College football is back in Boca Raton.
On Friday, Florida Atlantic kicked off its new campaign with the 26th annual Spring Game at Flagler Credit Union Stadium with free admission to FAU fans.
FAU Football went 4-8 last season, losing its last three games. Since the end of last season, second-year head coach Zach Kittley and the rest of the team have been eager to get back to work. On Friday, they gave fans a preview heading into the new season.
“I think just the continuity piece, the [comfort level] between me and this coach and staff, again, and it’s very rare to have your entire full-time coaching staff back in the world we live in right now. This year I had a lot more time to sit down, study more guys, get to know more guys,” said Kittley, describing the changes from this year to last year.
Kittley was proud of the additions made in both recruitment and the transfer portal and says fans can expect the team to play and work hard.
“We brought in some really good key additions as well,” said Kittley. “We went out, and we made sure we got the right guys for this football program. There are kinds of guys who love football. They’re gonna grind the way we want to grind, those who are about the process, who love all the details that go into it.”
The spring game is split into red and white teams, with red as the offense and white as the defense. The game is designed to give new players a fresh look, as established players will play for less time. Players rehabbing injuries, such as senior quarterback Caden Veltkamp, did not play, nor did incoming freshmen who have not yet graduated from high school.
Veltkamp is still expected to be the starting quarterback heading into the fall season, though he has missed some time during spring camp. The game allowed the team to get a deeper look at Sophomore quarterback Jordan Magwood, redshirt sophomore and Rice transfer quarterback Drew Deviller, and freshman quarterback Jeremiah Daoud.
The game was designed as a scrimmage, with Kittley running a “vanilla” version of the offense while rotating multiple units and without keeping score.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss spoke to the team before the game.
“He talked about dedication to football, just being dedicated and focusing on the football piece will bring everything else into place,” said redshirt junior and Texas Tech transfer wide receiver Kelby Valsin. “I think our team took that message, and I think we’re going to apply it this year, and I’m really glad Chris [Carter] got him to come and speak to us.”
Magwood started for the red team. Nine minutes into the first quarter, redshirt sophomore linebacker Zyere Horton intercepted Magwood’s pass. Later in the quarter, FAU starters rotated, and redshirt sophomore kicker and SMU transfer Collin Rogers capped off the next drive with a field goal. On the following drive, FAU’s offense went down the field and Magwood threw a touchdown to Valsin.
Two minutes into the second quarter, Deviller’s pass was intercepted by freshman defensive back Justin Weatherall. Weatherall has shone throughout spring practices with multiple interceptions. After FAU’s offense once again marched down the field, returning junior running back Kaden Shields-Dutton punched in a rushing touchdown. Rogers made another field goal to end the first half.
With two minutes left in the third, FAU’s defense forced their third turnover of the game when the ball popped free from sophomore running back Almari Brown’s hands, and it was recovered by sophomore linebacker Hector Chavez.
“I think, just, again, grand scheme, holistically, we’re just so much better. We got some edge rushers who are putting more pressure on the quarterback. We’re able to do more stuff, play calling-wise and schematically in the back end to be able to get that ball back to our offense,” said Kittley, impressed with his team’s defensive performance.
The offense scored its first and only points of the second half with a field goal from redshirt sophomore punter Alex Grace. The second half was full of defensive stops and punts from Grace.
FAU Football will start their 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, on the road in Gainesville to face the University of Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Mikai Datilus is the Sports Editor for the University Press. Email him at [email protected] or DM him on Instagram @mikaidat for more information on this and other stories.
