Meet the Players

By Michele Boyet, Editor in Chief

It’s been nearly five months since the Owls football team won the bowl game in New Orleans at the team’s first-ever bowl game. Two weeks ago, the team played its first preview game of the season at the Boca campus Track and Field Complex in front of more than 1,000 fans – the most a preseason football game has ever seen.

The eighth annual spring game was a time for the new players to show the coaches and fans their abilities. It was also a chance for last season’s redshirts – players who didn’t start due to injury, inexperience or in order to maintain eligibility – to get back on the field. After nearly two hours of football, the Owls defense beat offense 38-37.

With the first spring game in Austin, Texas just four months away, here’s a look at the new players, the returning stars and the five guys to look out for this fall.

Log onto fausports.com for the full season schedule and look for the University Press special football preview issue in August.

Who’s New

By Eddy Gauna, Contributor

Greg Joseph – Safety 3 New starting safety Greg Joseph was all over the field during the spring game. On the first play he put a big hit on star tight end Jason Harmon, leaving Harmon to watch the rest of the game on the sidelines.

The redshirt senior tackled everyone that came his way and looked very instinctive. He always seemed to be around the ball and was in on numerous tackles. His pass deflection at the end of the game helped the defense come away with the victory.

The Owls are counting on Joseph to be a solid player at the safety position after last year’s starters, Taheem Acevedo and Kris Bartels, graduated.

Michael Hancock – Defensive End 54Hancock had a pretty quiet spring game but the 6′ 7″ senior looked imposing on the field. His size and athleticism makes him a target for any offense to game-plan against.

Had the defensive line been able to hit the quarterback, he would have had more of an impact. Hancock was able to get a “sack,” or getting to the quarterback before the play was blown dead by the officials.

Hancook had some limited playing time last season, including a game-saving tackle against Louisiana-Lafayette. He will be looked to in 2008 to add depth to the defensive line.

Lester Jean – Wide Receiver 80Wide receiver Lester Jean had four receptions for 44 yards including a 19-yard touchdown from Rusty Smith to help his push for more playing time. Jean figures to be in the mix at wide receiver and his 6′ 3″ frame makes him a target in the red zone.

The sophomore showed good hands-on playing Saturday and gained the trust of his quarterbacks who threw to him numerous times.

Jean is currently a target backup but with the way the Owls like to run their pro-style offense, he should receive enough opportunities to show what he can do and build on an inconsistent freshman season.

Dino Cox – Defensive Lineman 58Defensive lineman Dino Cox was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday. The 6’3″, 240-pound lineman disrupted the offensive flow when he was in the game and was a large presence on the field.

Cox had three sacks, a tackle for a loss, and was in on many other tackles for the impressive second team defense. Cox said that the defense “showed maturity” against the Owls offense and added: “We knew what we had to do.”

The defense was not allowed to hit the quarterbacks, adorned in red, but Cox put a couple shoves on them anyway.

George Allen – Linebacker 50After only playing in five games last year, Allen looks to step up in a big way this year for the Owls. Allen is slotted to replace departed senior Cergile Sincere at the starting outside linebacker position.

He has some big shoes to fill as Sincere was second in the Sun Belt Conference with 117 tackles. Allen’s spring game highlight was a big hit on fullback Willie Rose by ripping his helmet off. Allen also had a tackle in the red zone and a sack at the end of the game.

Alongside returners Frantz Joseph and Andre Clark, Allen is part of a formidable Owls linebacking core that looks to dominate the Sun Belt again.

Who’s Back

By Adam Moore, Contributor

Rusty Smith – Quarterback 11Rusty Smith picked up right where he left off last season with a sharp performance in the spring game. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 233 yards with a pair of touchdown passes and two interceptions.

“Overall I thought our offense played well in the first half,” Smith said.”After halftime, we just didn’t come out strong.”

Smith hooked up with Lester Jean for a 16-yard touchdown pass and fullback Alfred Morris on a 12-yard swing pass for a touchdown.

“Offensively we’ve matured and grown together more as a unit, which has allowed us to open up the playbook more,” said Smith, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year and New Orleans Bowl MVP.

Cortez Gent – Wide Receiver 16As Rusty Smith goes, so goes Cortez Gent. And the most productive quarterback-wide receiver connection the Owls have was as synchronized as ever. Gent led the offense in catches, as he finished the game with five receptions for 95 yards.

Even when Smith did not throw Gent’s way, he still looked him off. Gent became Smith’s favorite receiver when the two played on the scout team together in 2005. Gent, who will be a redshirt junior, led the Owls in receptions, yards, and touchdown passes last year.

After watching the chemistry between him and quarterback Rusty Smith on the field Saturday, expect another big year from Gent.

Jason Harmon – Tight End 88Tight end Jason Harmon had a very short, but productive spring game on Saturday. On the first play from scrimmage Rusty Smith hit Harmon on a short pass that Harmon turned into a 35-yard gain.

However, on the tackle Harmon hurt his knee and had to be taken off the field on a cart. He suffered a twisted knee and the injury does not seem to be serious, although it will keep him out through the rest of spring practice.

The 6’3″, 210-pounder, is a frequent target for Rusty Smith to throw to. He finished second on the team in receptions last year.

Corey Small – Defensive Back 26Senior cornerback Corey Small looked like he was in regular season form. His reputation as a great cover corner was evident during the game as both quarterbacks seemed to avoid throwing his way very often. Small finished last year with five interceptions.

Small was all over the field, assisting with tackles for the Owls’ defense just like he did a year ago when he finished with 103 tackles.

His ability to cover as well as come up and make tackles makes him a dual threat to opposing offenses and a great compliment to Tavious Polo at the other corner spot.

Frantz Joseph – Linebacker 56Senior linebacker Frantz Joseph had a relatively quiet spring game by some standards. He was still all over the field as usual, but failed to make any “big plays.”

Not to worry though, Joseph was not only the Owls’ leading tackler last year, but also led the Sun Belt Conference in tackles. He has an instinct for where the ball is and even when he is not making tackles he is always around the play.

Joseph’s job this year might be a little tougher with the loss of star linebacker Cergile Sincere, but depth at the position will help ease into the transition.

Who to Look Out for

By Jay Warman, Sports Editor

Austin Jensen – Safety 37With some injuries at the safety position and the graduation of starters Kris Bartels and Taheem Acevedo, Jensen is getting a chance to play and making the most of it.

According to head coach Howard Schnellenberger, he still needs to work on the technical aspects of his game but he should see significant playing time in 2008.

“He is working to try to become a starter.He is a good prospect and had some good games last year on special teams. He is intelligent, has very good speed, he needs to work on his backpedal and other things that defensive backs do,” Schnellenberger said.

Erick McIntosh – Conerback 21Perhaps the MVP of the spring game, McIntosh is finally getting the chance to show what he can do. Injuries have hampered McIntosh in his three years at FAU, but now healthy, he is taking full advantage of his opportunities.

“I just have to thank the coaches and the guys for making me keep my head up. It was hard to keep my mind strong and keep my focus. I was just real anxious to get back into action,” McIntosh said. “It feels good to be back.”

In the spring game he had an interception which he returned for a touchdown, a fumble recovery, and was excellent in coverage.

“He is rejuvenated and reprogrammed and he will be instrumental,” Schnellenberger said.

Ted Czepiga – Linebacker 44The redshirt senior saw significant playing time on the second team defense in the spring game. He even collected a leaping interception of a Rusty Smith pass over the middle of the field.

Czepiga was usually around the play in the middle of the defense. The Owls are strong at linebacker going into 2008 with leading-tackler Frantz Joseph, Andre Clark, and George Allen the likely starters. Czepiga has fought through two knee injuries, including an ACL tear in the spring of 2005.

Now healthy, he will get the chance to make an impact on the defense in his fifth and final year as an Owl.

Alfred Morris – Fullback 31Fresh from a year where he played in the Toilet Bowl (the nickname for FAU’s weekly scout team scrimmages), not the New Orleans Bowl, Morris had an excellent spring game.

He carried the ball 10 times for 29 yards and had a 12-yard TD reception on a swing pass to the right side. He also had a two-point conversion reception. With Willie Rose, the undisputed starting fullback, Morris will be looked at for a backup role.

However, the Owls are known to rotate backs Charles Pierre and DiIvory Edgecomb. Morris could take the place in the rotation that BJ Manley occupied last year.

Tavoris Hill – Cornerback 9The Owls are set at both starting cornerback positions with Tavious Polo and Corey Small, but having solid backups is always a good thing.

The speedy Hill, a former high school track star, and McIntosh look like they are good enough to be starters and one of them will be in 2009 after Corey Small graduates.

For now, Hill, a redshirt sophomore from Miami Central, will provide depth on a defense that looks to improve on last season’s results.

“Everybody is tough. They are all great defenders,” said wide receiver Cortez Gent of Hill and the defense, which won the spring game 38-37.