FAU football: Three takeaways from the Owls’ Spring Game

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Running back Gemari Sands (23) catches a pass during the Spring Game at FAU Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Boca Raton, FL.

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic suited up for its spring game on Saturday afternoon, and there’s plenty to get excited about if you’re a fan.

Second-year head coach Tom Herman has emphasized a need for a culture shift after the team dropped the final four games of last season. That shift could be seen starting to take root in this year’s spring classic with a high level of competitiveness and physicality. The score reflected that effort as the Red team came out with a 25-18 win despite a late push from the White squad.

“I thought we showed [the fans] a lot of what we were bragging about,” Herman said. “You mention the culture shift, that’s what I told the guys at the end. I was really, really proud of not just today but the whole spring. When you do it as long as I have, every team feels different. This team feels really good. The buy-in level is off the charts.”

Here are three things we learned in the 2024 FAU Spring Game.

Offense will have more of a shared burden this year

The hole leading receiver LaJohntay Wester left after transferring to Colorado would strain any program. But in Saturday’s scrimmage, Herman showed that the offense will take the “Moneyball” approach by recreating Wester’s nine receptions per game (second in the nation behind Virginia’s Malik Washington at 9.2) in the aggregate.

Eleven receivers tallied receptions in the first half, with Omari Hayes leading the way with 55 yards and one touchdown on seven catches.

“I feel like I always had it in me, but with a 1,000-yard receiver [like] LaJohntay being here, I feel like that overshadowed who I was and what I can do,” Hayes said. “So when I’m going, I feel like I can stress how good I am and…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fau-football-three-takeaways-owls-005641974.html

Author : Palm Beach Daily News

Publish date : 2024-04-14 00:56:41

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