Wendol Philord Jr.
DB
5-8, 180
Transfer
Keiser

The Florida Atlantic football team is retooling the weapons they'll have at their arsenal in the secondary, recently making a remarkable addition in Wendol Philord Jr. The defensive back will be joining the Owls' Class of 2024, ramping up the overall strength in the group when he makes his way from Keiser to Boca Raton next season.

Making his announcement on Saturday morning, Philord Jr. departs the Seahawks after four seasons. In 50 games as a key player in the rotation, he made a total of 206 tackles (138 solo) including 28 for a loss of yardage, 41 pass deflections, 14 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, and three sacks. Two of his interceptions ended up with him reaching the end zone for a pair of touchdowns.

He has even shown a willingness to take part in special teams, where he made his presence largely known. As a kick returner, he gained up to 1,428 yards and a touchdown on 48 attempts. As a punt returner, he ran for 399 yards and three touchdowns on 27 tries. He ended up winning the Sun Conference's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023.

This past season was quite special for Philord Jr. Making 54 tackles (40 solo), including 12 TFL, as well as three interceptions and fumble recoveries each, he helped Keiser finish 12-2 on the year including a perfect 7-0 showing in the Sun Conference. This was en route to beating top-ranked Northwestern College (Iowa) 31-21 to claim the program's first-ever NAIA Championship.

His astounding performances earned him plenty of recognition as one of Keiser's defensive stars. In 2022, he was named a First-Team All-Sun Conference selection as a defensive back for the second straight season and garnered AFCA All-America honorable mention honors for the first time in his career. He earned the conference's Defensive Back of the Year this past season as well.

Philord Jr. is now the 28th member of FAU's developing 2024 class. He chose the Owls over Tennessee, UAB, and North Alabama among others. His frame and playing style grants him the versatility to play at cornerback or safety, but he would be projected as a nickelback in FAU's defense with his profile being similar to Jarron Morris - a heady and hard hitting player who plays bigger than his size.

He becomes the fifth defensive player to transfer to the Owls for the 2024 season, joining the likes of defensive back Cameron Goggins from Georgia Military College, linebacker Kyler Laing from Buffalo, cornerback Kahzir Brown from Maine, and defensive lineman Chisom Ifeanyi from Shippensburg.

His highlights from his senior year at Miami Jackson High School in 2018 can be seen below: