Saturday marked the end of the first official week of FAU training camp, and brought a situational scrimmage period under the cloud cover which saw the Owls depth on full display as players rotated quite frequently at a variety of positions. Post practice, DB Coach Brandon Harris mentioned that depth and competition on both sides of the ball have led to FAU getting better across the board this summer. A lot of our guys have been here 2-3 years, and theyre excited, and responding to our coaching, so its a lot easier to get messages across. Some of our receivers are new and getting in the flow of things, but those guys are talented and really fast. Its given us a lot to work on and given our guys an opportunity to come to work every day because the minute we take a play off they get some good balls on us, Harris said. In our 3rd position primer, we take a look at the cornerback and defensive back positions. Cornerbacks/DBs Returning players: Jayden Williams – 511 185 LBS Redshirt Junior Chris Tooley – 60 160 LBS Sophomore Courtney Lamas-Lanier – 511 205 LBS Senior Michael Antoine JR – 60 195 LBS Senior DaiSean Stevens – 510 180 LBS Redshirt Junior DaeDae Hill – 510 190 LBS Senior Transfers/Freshman: Logic Hudgens – 61 195 LBS Redshirt Junior transfer from Monroe JUCO Cameron Goggins – 62 185 LBS Freshman transfer from Georgia Military College Lawrence Johnson – 61 180 LBS Freshman, Miami Palmetto HS Jaheim Miller – 511 185 LBS Freshman, Miami Norland HS Wendol Philord – 59 180 LBS Graduate Student, Transfer from Keiser Kahzir Buggs Brown – 63 210 LBS Senior, transfer from Maine Key Returners: Jayden Williams – Williams heads into his 4th camp with the Owls and finds himself as the de facto veteran in this Owls unit. Williams has played a variety of positions for the Owls, suiting up as a boundary corner in the early portions of camp but having played as a nickel corner and safety in previous seasons. Now heading into his Redshirt-Junior year, Williams comes with a boatload of experience at a variety of positions in the back-end of the defense which helps him as a leader in this unit. His ability to play a variety of different positions is something that can help him stand out in a crowded DB room with a ton of returning and new talent to compete with, something he has been able to embrace as a leader, finding different ways to help all the guys in the room despite the competition. In the early portion of camp, Williams has found himself playing the boundary corner in brief scrimmage periods, but with an leader centric mindset, expect for Williams to be a jack of all trades and suit up wherever the Owls need him in a given situation. Quotable: I always tell myself that this has to be the year where I get my name out there, it started in the spring and it started in the summer. I’m just trying to continue to stay consistent every semester, every fall, spring, summer, just to stay consistent and keep my body in check.- FAU DB Jayden Williams. DaeDae Hill – Checks in opposite Williams as a potential veteran boundary corner starting option this season, heading into his 3rd season with FAU, 4th overall, having transferred from Central Michigan his freshman year. His past 2 years he has found a role with the Owls, starting in 2022, where he recorded 36 tackles and 5 PBUs, increasing that this past season to 41 tackles with 2 interceptions. Hill is an aggressive corner on the outside, and where he makes up for his lack in height is his aggressiveness in press coverage, winning a majority of 1v1 battles on the outside and making it difficult for opposing receivers to create space. Outside of his physicality, his speed allows for him to keep up with a majority of AAC receivers making him a versatile threat at the outside CB position for the Owls. Expect for him to compete for a starting position and serve as a veteran leader in this DB unit for FAU this season. Michael Antoine JR – Antoine was a highly touted recruit out of Cardinal Gibbons HS in Miami Florida, having committed to Iowa State as a 3 star in 2021, and transferred to FAU in 2022 where he has rotated as a depth corner the past 2 seasons. At 60, Antoine has the size to compete at the outside for the Owls and has looked solid in rotational play the past 2 seasons, combining for 48 tackles 8PBUs, but failing to crack the top of the depth chart. With availability at the top of the depth chart this season, and Antoine nearing the end of his eligibility it can be expected for him to compete strongly for a starting position and at a minimum, provide competitive depth at the position for the Owls. Key Newcomers: Kahzir Buggs Brown – Brown (photo top) comes into this unit as a transfer veteran, having played 3 seasons at the University of Maine, combing for 109 tackles 14 PBUs and 6 interceptions across his 3 seasons with the Black Bears. At 63, Brown brings an incredible amount of size and physicality to the Owls DB unit, contributing both in the run and pass game as a DB. Browns versatility is crucial for the Owls, as he brings in experience as a safety, nickel, and Boundary corner, and in the early portion of training camp he has received a majority of his reps at outside corner. Brown has been an impact player at the CFB level