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Football
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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Bright Blue Skies and Stadium Work
3/28/2026 8:01:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic football donned full pads for a Saturday morning practice that saw the team work both on the practice fields and on Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium.
While the team worked through multiple situational team periods, Saturday's time in the stadium served as a prequel to Tuesday's closed scrimmage. The Owls have neared the midway point of the spring where nicks and dings are beginning to slow some and provide opportunities to others.
QUOTABLE
Edge Coach Brandon Lacey
On the edge room transformation this offseason, expectations and hopefuls
"We really did a good job of retooling and rebuilding the room. If you look at last year, I think we had 25 sacks as a defense, year before they had 17, which is obviously a plus, but at the same time it wasn't enough to get the job done. So, what do we do? We go out there and we tried to find the best pass rusher we can get. And then along with the best athletes that we can get who can do a lot of things. You see some of the guys we have now, we have a little bit more length. We have a little bit more explosiveness. We're a little bit more physical up front. And then, we add that with guys that we return, who have gotten a year stronger, and we think we have a really, really complete room. I'm really, really happy with where we've been, and where we're going with them. I think that you will see a much more explosive group on the edge who can make a difference in games."
On the growth of Josh Roberts this offseason
"365 days ago, from probably right now, he was 215 pounds. He's now 236-to-240 pounds. Last year, he played during the season about 225. And it showed up. You know, that's the reason why it is hard for true freshman to play because of the wear and tear on your body. But now, we're trying to get into about 240, 245, and he's finding out that having a little bit more on him, having a little bit more girth, being stronger, actually one of our strongest guys, pound-for-pound in the program, makes huge jumps in the weight room, can run, athletic, can drop in the coverage, can rush the quarterback. He's a really good, complete player and he's just going to be a sophomore. I know CJ Doggette [Jr.] led our team in sacks. [Roberts] was number two on our team in sacks. He had two last year, which is really good for true freshman. He also had an interception, if he doesn't drop the one out here (Flagler Credit Union Stadium) versus Tulsa, he has two interceptions. And he has blocked a punt … It's a lot for a true freshman to do. So, we have high expectations for him and just kind of go along those lines, that's why we brought in guys who he can learn from. The guys we brought in are guys that've all played and won championships and can now show him how to go about doing it a certain way."
On the new transfers brought in
We'll start with our senior Jonathan Bax. A little backstory on him, I recruited him out of high school, when I was at Southern Miss. He was committed to us at Southern Miss, wound up flipping in late November, December, to TCU, the year they went to the national championship, and was there for the past couple years. When he got in the portal, it was an easy phone call. I knew his dad. I knew his mom and they knew me. It was the same system. He comes here at 255 pounds. He plays outside linebacker to the field, which is like a nickel. He had an interception yesterday at practice. He plays defensive end to our field, and he plays our boundary side defensive end. We're actually going to play him at some Mike linebacker as well. 250 pounds of versatility that can run and cover guys is really good.
Jay Crabel came from the University of Ohio. His dad is actually Sean Crable, who played for the New England Patriots and for Michigan, where he was an All American. If you saw his dad, his dad looks like he can still play. Jay was a two-year starter at Ohio, was actually on the team that played for the conference championship a couple years ago in Ohio. Really good player, really good bloodline lineage. His brother [Tayte Crable] actually plays at USF, but the great thing about him is that Jay brings a hard-nosed edge to our guys that can go get after the quarterback. Probably one of our best pure pass rushers that can go get it. He is very physical, very long, very athletic, and there is a lot of good things he can do, I'm really excited about him.
Then you go with Roman Garcia, Roman Garcia is from Oklahoma, from Wagner, Oklahoma. I recruited him out of high school. The great story about him is he's an all-state wrestler. I like wrestlers because they have one mindset mentality, which is kind of like it's me against the world. He's probably one of our more physical guys. The guy's going to bring a lot of juice, a lot of energy, and he plays with a lot of passion. He's not going to pressure you with his size, but he's going to pressure you with his heart and with his play. I'm really excited about him and what he can bring to our table because he brings that added energy.
And, then there's a complete opposite of those three, which is Kenyon Gardner and Kenyon's a lean string bean. He's about 220 pounds, but he's all arms and legs. He can do so much. He can run with receivers, he can run with running backs, he can rush, he can blitz, we can move him off the ball, he's just adds a piece that you can play just about anywhere. The hardcore challenge for me is: I have to get him to know what he's doing so that we can put him in all those places. Those four guys added with what we have in the room coming back have given us the versatility of playing a lot of different packages, a lot of different alignments, and you're seeing it in the tip balls, the interceptions, the sacks, those are keys to where we need to go forward, and they should make us have a big jump defensively this year."
Junior Edge Rusher Roman Garcia
On the decision to coming to Florida Atlantic
"I connected with [Coach Brandon] Lacy. I feel like he really understood how I play football, and then he broke down that he would utilize me in certain positions, certain areas. I just think talking to Lacy and then seeing him. He's also from Oklahoma. Oklahoma people can connect on a level. I just connected with Lacy and my family loved him. The area is nice…I was looking for a better opportunity with a better stage. Lacy, this area and Coach (Zach) Kittley, for sure, were my biggest why's."
On what wrestling brings to his football game
"Football is a team sport, wrestling, it's just you and the other person. Everybody's watching. You mess up, they see it. With football, you can get away with that, so when I'm out there, you are lined up against the tackle, it's like me versus him. I just want to win. That's all that's on my mind. Just beat this person across from me."
PHOTO GALLERYGallery: (3-28-2026) Spring Practice #6
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.
While the team worked through multiple situational team periods, Saturday's time in the stadium served as a prequel to Tuesday's closed scrimmage. The Owls have neared the midway point of the spring where nicks and dings are beginning to slow some and provide opportunities to others.
QUOTABLE
Edge Coach Brandon Lacey
On the edge room transformation this offseason, expectations and hopefuls
"We really did a good job of retooling and rebuilding the room. If you look at last year, I think we had 25 sacks as a defense, year before they had 17, which is obviously a plus, but at the same time it wasn't enough to get the job done. So, what do we do? We go out there and we tried to find the best pass rusher we can get. And then along with the best athletes that we can get who can do a lot of things. You see some of the guys we have now, we have a little bit more length. We have a little bit more explosiveness. We're a little bit more physical up front. And then, we add that with guys that we return, who have gotten a year stronger, and we think we have a really, really complete room. I'm really, really happy with where we've been, and where we're going with them. I think that you will see a much more explosive group on the edge who can make a difference in games."
On the growth of Josh Roberts this offseason
"365 days ago, from probably right now, he was 215 pounds. He's now 236-to-240 pounds. Last year, he played during the season about 225. And it showed up. You know, that's the reason why it is hard for true freshman to play because of the wear and tear on your body. But now, we're trying to get into about 240, 245, and he's finding out that having a little bit more on him, having a little bit more girth, being stronger, actually one of our strongest guys, pound-for-pound in the program, makes huge jumps in the weight room, can run, athletic, can drop in the coverage, can rush the quarterback. He's a really good, complete player and he's just going to be a sophomore. I know CJ Doggette [Jr.] led our team in sacks. [Roberts] was number two on our team in sacks. He had two last year, which is really good for true freshman. He also had an interception, if he doesn't drop the one out here (Flagler Credit Union Stadium) versus Tulsa, he has two interceptions. And he has blocked a punt … It's a lot for a true freshman to do. So, we have high expectations for him and just kind of go along those lines, that's why we brought in guys who he can learn from. The guys we brought in are guys that've all played and won championships and can now show him how to go about doing it a certain way."
On the new transfers brought in
We'll start with our senior Jonathan Bax. A little backstory on him, I recruited him out of high school, when I was at Southern Miss. He was committed to us at Southern Miss, wound up flipping in late November, December, to TCU, the year they went to the national championship, and was there for the past couple years. When he got in the portal, it was an easy phone call. I knew his dad. I knew his mom and they knew me. It was the same system. He comes here at 255 pounds. He plays outside linebacker to the field, which is like a nickel. He had an interception yesterday at practice. He plays defensive end to our field, and he plays our boundary side defensive end. We're actually going to play him at some Mike linebacker as well. 250 pounds of versatility that can run and cover guys is really good.
Jay Crabel came from the University of Ohio. His dad is actually Sean Crable, who played for the New England Patriots and for Michigan, where he was an All American. If you saw his dad, his dad looks like he can still play. Jay was a two-year starter at Ohio, was actually on the team that played for the conference championship a couple years ago in Ohio. Really good player, really good bloodline lineage. His brother [Tayte Crable] actually plays at USF, but the great thing about him is that Jay brings a hard-nosed edge to our guys that can go get after the quarterback. Probably one of our best pure pass rushers that can go get it. He is very physical, very long, very athletic, and there is a lot of good things he can do, I'm really excited about him.
Then you go with Roman Garcia, Roman Garcia is from Oklahoma, from Wagner, Oklahoma. I recruited him out of high school. The great story about him is he's an all-state wrestler. I like wrestlers because they have one mindset mentality, which is kind of like it's me against the world. He's probably one of our more physical guys. The guy's going to bring a lot of juice, a lot of energy, and he plays with a lot of passion. He's not going to pressure you with his size, but he's going to pressure you with his heart and with his play. I'm really excited about him and what he can bring to our table because he brings that added energy.
And, then there's a complete opposite of those three, which is Kenyon Gardner and Kenyon's a lean string bean. He's about 220 pounds, but he's all arms and legs. He can do so much. He can run with receivers, he can run with running backs, he can rush, he can blitz, we can move him off the ball, he's just adds a piece that you can play just about anywhere. The hardcore challenge for me is: I have to get him to know what he's doing so that we can put him in all those places. Those four guys added with what we have in the room coming back have given us the versatility of playing a lot of different packages, a lot of different alignments, and you're seeing it in the tip balls, the interceptions, the sacks, those are keys to where we need to go forward, and they should make us have a big jump defensively this year."
Junior Edge Rusher Roman Garcia
On the decision to coming to Florida Atlantic
"I connected with [Coach Brandon] Lacy. I feel like he really understood how I play football, and then he broke down that he would utilize me in certain positions, certain areas. I just think talking to Lacy and then seeing him. He's also from Oklahoma. Oklahoma people can connect on a level. I just connected with Lacy and my family loved him. The area is nice…I was looking for a better opportunity with a better stage. Lacy, this area and Coach (Zach) Kittley, for sure, were my biggest why's."
On what wrestling brings to his football game
"Football is a team sport, wrestling, it's just you and the other person. Everybody's watching. You mess up, they see it. With football, you can get away with that, so when I'm out there, you are lined up against the tackle, it's like me versus him. I just want to win. That's all that's on my mind. Just beat this person across from me."
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
Spring 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