Upcoming Event: Football versus Tulsa on November 8, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
Football
vs. Tulsa
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Football Stresses Opportunity to Win Despite Obstacles
4/1/2025 7:38:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team donned full pads for Tuesday morning's practice. First-year Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley predicted following last Saturday's scrimmage that Tuesday's practice would be the hottest practice to date.
The weather was as predicted, prompting praise and another prediction from Kittley. His praise was for how the team worked through the two and four-minute sessions. His prediction was that it would be cold in October for the Navy game and that the team would face obstacles throughout the season, weather, outside influences as well as in the flow of the game.
With five practices remaining, including the 2025 Spring Game scheduled for 6:30 p.m., April 11, the Owls are challenged to use each practice to prepare for where the team needs to be coming out of the spring.
"From a returner's standpoint, I think we have a young room. We have a lot of promising young players…that have all the ability in the world. They have been developing. We had to add some experience to be able to come and develop. The focal point on the additions that we had to be able to make. We wanted to be able to add quality players, to come in with experience who had played some football, who had some production but were still hungry and looking to develop and grow their role. We had to add some pieces of experience to bring the younger ones along. I like where we are headed. I like where the young ones are coming along and moving and also the additions and how they are leading and setting the tone and tempo for winning football, what you are supposed to do and how you are supposed to do it."
How the linebackers fit into defensive coordinator Brett Dewhurst's plans
"We have a Mike and a Will and we put a good amount of communication on the Mike. The Mike is like the quarterback and voice of the defense. The number one job of our Mike linebacker is the ability to communicate. We do a number of things and are flexible in our scheme, so he has to be able to communicate. He has to be able to man and operate inside the box and be able to play and tackle to tackle but then also have range to move out on the perimeter when we play some of these offenses that spread it out. What we are looking for in the Will linebacker, the way we align them, he can align inside the box, and he can be the first one outside the box based on the formation. He has to be able to play in space a little bit as well. Aside from just patrolling on the perimeter, he also has to have some pass rush ability. With our Will linebackers, we try schematically to be able to attack matchups
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Zyere Horton
On moving from predominately special teams to an every down role
"Ever since I came to FAU, special teams has been a big deal and for me to play a part on the team, embracing my role. Knowing the only way to play on travel games is to get on the bus. You can't play from sitting at home. I think that has been a big deal to me. Especially having Coach [Chad] Lunsford [former special teams coordinator] the last two years. Someone who recruited me out of high school who made me really passionate about playing special teams and wanting to make him proud."
On taking on a leadership role
"The linebacker room has been a very senior heavy room. In January when all the seniors left I felt like I had to step into a role that embraced the leadership position and try to fill the shoes of the people who left before me."
On Coach Schwanz
"Coach (Chad) Lunsford, who was at Georgia Southern [as the head coach], recruited me out of high school. I committed to his staff. Unfortunately, his staff got let go and Coach (Clay) Helton's staff came in and my very first position coach was Coach Schwanz. It has been pretty seamless in that aspect to see a familiar face."
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Char'quez Lee
On the learning curve and has the college game slowed down for you?
"Yes, 100 percent. Last year, I went through the freshman jitters. This year I'm used to it. It is easier."
On knowing where and when to hit
"Yes, my first week of spring ball, I'm just running into stuff. I had to slow down a little bit because there is a scheme for everything. With Coach Kittley, he is a great coach, so he makes it hard for everybody. You have to know where to be and when."
Tyler Stolsky, Redshirt Junior Linebacker
Coming from the coolest climate [Minnesota/Michigan], how did you make it through today?
"Today was a little challenging, admittedly. Coming in the spring has helped a lot to be able to accumulate from January all the way into fall camp when it will be super hot. Today was a test, a mental test. It is something I need to grow on as an individual to be that leader and role model and not let external things affect me. It is challenging coming from the Midwest...It is a factor that we need to embrace and use to our advantage when we play teams that are from the north and not used to this heat and it is something we are used to, especially with the tempo offense and how face paced it is."
On being a veteran on the team and how he has embraced that role
"I think it is a little bit of a challenge. At Minnesota, I was a backup, big special teams guy. I would come in once in a while to give the ones a break, started a couple of games so I understand the role and what you had to do as a leader, but it is something that is a lot more challenging to fill those shoes, especially at a new school, just trying to connect with the guys individually. It is something that I had to work through at first. You can't just come in guns blazing…you have to earn the respect. I think Caden Veltkamp, our quarterback, broke it down for me in a good way: it is not so much about a collective as much as a whole. You need to build a relationship one-on-one and that is how you will form trust. I embraced that. Progressively, I have been able to gain trust. They rely on me as the Mike. I have the green dot. I have to get the call, especially with our offense, it is boom, boom, boom. So, I have to have these guys, I will get it to you. I have got it. I will make sure that we are all on the same page and we are ready to role."
