During Florida Atlantic’s spring game, quarterback Caden Veltkamp hit receiver Easton Messer on touchdown passes of 59 and 22 yards, a sign of possibly what is to come this year for the Owls.
While statistics in spring games can be misleading, what made this duo’s performance so important is that they are among many new players at FAU under first-year coach Zach Kittley.
And while new to the program, Veltkamp and Messer are very familiar with each other since they starred last season together for Western Kentucky.
They are part of a huge new-look team at FAU, beginning with Kittley, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the previous three seasons at Texas Tech.
He is looking to bring FAU its first winning campaign since going 5-4 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
In FAU’s first two seasons in the American Athletic Conference after moving from Conference USA, the Owls have gone just 4-12 in AAC games.
There are approximately 55 new players in the program, including incoming freshmen and transfers.
Kittley, along with all the new players, hope to bring an infusion of energy into the program.
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FAU Football’s AAC Title Betting Odds
FAU’s odds to win the AAC are +10000, via BetMGM.
FAU Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- FAU’s win total Over/Under is 4.5.
- The Under is at -140.
- The Over is at +115.
FAU Football’s 2025 Schedule
- 8/30 at Maryland
- 9/6 vs Florida A&M
- 9/13 at FIU
- 9/27 vs Memphis
- 10/4 at Rice
- 10/11 vs UAB
- 10/18 at South Florida
- 10/25 at Navy
- 11/8 vs Tulsa
- 11/15 at Tulane
- 11/22 vs UConn
- 11/29 vs East Carolina
Bold indicates AAC contests
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Key FAU Football Returners
2024 All-AAC 3rd Team
P Logan Lupo
FAU Season Preview
FAU’s Western Kentucky Connection
Last year at Western Kentucky, Veltkamp completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,108 yards, with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. A redshirt junior, the 6-6, 236-pound Veltkamp has a chance to be among the top quarterbacks in the AAC.
Messer, who is also a redshirt junior, added 59 receptions for 793 yards and four touchdowns last season at Western Kentucky.
Expect the two to be quite a combination.
In a bit of irony, their last game for Western Kentucky was a 27-17 loss to James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl, played at Flagler Credit Union Stadium, the home of FAU.
Also bolstering the receiving corps are graduate JR Wilson Jr., a transfer from Virginia, and redshirt junior Dominique Henry, who had six receptions for 80 yards last season for FAU but has shown great improvement.
Another receiver who could find his way into the lineup is Quincy Brown, who had 25 receptions for 305 yards and three touchdowns last year for Nicholls State, joined FAU over the summer.
A pair of redshirt sophomores expect to lead the running game. Xavier Terrell rushed for 261 yards and three touchdowns, while Gemari Sands rushed for 117 yards and two scores last season.
Graduate guard Alex Atcavage, who played four different positions last year, and tackle Daughtry Richardson, who saw action in eight games with six starts, are two experienced returning offensive linemen.
FAU’s Returners & Newcomers On Defense
The most experienced returning player for the Owls is graduate nickelback Wendol Philord, who recorded 42 tackles, including six tackles for loss along with four passes defensed. He is the only returning starter on defense.
Sophomore corner Derrick Rogers, who redshirted last year at Purdue, should be a member of the secondary. As a freshman at Purdue in 2023, he appeared in 12 games, making four starts.
Redshirt sophomore defensive end Eric Brantley Jr. saw action in 12 games last season for the Owls, recording 13 tackles, while redshirt senior Bryce Langston added eight tackles in 12 games.
A newcomer to watch on the defensive line is redshirt junior CJ Doggette Jr., who last season had 32 tackles including seven tackles for loss and three sacks while playing for Ohio.
Senior Leon Hart Jr., a transfer from Marshall, will be among the candidates at linebacker along with redshirt junior Tyler Stolsky, a transfer from Minnesota. They both were starting linebackers during the spring.
Logan Lupo Leads FAU’s Special Teams
Punter Logan Lupo, a third-team All-AAC choice, averaged 44.9 yards per punt. He is also a candidate to handle the placekicking duties.
Garrison Smith, a transfer from Akron who was successful on 13 of 16 field goal attempts, is also a placekicking candidate.
FAU Football Season Prediction
I predict FAU won’t challenge for the American Athletic Conference title, but I like the Owls to improve on last year’s 3-9 mark, earning five wins.
The schedule is very difficult, including games with three of the expected top teams in the AAC: Navy, Tulane, and Memphis. Still, this is an offense that should be vastly improved after averaging 25.9 points per game, which was tied for 83rd in the country. A key will be how quickly it will take the rebuilt defense to jell.
If the Owls can split their four non-conference games, then they would have to go 3-5 in AAC action to reach five wins. It’s also not out of the question that FAU could become a bowl-eligible team.
