After a scorching start to his college career, defensive back Tavious Polo cooled off late in the 2007 season, but it appears that he once again is finding his groove.

When Polo picked off teammate Rusty Smith at the annual spring game, it was his first interception since Sept. 29, 2007. The usually accurate Smith, who threw only nine interceptions all of last year, tried Polo early in the game and paid for it.

His latest theft doesn’t count in the record books, but it still mattered. “It felt good,” Polo said. “I saw it all the way.”

Polo made headlines last year for his ability to change the game on defense. The Owls’ starting cornerback led the nation in interceptions and was the talk of the college football world for the first few weeks of the season. Polo had seven interceptions through the first four games, including three against Minnesota.

Over the second part of the season, Polo went through a dry spell. He didn’t record an interception in the team’s final seven games.

Polo still finished among the nation’s leaders in interceptions. “I tried not to get caught up in all of that,” Polo said.

Against top-level competition, Polo shined, getting three interceptions against the Big Ten’s Minnesota and picking off Kentucky’s Andre Woodson. That interception broke Woodson’s streak of 325 consecutive passes thrown without an interception.

Polo is looking forward to this season and competing in the tough Sun Belt Conference while building on an impressive 2007 season in which he started all 13 games and was named National Player of the Week in September and made the Sun Belt All-Conference First Team.

Along with fellow cornerback Corey Small, FAU has one of the best duos in the Sun Belt, possibly the country. The two combined for 156 tackles and 12 interceptions last year and with another year of experience under their belts.