Defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni has taken advantage of his Auburn connections, getting another player from the Tiger program to transfer to the Florida Atlantic football team in that of Wilky Denaud.
Wilky Denaud
DL
6-4, 245
Transfer
Auburn
With his previous stop being at Auburn, Denaud sought a change of scenery opting to enroll in fellow SEC member Mississippi State for the Spring. But it was not meant to be as he quickly reinvigorated his talks with Bellantoni and placed transition plans in motion to join the Owls’ program long term in stead.
The defensive lineman joins a deep 2024 class for FAU, and is expected to complete for a starting spot in the fall.
Denaud came out of John Carroll High School ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports with an 89 score.
The score is the highest out of every player who committed to FAU, surpassing the likes of Noah Jefferson (0.8892), Sebastien Dolcine (0.8804), and Terrell Mitchell (0.88).
He was also rated the 58th-best player at his position and the 85th-best athlete in the state of Florida. Furthermore, ESPN and Rivals rated him as a four-star lineman.
He had offers from Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Miami, and South Carolina among many Power Five offers before committing to Auburn in 2022.
“Somewhat flexible in the lower half and has flashed the ability over the years to bend while running the arc. Not one to bail on a rush and will keep his legs pumping while in backside pursuit more times than not. Adequate snap anticipation and a decent first step allows him to wedge his way into the backfield, but at times seems to play at one speed and lack real juice, which makes sense given subpar testing profile,” 247Sports’ Scouting Director Andrew Ivins said in his report on Denaud in 2022.
“Skillset and larger build suggests that he could probably get the job done as an edge-setting defensive end for a Power Five program, but ceiling might ultimately be highest as a 4/5-technique in a 3-4 look.”
His highlights from his senior year at John Carroll High School, where he racked up 55 tackles (14 for loss), 3.5 sacks and an interception, can be seen below: