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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Mock Game Week Begins
8/25/2026 4:42:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team scrimmaged for the final time last Saturday, had Sunday off, began classes on Monday and started "Mock Game Week" today.
The Owls' practice script included good-on-good but also began to move more heavily into using scout teams. The Owls will move through the week just as they would for a game week, while getting accumulated to class schedules and spending less time together as just the team. The week will conclude with a "mock" game on Saturday.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
On the leadership of Ja'Kavion Nonar
"I have said this a lot about guys in this program before. They just need the right opportunity. and I think whenever we got here, we had our eyes on J. He was 285 pounds and we were told he cannot put on weight, and I then got him with Pat [Director of Football Performance Nutrition Patrick Goodwin] and Coach (Brandon) Lee, and you look up in five, six months, he weighs 315 pretty quick. We saw that potential in him. I do think maturity wise; he has come a really long way. I think he will tell you that was an area where he knew he needed to improve. And I think it helps with some continuity here, Coach (Stephen) Hamby just does such a tremendous job of really connecting with his guys. I think there is a special relationship there, and whenever there is that true genuine love there, I think that is something that Nonar really attached to. He has been fantastic. Clearly there is still some stuff he needs to work on. People have to realize that he has really only played as an offensive lineman for a year. This is going to be year two because he is playing tight end before that. Definitely a lot of room still to go, but as far as just God-given ability, he has got it for sure. Every day, we have scouts out here and they all want to know about him because he is 6'7 and he weighs 315 lbs. He is what they [offensive line] are supposed to look like. We are super proud of how much he has matured over the last 20 months."
On the team coming together
"It is kind of cool. We had our last fall camp practice on Saturday. We scrimmaged, and I got in the office on Sunday, and Caden (Veltkamp) actually came in and told me that some of the guys had dinner the night before. He said that he has never been a part of a team where it does not matter who you are, where you are from, what position you play. You look up and there are some guys that you would never expect hanging out. I think that is what makes this team special so far. We have to continue that. We have to stick together. But I think that you realize too, for a guy like J, for example, I think a lot of his progress has been because of what our new defensive line looks like. I think they are making him better every day. I think there are definitely some of that where those guys believe in each other and they play off each other and that is what you want to have to have a really, really good team."
Fifth-year OL Ja'Kavion Nonar
On growing as a leader for Florida Atlantic
"Starting my freshman year, I knew who exactly to follow to become a leader. I just interpreted that into myself and became the leader that I wanted to be in order to bring other people with me because if you cannot bring people with you, it is going to be hard for the team. I try to bring everybody with me, make sure everybody is doing the right thing, make sure everybody is on the right track, because it is just who I am."
On growth of young players among the o-line
"A lot of the young guys are coming along. They are listening. They are trying their best. They are doing everything they can. They are getting better every day. (Braden) Cunningham is coming along very, very well. He is young, only his third year. He has to come out swinging."
Senior DL Wilky Denaud
On moving to the interior
"I feel like it has been amazing, just being coached by a guy that has been around a lot of talented teams, a lot of talented players. Just being in the room with Coach (Devin) Santana, I feel like I have grown so much on the field and off the field mentally as well."
On how he increased his playing weight
"I worked with B-Lee [Strength and Conditioning Coach Brandon Lee] and Coach Pat(rick Goodwin), our nutritionist at just putting it on the right way and not throwing on 25, 30 pounds at one time. Knowing I was coming back and getting to be inside, and then over January until now, it has just been eating the right things and being able to hydrate my body the right way, knowing that I am playing at 30 plus pounds more than I was in the last season."
PHOTO GALLERYGallery: (8-25-2026) Mock Week Practice #1
2026 COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Click HERE.
2026 SUMMER PROSPECTUS
Click HERE.
2026 ROSTER, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF
Click HERE.
PURCHASE YOUR 2026 SEASON TICKETS NOW
2026 Florida Atlantic football season tickets are now on 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 HERE, email tickets@fau.edu, or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS during normal business hours to order tickets or to speak with a ticket sales representative.