Gallery: (4-1-2025) Spring Practice #10
The weather was as predicted, prompting praise and another prediction from Kittley. His praise was for how the team worked through the two and four-minute sessions. His prediction was that it would be cold in October for the Navy game and that the team would face obstacles throughout the season, weather, outside influences as well as in the flow of the game.
With five practices remaining, including the 2025 Spring Game scheduled for 6:30 p.m., April 11, the Owls are challenged to use each practice to prepare for where the team needs to be coming out of the spring.
QUOTABLE
Aaron Schwanz, Inside Linebacker Coach"From a returner's standpoint, I think we have a young room. We have a lot of promising young players…that have all the ability in the world. They have been developing. We had to add some experience to be able to come and develop. The focal point on the additions that we had to be able to make. We wanted to be able to add quality players, to come in with experience who had played some football, who had some production but were still hungry and looking to develop and grow their role. We had to add some pieces of experience to bring the younger ones along. I like where we are headed. I like where the young ones are coming along and moving and also the additions and how they are leading and setting the tone and tempo for winning football, what you are supposed to do and how you are supposed to do it."
How the linebackers fit into defensive coordinator Brett Dewhurst's plans
"We have a Mike and a Will and we put a good amount of communication on the Mike. The Mike is like the quarterback and voice of the defense. The number one job of our Mike linebacker is the ability to communicate. We do a number of things and are flexible in our scheme, so he has to be able to communicate. He has to be able to man and operate inside the box and be able to play and tackle to tackle but then also have range to move out on the perimeter when we play some of these offenses that spread it out. What we are looking for in the Will linebacker, the way we align them, he can align inside the box, and he can be the first one outside the box based on the formation. He has to be able to play in space a little bit as well. Aside from just patrolling on the perimeter, he also has to have some pass rush ability. With our Will linebackers, we try schematically to be able to attack matchups
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Zyere Horton
On moving from predominately special teams to an every down role
"Ever since I came to FAU, special teams has been a big deal and for me to play a part on the team, embracing my role. Knowing the only way to play on travel games is to get on the bus. You can't play from sitting at home. I think that has been a big deal to me. Especially having Coach [Chad] Lunsford [former special teams coordinator] the last two years. Someone who recruited me out of high school who made me really passionate about playing special teams and wanting to make him proud."
On taking on a leadership role
"The linebacker room has been a very senior heavy room. In January when all the seniors left I felt like I had to step into a role that embraced the leadership position and try to fill the shoes of the people who left before me."
On Coach Schwanz
"Coach (Chad) Lunsford, who was at Georgia Southern [as the head coach], recruited me out of high school. I committed to his staff. Unfortunately, his staff got let go and Coach (Clay) Helton's staff came in and my very first position coach was Coach Schwanz. It has been pretty seamless in that aspect to see a familiar face."
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Char'quez Lee
On the learning curve and has the college game slowed down for you?
"Yes, 100 percent. Last year, I went through the freshman jitters. This year I'm used to it. It is easier."
On knowing where and when to hit
"Yes, my first week of spring ball, I'm just running into stuff. I had to slow down a little bit because there is a scheme for everything. With Coach Kittley, he is a great coach, so he makes it hard for everybody. You have to know where to be and when."
Tyler Stolsky, Redshirt Junior Linebacker
Coming from the coolest climate [Minnesota/Michigan], how did you make it through today?
"Today was a little challenging, admittedly. Coming in the spring has helped a lot to be able to accumulate from January all the way into fall camp when it will be super hot. Today was a test, a mental test. It is something I need to grow on as an individual to be that leader and role model and not let external things affect me. It is challenging coming from the Midwest...It is a factor that we need to embrace and use to our advantage when we play teams that are from the north and not used to this heat and it is something we are used to, especially with the tempo offense and how face paced it is."
On being a veteran on the team and how he has embraced that role
"I think it is a little bit of a challenge. At Minnesota, I was a backup, big special teams guy. I would come in once in a while to give the ones a break, started a couple of games so I understand the role and what you had to do as a leader, but it is something that is a lot more challenging to fill those shoes, especially at a new school, just trying to connect with the guys individually. It is something that I had to work through at first. You can't just come in guns blazing…you have to earn the respect. I think Caden Veltkamp, our quarterback, broke it down for me in a good way: it is not so much about a collective as much as a whole. You need to build a relationship one-on-one and that is how you will form trust. I embraced that. Progressively, I have been able to gain trust. They rely on me as the Mike. I have the green dot. I have to get the call, especially with our offense, it is boom, boom, boom. So, I have to have these guys, I will get it to you. I have got it. I will make sure that we are all on the same page and we are ready to role."
PHOTO GALLERY
NIL IN PARADISE REGISTRATION
To register click HERE.COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Click HERE.SEASON TICKETS
To purchase season tickets, click HERE.FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.Players Mentioned
Throwback Uniforms 2025
Monday, November 03
Inside the Owls' Burrow S10, E13 Trailer
Monday, November 03
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #12
Friday, October 31
Hunting and Fishing with Mikeska and Smith
Friday, October 31