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Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
With a revamped roster, new FAU coach aiming for better results for Owls in 2025
You can't blame Owls fans who miss Lane Kiffin. FAU went 11-3 in 2019 under Kiffin, who then bolted for Ole Miss. Since he has been gone (cue the Kelly Clarkson song with a similar refrain), the Owls have fired two coaches — Willie Taggart and Tom Herman — and they haven't won more than five games in a season. Enter Zach Kittley, a 33-year-old Texan who arrives with a reputation as an offensive genius. Still, he's a first-time head coach, and he hired a first-time defensive coordinator, Brett Dewhurst. Plus, the Owls return just four starters — counting the punter — and brought in 55 newcomers. On the positive side is the experience Kittley gained the past three years as Texas Tech's offensive coordinator. The Red Raiders went to three straight bowl games during that span. In fact, they led the Big 12 and finished eighth in the nation last year in scoring (38.6). At FAU, Kittley will continue to call the offensive plays. However, the Owls lost several 2024 offensive starters due to transfers, including quarterback Cam Fancher (UCF), leading receiver Omari Hayes (Tulane), leading rusher C.J. Campbell (Rutgers), tight end Wyatt Sullivan (USF) and guard Jordan Church (Louisville). However, the Owls have added key transfers such as quarterback Caden Veltkamp and wide receiver Easton Messer, both from Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky — which finished 8-6 last season — played in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl. Veltkamp completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,108 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He finished second in Conference USA in passing yards per game (239), and he was the league's Offensive Player of the Year. 'Caden and I are really close,' Kittley said last month during AAC Media Day in Charlotte, North Carolina. 'He's like a son to me. I think he is getting slept on, and he has a chip on his shoulder. 'I'm expecting a huge year from him. I'm giving him the keys to the Ferrari [FAU's offense].' Messer was second on the Hilltoppers in receptions (55); yards (793); and touchdowns (four). In FAU's spring game, Veltkamp completed TD passes of 59 and 22 yards to Messer, and that combination – coached by offensive guru Kittley – is the most optimistic part of FAU 2025. Another key transfer is 6-foot-4 wide receiver J.R. Wilson, who made 27 catches last year at Virginia. In addition, the Owls return two starters on the offensive line: right guard Alex Atcavage and right tackle Daughtry Richardson. On defense, FAU returns just one full-time starter — nickel corner Wendel Philord. The top incoming transfer could be defensive back Derrick Rogers from Purdue. But free safety CJ Heard, who made third-team All-AAC as a freshman last year, transferred to Vanderbilt, where he is set to start. Strong safety Phillip Dunnam, who led FAU in interceptions with three last year, is now a starter at UCF. In other words, rebuilding this defense will be a major chore for Dewhurst, a former Texas Tech defensive back. Special teams, though, appear to be in good shape. FAU's Logan Lupo finished 16th nationally last year in punting average (44.5) and is considered the best punter in the AAC. The kicker is Garrison Smith, who made 13 of 16 on field-goals attempts and was 24 for 24 on extra points at Akron last year. As for recruiting, Kittley said FAU's base will continue to be South Florida, but he also mentioned Georgia for overall talent and the Midwest to pick off some linemen.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
James Madison a favorite to win Sun Belt as chaos reigns in the conference
The Sun Belt has created a bit of a reputation for chaos. The days of single-team dominance have been replaced by fast risers, rapid turnover, unpredictable outcomes and fierce competition. Defending champion Marshall lost coach Charles Huff and a significant portion of the roster to conference foe Southern Miss. The West Division has its own intrigue with Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas State splitting opinion on which will be on top this season. JMU was the clear favorite in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll, earning a league-high 11 first-place votes. James Madison the consensus favorite James Madison is in its fourth year in the conference and the Football Bowl Subdivision and has 28 wins to show for it, a steady performance that followed a run near the top of the FCS. The Dukes finished 9-4 overall and third in the East Division with a 4-4 conference record in coach Bob Chesney's first year at the helm. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III completed 60% of his passes for 2,598 yards, 26 touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 442 yards and seven TDs. A leg injury cut Barnett's season short, sidelining the sophomore from the Boca Raton Bowl. The Dukes brought in other options at signal-caller, including Matt Sluka, who played for Chesney at Holy Cross and left UNLV over a contract dispute. Georgia Southern was picked to finish second in the East. None of the Sun Belt Conference teams made the AP Top 25 preseason poll, but JMU (9) and Louisiana-Lafayette (1) got votes — and both are the coaches' picks to reach the title game. Are the Golden Eagles the new Thundering Herd? Under Huff, Marshall went 10-3 last season, including 7-1 in play, and beat the Ragin' Cajuns 31-3 in the league title game. Huff left for Southern Miss soon after and the Herd had to pull out of the Independence Bowl because more than 30 players jumped into the transfer portal, pushing the team below the necessary roster minimum. Several of those players followed Huff, including quarterback Braylon Braxton, the preseason Sun Belt offensive player of the year. Braxton completed 124 of 206 passes for 1,624 yards, 19 touchdowns and two interceptions while tacking on 610 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in 2024 – all career highs. Redshirt sophomore return specialist Ian Foster and redshirt senior defensive back Josh Moten also followed Huff and were 2025 preseason all-Sun Belt selections. In the West Division Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas State each got six votes from league coaches to win the division. The Ragin' Cajuns followed their loss to Marshall in the Sun Belt title game with a 34-3 loss to TCU in the New Mexico Bowl, but it was still the best season offensively since the departure of coach Billy Napier. Significant turnover looms over its offense, losing quarterbacks Ben Wooldridge and Chandler Fields. Texas State's offense faces similar changes, bringing in a new quarterback and offensive coordinator Landon Keopple. Of the five quarterbacks on the roster, redshirt freshman Brad Jackson is the sole returner. The Bobcats acquired several transfer quarterbacks from strong programs: Keldric Luster from SMU, Holden Geriner from Auburn and Nate Yarnell from Pitt. The Bobcats also welcomed freshman Gavin Parkhurst. Key transfers Braxton, Moten and Foster weren't the only notable transfers who could have an immediate impact: — Kenard Snyder, Edge, Texas State — Kaleno Levine, CB, Troy — Zach Palmer-Smith, RB, ULM — Walker Howard, QB, Louisiana-Lafayette — Xavier Holmes, DL, James Madison — Luke Murphy, LB, Coastal Carolina Key matchups Georgia Southern at James Madison (Sept. 27), Louisiana-Lafayette at James Madison (Oct. 11), Georgia Southern at Arkansas State (Oct. 25), James Madison at Texas State (Oct. 28), Georgia Southern at Appalachian State (Nov. 6), Texas State vs. Louisiana (Nov. 8), Troy at Old Dominion (Nov. 13) __ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