since his freshman year, recording a pick in his first ever game, and that veteran mindset, alongside his natural physical abilities gives him a serious opportunity at winning a starting role for the Owls this season, but as it has been mentioned with other players, his depth can also allow him to rotate into other positions when it fits best. Logic Hudgens: Hudgens joins the Owls, after a year at Juco Monroe College where he earned NJCAA Division I All American Honorable mention honor, after recording 33 tackles, 9PBUs and an interception. Prior to Monroe, Hudgens spent 3 seasons at the University of Buffalo where he recorded 35 tackles, an interception and 3 PBUs as a rotational corner for the Bulls. Hudgens is a tall, aggressive corner on the outside who comes to the Owls with a grinder mindset , having worked back from the JUCO level, here in a potential starting role for the Owls. Hudgens was a boundary corner during his time at Buffalo, but has an aggressive style to his game which could allow for him to potentially see time in the Slot for the Owls. With a boatload of talent in this room, and Hudgens being brought in as a part of that talent, it can be expected for him to compete for a starting role, however he can also provide a solid depth option across the DB unit for the Owls this season. Quotable: Were very deep in unit pride, being 1-0, its just the pillars that we got. We just have to believe in the coaches, believe in what theyre telling us and believe in each other, I feel like that is what is going to keep us up, Hudgens on team culture culture. Cameron Goggins: Goggins (photo below) comes into this unit as a mature freshman, having spent the past year at Georgia Military College, playing in 10 games and recording 2 interceptions, 10 PBUs, along with 16 tackles. At 62 180LBS, Goggins comes in as a big defensive back with an opportunity to put that size on display in his first year with the Owls. Having played both CB/WR in his prep and HS career, Goggins breaks a versatile skill set and mindset, having the knowledge and footwork of a WR at the DB position, which will allow him to better understand his opponent. Goggins size should give him an opportunity to compete for snaps this season for FAU, that combined with his veteran mindset, having transferred in from a military college, should give him the maturity level and skill set needed to be a contributor in the DB unit for the Owls this season. Quotable: Everybody in the room is good, just competitive every day, you have to come sharp every day. You can’t have any days off because this room is so competitive and so talented, anybody can have a good day, you have a bad day you might fall off, you have to be good every day and compete”. Goggins on setting himself apart in the DB-Room. Wendol Philord – Philord comes to the Owls as a grad student transfer from Keiser University, where he spent the past 4 seasons, establishing himself as a top tiers cornerback during his time there, recording 206 tackles, 14 interceptions, 41 PBUs and 5 FFs. At 59 Philord doesnt have the natural size that some of the Other new Owls Dbs bring, however his experience at the slot position and aggressive nature had allowed for him to become a serious weapon at DB for the Owls with the ability to contribute in both the run and pass game. During the early portion of training camp for FAU, Philord has established himself as a candidate to play in the slot, receiving snaps with a variety of units on the defensive side of the ball. As a grad transfer with a boatload of experience, Philord should be expected to compete for a starting role and at a minimum be another experienced depth option for the Owls. Lawrence Johnson – Johnson comes in as a highly touted freshman out of Miami Palmetto, who during the early portion of training camp has been a fast riser in the DB unit, receiving reps across the board in a variety of positions. At 60 175 Lbs as a true freshman, Johnson has the natural size to be a competitor in this room for the Owls, and someone who develops over time to be potential #1 option at corner down the line. OwlBytes Versatility at DB DB Coach Brandon Harris believes that in the early portion of camp, he has seen a boatload of versatility from his DB unit which could allow for the Owls to plug and play a variety of different players at multiple positions. The good thing we have going for us is all these guys can play multiple positions…we feel comfortable grabbing any one of them and putting them at corner, nickel, and safety. We’re going to be able to play a lot of guys, FAU Coach Brandon Harris. Adjusting to the heat Coming from the Northeast, FAU DB Logic Hudgens has been adjusting to the Florida heat, having been practicing with only shoulder pads on with no undershirt, and finding different ways to adapt to the Florida heat. Definitely the heat, (is the hardest part about adjusting to FAU), Im getting better and hydrated now, getting everything right, Hudgens said. Coaches Corner Co-DC / Corners Coach Brandon Harris headlined our time in video interviews. FAU will be off on Sunday, but back at the Tom Oxley Center on Monday for Day 5 of Fall Camp and the first time in full pads. Our team will highlight the offensive line.
