Upcoming Event: Football versus Friday Night Showcase on April 17, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Football
vs. Friday Night Showcase
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Gratitude and Surrounding Change
3/26/2026 3:49:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley, along with football staff and players, welcomed faculty from the University who have played a role in their collegiate matriculation to practice on Thursday. Shortly thereafter, the Owls moved from the practice fields to Flagler Credit Union Stadium where the final periods focused on full team work.
The Owls defense, which has focused all off season on taking the ball away, proved to be ball hawks on Thursday with multiple takeaways and forcing multiple three-and-outs, especially in the red zone.
VIDEO RECAP
QUOTABLE
Defensive Coordinator Brett Dewhurst
On what's behind the strong defensive performance this spring
"As we got here and you're retaining guys and recruiting new guys in the room, you truly don't know who they are until you get around them and then you get them here for a while. You do all the research you can from coaches and trainers and all that…I do think as I bounce around on these off days at every position meeting room and being around the guys. I think we have not only some good players, but I think we have the right guys that love coming around the building, and I think Coach Kittley establishes that with guys who want to come into the building. I think they love being up there and they want to be coached hard. I think that's huge when you get a group of talent, but [also] guys that want to be coached at every position and love being there, you just love being around those guys at the end of the day. It's just like a staff. Just consistently coming in every day and keep getting better and improving."
On increased height in their defensive backs
"Every DB coach says they want 6-foot and then you look across the NFL and there are guys that are 5'8" that are really good players. At the end of the day, you can't have a room of everything. It's like putting a puzzle together: you can't have the same piece. If there's a shorter player, he has to have some different intangibles. He has to have some elite quickness, mindset, playmaking ability. And if they have some length, they have to have strength. Tyson (Rooks) is a kid that obviously has a lot of length. So, know your strengths and weaknesses in players. It's like how I relate it to basketball: you can't go out there and have five point guards, or five centers on the field. You have to have a mixture of positions and what they do well. Anytime you have length, that can cover up some issues, especially being a run league and who can kind of go where as we're figuring out what pieces fit where."
On bringing in playmakers
"You always start as you're recruiting DBs in ball skills. If you want to play a little bit more zone coverage, does he have zone eyes so he can plant and drive? But to be able to do that, you want to be able to affect the quarterback. It all starts with effecting the quarterback. If you can rush the passer with four, as you study these takeaway teams, guys that can sack the quarterback and pressure him and get the guy off the spot and make him uncomfortable and throw the ball where he didn't want to in rushing four, then that's at your advantage. And then you complement it with bringing five or six and doing some different things at times. Coach Kittley made a huge emphasis of that during the offseason. In our winter conditioning, we did some conditioning drills and everything involved the ball. It's taking care of the ball on offense and it's taking the ball away on defense and special teams. We have made it a huge emphasis this spring in our defensive unit meetings and Coach Colin Spencer, one of our assistant outside linebackers and edge coach has done a heck of a job. We chart everything of shots on the ball and then show them when and where are the opportunities to work the ball. We're making it a huge emphasis because that's obviously a key stat. The number one thing to winning games is turnover margin and we have to improve as a team."
Redshirt Senior DB Tyson Rooks
On what brought him to Florida Atlantic
"Coach (Antonio) Fenelus definitely played a big role because he had me at Illinois. Just having that relationship, I knew I could come in comfortable. It was perfect timing for me to come down here, it's five hours away from home rather than 13, and that was big in my decision."
On getting to know players from Florida
"That has been fun. [Georgia vs Florida] has been a big rivalry ever since I have been here and in high school, even in basketball. Just being able to compete with them and show them we can ball too."
On emphasizing takeaways
"Coach speaks all the time. I know he wants to focus on taking the ball away this year…Just anticipating the play before, that has been big and helping us to take the ball away."
PHOTO GALLERYGallery: (3-26-2026) Spring Practice #5
2026 SPRING ROSTER, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF
Click HERE.
2026 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE
2026 Florida Atlantic Football season tickets are now sale. Tickets start at $75 plus a $5 processing charge per seat, along with various premium seating options. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit FAUSports.com/tickets, email tickets@fau.edu, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS during normal business hours to order tickets or speak with a ticket sales representative.
LADIES NIGHT
Florida Atlantic football and Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley invites fans to participate in the 2026 Ladies Night presented by The Power of Sports, scheduled for Thursday, April 23 from 6-9 p.m. The event will take place at the Schmidt Family Complex, next to Flagler Credit Union Stadium at 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Fla. Parking will be in Lot 5, north of the stadium. Dress for the fun and informative night in your best FAU athletic attire as participants will enjoy exclusive shopping, a silent auction, dinner and drinks, on-field drills, as well as time with the Owls' coaching staff, their wives, and players. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. event. Admission is $125 for single entry and $225 for a pair. To register, please click HERE. Sponsorships are also available.
