FAU Football Spring Game: What You Need to Know
FAU Football exits the tunnel for their Spring Game on April 5. Photo by Max Jackson
At times, FAU Football looked sloppy in its first Spring Game under first-year head coach Charlie Partridge. Six drops, five total penalties and a botched punt on the first possession of the game.
Even so, Partridge came away from the game knowing a bit more about his team. He realized that his backups will have to shore up their performance if the team is to put a viable product on the field come fall.
“The thing that jumps out to me is we’ve got some playmakers on offense, we have a group of players on the number one defense that I feel like can do some really nice things in the fall,” he said. “What we need to continue to do as a football team is continue to build depth, continue to find out who are guys are that can rotate in and help us from that standpoint.”
Below are the most important observations from the game, which kicked off at 1:05 p.m. on April 5. The Owls were split into a red team and a blue team. In general, red team members have worked their way to the top of depth chart. Blue team members are supplemental players, backups who will be looked upon to produce nonetheless. The red team dominated, winning 42-7 — but remember to take the results with a grain of salt. This is a very small sample size.
OFFENSE
– Quarterback Jaquez Johnson looked much better today than he did in the open Spring Practice on March 22. Patridge on the ongoing quarterback competition between Johnson and Greg Hankerson, who also took some first team snaps: “I think that battle will continue to go into the fall, but it’d be premature to make any decisions before seeing the film.”
– Receiver Lucky Whitehead began the scoring with a 66-yard touchdown catch, showing the type of speed that could make him a real threat come fall. Whitehead on his score: “Once I hit the open field, I knew I had a little more room on the sideline and that I could bounce and get on the outside.”
– Running backs Tony Moore, Jay Warren and Martese Jackson all looked good at various points. Moore and Warren ran behind their pads, and their physical styles contrasted greatly with that of Jackson, who looked quick while showing an ability to bounce his runs to the perimeter. “I think we’re one of the best [running back] groups in the country,” Jackson said. “If we come together and do what we have to do and do what the coaches tell us to do, I think we can best one of the best running back groups in the country.”
– Receiver Derek Moise scored on a 66-yard TD catch on a pass from Jaquez Johnson. Partridge spoke highly of Moise’s progress this spring. “There’s no question in my mind unless something changes, Derek Moise will have a role in this offense. He’s continued to earn our trust on and off the field.” Moise missed last year’s Spring Game because the funeral of his grandmother conflicted with it. “I woke up this morning and I thought about her, I wanted to come out and play good for her.”
DEFENSE
– Cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc ran with the first team defense, playing opposite of DJ Smith. LeBlanc played corner last year after Keith Reaser tore his ACL —whoever the other corner is, he will be tested heavily since teams will be reluctant to throw directly at Smith.
– Defensive tackle Jeremy Faulk blew up several running plays on the day.
– Linebacker Robert Relf ran with the first team defense today. He looked completely healed from the broken ankle that ended his freshman season, and returned an interception 35 yards .
– Defensive end Trey Hendrickson made his presence known, spending a lot of time in the backfield. Patridge: “Trey’s had a nice spring, and he has done some things this spring that have earned our trust. What we’ve seen over the course of this spring is a young man that has a maturing process that he is working through.” The defensive line will need to replace the production of Cory Henry and Martin Wright, who were vital pieces of a stout defense last year.
