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Meet Florida Atlantic QB Caden Veltkamp
12/22/2025 11:02:00 AM | Football
Florida Atlantic redshirt junior quarterback Caden Veltkamp grew up surrounded by the game of football. Born in Utah, Veltkamp and his family were continuously on the move, as his father, Jason Veltkamp, has spent over 20 years coaching football at the collegiate and professional level.
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Throughout moves to Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky, he not only learned how to easily make friends, but also how to be independent.
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Veltkamp was recruited by Zach Kittley, at the time the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Western Kentucky, with the two developing a strong relationship being in and around the WKU football facility. Though Kittley departed before Veltkamp's freshman year, he remained with the Hilltoppers to experience playing under his father, the football program's director of strength and conditioning.
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"I loved every minute of it. It was part of the reason that I went there, so I could play with him," Veltkamp said. "Growing up as a coach's kid, your dad's working every day and leaves early every morning and returns home late at night. So just being there, being able to be around him every day was a great experience and something that I am very grateful for."
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Veltkamp's father taught him to control his emotions on the field, never being too high or too low. Veltkamp believes the way his father raised him and pushed him to strive forward helped guide him to the player he is today.
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If Veltkamp ever has a question, he knows that he can count on his father to help him. Whether it is his running, lifting, or any conditioning, his father continues to help him in that aspect of his game and has remained committed to the values his father instilled in him throughout his playing career.
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In 2022, after playing only a few snaps in his freshman year, Veltkamp retained his freshman year of eligibility with a redshirt. In his second season, he appeared in three games, the most notable being his performance in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl. Veltkamp came off the bench and led his team to a 28-point comeback, the fourth largest in a bowl game.
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For Veltkamp, that game was his opportunity to show his capabilities to others. "It was a big confidence booster for me. I knew how I could play, but that game allowed me to show the rest of the world what I am capable of," said Veltkamp.
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In his sophomore season, Veltkamp completed 66% of his passes, throwing for 3,108 yards and 25 touchdowns. On his feet, Veltkamp rushed for 150 yards and seven touchdowns. He earned 2024 CUSA Offensive Player of the Year honors shortly before the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl, where he threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
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In early 2025, Veltkamp made the transfer to join Kittley, who had just been named Hagerty Family Head Football Coach for Florida Atlantic. Right out of the gate Veltkamp assumed a leadership role with the team, a role which he expected and confirmed by being voted as a team captain.
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In his first season with the Owls, Veltkamp brought stability and served as a reliable general to command Kittley's "Air Raid" offense. It was one that lived up to its name, setting numerous program passing records.
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Veltkamp started all 12 games and finished with 3,641 passing yards and 24 touchdowns through the air while setting a single-season program record with a 67% completion percentage. His yards per game ranked No. 3 nationwide and was third most in a single season in program history. He was the nation's leader in completions per game (28.8) and set the single-season program record for total completions (345). In a single game, Veltkamp set program records for completions (42), passing yards (494), and touchdown passes (5).
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After rewriting the record book in 2025, Veltkamp is set to return to the Owls with Kittley in '26.
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Throughout moves to Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky, he not only learned how to easily make friends, but also how to be independent.
Â
Veltkamp was recruited by Zach Kittley, at the time the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Western Kentucky, with the two developing a strong relationship being in and around the WKU football facility. Though Kittley departed before Veltkamp's freshman year, he remained with the Hilltoppers to experience playing under his father, the football program's director of strength and conditioning.
Â
"I loved every minute of it. It was part of the reason that I went there, so I could play with him," Veltkamp said. "Growing up as a coach's kid, your dad's working every day and leaves early every morning and returns home late at night. So just being there, being able to be around him every day was a great experience and something that I am very grateful for."
Â
Veltkamp's father taught him to control his emotions on the field, never being too high or too low. Veltkamp believes the way his father raised him and pushed him to strive forward helped guide him to the player he is today.
Â
If Veltkamp ever has a question, he knows that he can count on his father to help him. Whether it is his running, lifting, or any conditioning, his father continues to help him in that aspect of his game and has remained committed to the values his father instilled in him throughout his playing career.
Â
In 2022, after playing only a few snaps in his freshman year, Veltkamp retained his freshman year of eligibility with a redshirt. In his second season, he appeared in three games, the most notable being his performance in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl. Veltkamp came off the bench and led his team to a 28-point comeback, the fourth largest in a bowl game.
Â
For Veltkamp, that game was his opportunity to show his capabilities to others. "It was a big confidence booster for me. I knew how I could play, but that game allowed me to show the rest of the world what I am capable of," said Veltkamp.
Â
In his sophomore season, Veltkamp completed 66% of his passes, throwing for 3,108 yards and 25 touchdowns. On his feet, Veltkamp rushed for 150 yards and seven touchdowns. He earned 2024 CUSA Offensive Player of the Year honors shortly before the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl, where he threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
Â
In early 2025, Veltkamp made the transfer to join Kittley, who had just been named Hagerty Family Head Football Coach for Florida Atlantic. Right out of the gate Veltkamp assumed a leadership role with the team, a role which he expected and confirmed by being voted as a team captain.
Â
In his first season with the Owls, Veltkamp brought stability and served as a reliable general to command Kittley's "Air Raid" offense. It was one that lived up to its name, setting numerous program passing records.
Â
Veltkamp started all 12 games and finished with 3,641 passing yards and 24 touchdowns through the air while setting a single-season program record with a 67% completion percentage. His yards per game ranked No. 3 nationwide and was third most in a single season in program history. He was the nation's leader in completions per game (28.8) and set the single-season program record for total completions (345). In a single game, Veltkamp set program records for completions (42), passing yards (494), and touchdown passes (5).
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After rewriting the record book in 2025, Veltkamp is set to return to the Owls with Kittley in '26.
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