The Owls have been making noise in the Sun Belt Conference and receiving national recognition this season. To start, they defeated last season’s Co-Sun Belt Conference champion Middle Tennessee State 27-14 in the home opener and later pulled off a huge upset defeating Big Ten conference member Minnesota 42-39 in an offensive shoot out. Certainly, FAU’s football program has overreached expectations this season. This proves that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Who better than Owl cornerback Tavious Polo to have that fight.
Freshman Polo at 5-10 is having the best season statistically for an Owls cornerback. Polo currently has seven interceptions, which leads the NCAA in Division I-A football, and recently broke the team’s single season interception record held by Willie Hughley who had six. He was named player of the week by both by the Sun Belt Conference and Walter Camp Football Foundation for tying a team record with three interceptions in the game against Minnesota.
Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Andre Woodson had broken the record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception the previous week against Arkansas. Polo picked off Woodsen and stunted the quarterback’s 325.
For the early success Polo is having this season, he gives credit to Owls defensive coordinator and secondary coach Kirk Hoza.
“He’ll get on me in the film room if I do something wrong and on the practice field if I mess up,” Polo said.
Polo keeps success out of his head on and off the field.
“I just want to be humble and focus not letting my confidence get to high, and my head to big,” Polo said.
Already, Polo is exceeding his personal goal for the football season.
“My personal goal is to get 5 plus interceptions, and 30 plus tackles,” Polo said. Currently he has 24 tackles and seven interceptions.
Polo is a redshirt freshman from South Plantation High School, and he has friends and family cheering him on for the success he’s gaining.
“A lot of my old friends are calling me that they see me in the newspaper and on television, sending me text messages telling me keep up the good work and stay focused,” Polo said.
To FAU students who attend the Owls football games at home, its easy to spot Tavious Polo, the football player who wears number five on the football field, but not the person when he’s not covering opposing wide receivers. With all the recognition and accolades that come with his success, Polo distances himself from having a flashy personality.
“I’m a kind, generous, respectable young man who wants to work hard and never give up at what I do,” Polo said.
Polo is having a great season thus far, but feels that FAU students and faculty, with the exception of football team, don’t even recognize him.
“With all the success on my shoulders, you wouldn’t know that I lead the nation in interceptions unless you ask me,” Polo said.
Just like the success of the FAU football team this season, Tavious Polo has indeed surpassed all expectations – not just on the football field, but for his inner character that makes him the person that he is.