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
The Owls' practice script included good-on-good but also began to move more heavily into using scout teams. The Owls will move through the week just as they would for a game week, while getting accumulated to class schedules and spending less time together as just the team. The week will conclude with a "mock" game on Saturday.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
On the leadership of Ja'Kavion Nonar
"I have said this a lot about guys in this program before. They just need the right opportunity. and I think whenever we got here, we had our eyes on J. He was 285 pounds and we were told he cannot put on weight, and I then got him with Pat [Director of Football Performance Nutrition Patrick Goodwin] and Coach (Brandon) Lee, and you look up in five, six months, he weighs 315 pretty quick. We saw that potential in him. I do think maturity wise; he has come a really long way. I think he will tell you that was an area where he knew he needed to improve. And I think it helps with some continuity here, Coach (Stephen) Hamby just does such a tremendous job of really connecting with his guys. I think there is a special relationship there, and whenever there is that true genuine love there, I think that is something that Nonar really attached to. He has been fantastic. Clearly there is still some stuff he needs to work on. People have to realize that he has really only played as an offensive lineman for a year. This is going to be year two because he is playing tight end before that. Definitely a lot of room still to go, but as far as just God-given ability, he has got it for sure. Every day, we have scouts out here and they all want to know about him because he is 6'7 and he weighs 315 lbs. He is what they [offensive line] are supposed to look like. We are super proud of how much he has matured over the last 20 months."
On the team coming together
"It is kind of cool. We had our last fall camp practice on Saturday. We scrimmaged, and I got in the office on Sunday, and Caden (Veltkamp) actually came in and told me that some of the guys had dinner the night before. He said that he has never been a part of a team where it does not matter who you are, where you are from, what position you play. You look up and there are some guys that you would never expect hanging out. I think that is what makes this team special so far. We have to continue that. We have to stick together. But I think that you realize too, for a guy like J, for example, I think a lot of his progress has been because of what our new defensive line looks like. I think they are making him better every day. I think there are definitely some of that where those guys believe in each other and they play off each other and that is what you want to have to have a really, really good team."
Fifth-year OL Ja'Kavion Nonar
On growing as a leader for Florida Atlantic
"Starting my freshman year, I knew who exactly to follow to become a leader. I just interpreted that into myself and became the leader that I wanted to be in order to bring other people with me because if you cannot bring people with you, it is going to be hard for the team. I try to bring everybody with me, make sure everybody is doing the right thing, make sure everybody is on the right track, because it is just who I am."
On growth of young players among the o-line
"A lot of the young guys are coming along. They are listening. They are trying their best. They are doing everything they can. They are getting better every day. (Braden) Cunningham is coming along very, very well. He is young, only his third year. He has to come out swinging."
Senior DL Wilky Denaud
On moving to the interior
"I feel like it has been amazing, just being coached by a guy that has been around a lot of talented teams, a lot of talented players. Just being in the room with Coach (Devin) Santana, I feel like I have grown so much on the field and off the field mentally as well."
On how he increased his playing weight
"I worked with B-Lee [Strength and Conditioning Coach Brandon Lee] and Coach Pat(rick Goodwin), our nutritionist at just putting it on the right way and not throwing on 25, 30 pounds at one time. Knowing I was coming back and getting to be inside, and then over January until now, it has just been eating the right things and being able to hydrate my body the right way, knowing that I am playing at 30 plus pounds more than I was in the last season."
PHOTO GALLERY
2026 COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Click HERE.
2026 SUMMER PROSPECTUS
Click HERE.
2026 ROSTER, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF
Click HERE.
PURCHASE YOUR 2026 SEASON TICKETS NOW
2026 Florida Atlantic football season tickets are now on 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 HERE, email tickets@fau.edu, or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS during normal business hours to order tickets or to speak with a ticket sales representative.
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
Players Mentioned
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