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
The Owls defense, which has focused all off season on taking the ball away, proved to be ball hawks on Thursday with multiple takeaways and forcing multiple three-and-outs, especially in the red zone.
VIDEO RECAP
QUOTABLE
Defensive Coordinator Brett Dewhurst
On what's behind the strong defensive performance this spring
"As we got here and you're retaining guys and recruiting new guys in the room, you truly don't know who they are until you get around them and then you get them here for a while. You do all the research you can from coaches and trainers and all that…I do think as I bounce around on these off days at every position meeting room and being around the guys. I think we have not only some good players, but I think we have the right guys that love coming around the building, and I think Coach Kittley establishes that with guys who want to come into the building. I think they love being up there and they want to be coached hard. I think that's huge when you get a group of talent, but [also] guys that want to be coached at every position and love being there, you just love being around those guys at the end of the day. It's just like a staff. Just consistently coming in every day and keep getting better and improving."
On increased height in their defensive backs
"Every DB coach says they want 6-foot and then you look across the NFL and there are guys that are 5'8" that are really good players. At the end of the day, you can't have a room of everything. It's like putting a puzzle together: you can't have the same piece. If there's a shorter player, he has to have some different intangibles. He has to have some elite quickness, mindset, playmaking ability. And if they have some length, they have to have strength. Tyson (Rooks) is a kid that obviously has a lot of length. So, know your strengths and weaknesses in players. It's like how I relate it to basketball: you can't go out there and have five point guards, or five centers on the field. You have to have a mixture of positions and what they do well. Anytime you have length, that can cover up some issues, especially being a run league and who can kind of go where as we're figuring out what pieces fit where."
On bringing in playmakers
"You always start as you're recruiting DBs in ball skills. If you want to play a little bit more zone coverage, does he have zone eyes so he can plant and drive? But to be able to do that, you want to be able to affect the quarterback. It all starts with effecting the quarterback. If you can rush the passer with four, as you study these takeaway teams, guys that can sack the quarterback and pressure him and get the guy off the spot and make him uncomfortable and throw the ball where he didn't want to in rushing four, then that's at your advantage. And then you complement it with bringing five or six and doing some different things at times. Coach Kittley made a huge emphasis of that during the offseason. In our winter conditioning, we did some conditioning drills and everything involved the ball. It's taking care of the ball on offense and it's taking the ball away on defense and special teams. We have made it a huge emphasis this spring in our defensive unit meetings and Coach Colin Spencer, one of our assistant outside linebackers and edge coach has done a heck of a job. We chart everything of shots on the ball and then show them when and where are the opportunities to work the ball. We're making it a huge emphasis because that's obviously a key stat. The number one thing to winning games is turnover margin and we have to improve as a team."
Redshirt Senior DB Tyson Rooks
On what brought him to Florida Atlantic
"Coach (Antonio) Fenelus definitely played a big role because he had me at Illinois. Just having that relationship, I knew I could come in comfortable. It was perfect timing for me to come down here, it's five hours away from home rather than 13, and that was big in my decision."
On getting to know players from Florida
"That has been fun. [Georgia vs Florida] has been a big rivalry ever since I have been here and in high school, even in basketball. Just being able to compete with them and show them we can ball too."
On emphasizing takeaways
"Coach speaks all the time. I know he wants to focus on taking the ball away this year…Just anticipating the play before, that has been big and helping us to take the ball away."
PHOTO GALLERY
2026 SPRING ROSTER, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF
Click HERE.
2026 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE
2026 Florida Atlantic Football season tickets are now sale. Tickets start at $75 plus a $5 processing charge per seat, along with various premium seating options. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit FAUSports.com/tickets, email tickets@fau.edu, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS during normal business hours to order tickets or speak with a ticket sales representative.
LADIES NIGHT
Florida Atlantic football and Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley invites fans to participate in the 2026 Ladies Night presented by The Power of Sports, scheduled for Thursday, April 23 from 6-9 p.m. The event will take place at the Schmidt Family Complex, next to Flagler Credit Union Stadium at 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Fla. Parking will be in Lot 5, north of the stadium. Dress for the fun and informative night in your best FAU athletic attire as participants will enjoy exclusive shopping, a silent auction, dinner and drinks, on-field drills, as well as time with the Owls' coaching staff, their wives, and players. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. event. Admission is $125 for single entry and $225 for a pair. To register, please click HERE. Sponsorships are also available.
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballSpring Practice #5
Thursday, March 26
Josh Roberts Rising Sophomore
Wednesday, March 25
Antonio Fenelus mic’d up
Tuesday, March 24
Spring Practice #3
Tuesday, March 24