. Live giveaways as well as food and drink specials, which showcase the restaurant host, also will be featured.
Players Mentioned
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OL
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OL
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DL
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WR
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CB
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LB
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WR
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