Despite a 2-1 start and winning three times in a four-game stretch later in the year, FAU finished the 2022 season with a losing record at 5-7.
Despite moving to the American Athletic Conference, many believe the team will be stronger in 2023 with head coach Tom Herman entering his first season with the program. In fact, the Owls are 18th in HERO Sports’ G5 Preseason Top 25 Rankings.
FAU certainly has the potential to make strides this year.
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FAU Football’s AAC Title Odds
FAU’s odds to win the AAC are +650, via BetMGM.
FAU Football’s Over/Under Win Total
FAU’s win total Over/Under is 7.5, with Under 7.5 at -125 and Over 7.5 at +105.
FAU Football’s Schedule
9/2 vs Monmouth
9/9 vs Ohio
9/16 at Clemson
9/23 at Illinois
10/7 vs Tulsa
10/14 at USF
10/21 vs UTSA
10/27 at Charlotte
11/4 at UAB
11/11 vs East Carolina
11/18 vs Tulane
11/25 at Rice
Bold indicates AAC contests.
Key FAU Football Returners
2022 All-Conference USA 1st Team
RB Larry McCammon III
2nd Team
DT Evan Anderson
Honorable Mention
WR LaJohntay Wester
DB Armani-Eli Adams
LS Nicholas Marino
PR LaJohntay Wester
Larry McCammon III And LaJohntay Wester Are Explosive Weapons For FAU’s Offense
Larry McCammon III is easily already one of the best AAC running backs.
The All-Conference USA first-teamer was second in CUSA last year with 1,004 rushing yards to go with seven touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. He also caught 15 passes for 166 yards and a score. He’s recorded 1,547 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground the past four years combined.
Zuberi Mobley, who ran for 534 yards and three touchdowns last year, is also returning.
LaJohntay Wester is also one of the best AAC wide receivers. He was on the All-Conference USA honorable mention list a season ago. He was eighth in the league with eight touchdown receptions as well as top 15 for catches (62) and receiving yards (719). He added 106 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushing attempts as well.
He also earned all-conference honorable mention accolades as a punt returner last season. He racked up 136 yards on 14 punt returns, averaging 9.7 yards per return.
Je’Quan Burton, who caught 33 passes for 517 yards and four touchdowns last season, and Tony Johnson, who added 258 yards and three touchdowns on 23 catches, are among FAU’s other returning wide receivers. The Owls added former Alabama tight end Elijah Brown to give the team an additional pass catcher.
Nebraska transfer Casey Thompson and Central Michigan transfer Daniel Richardson are competing to become FAU’s starting quarterback.
Thompson, a graduate student who used to play for Herman at Texas, threw for 2,407 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on a 63% complete rate last year at Nebraska, his one and only year there. He recorded 2,113 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine picks while completing 63% of his passes the year before at Texas. He rushed for nine touchdowns in the last two years combined.
Richardson, a sophomore, threw for 1,988 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 56% of his throws in 2022. The year before, he chalked up career highs of 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing six picks and completing 60% of his passes.
FAU’s offensive line, which returns plenty of experience in 2023, helped the Owls tie for the second-fewest sacks allowed in Conference USA last season with 14 and rank third with 184.6 rushing yards per game. Left guard Dorian Hinton, guard Marquice Robinson, right guard Kamaar Bell, and right tackle Chaz Neal are among FAU’s returning offensive lineman who started multiple games at their respective positions last year.
Evan Anderson And Armani-Eli Adams Among Top Returners For FAU’s Defense
While FAU was in the top four in Conference USA last season with 26.6 points per game allowed, the Owls were in the bottom five with 424.8 yards per game allowed. But there’s plenty of reasons for them to be optimistic that they’ll be better on that side of the ball.
FAU returns eight of its top 11 tacklers from last season. That includes two all-conference players in 2022.
Evan Anderson was a second-team All-CUSA defensive lineman. He totaled 27 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and one sack last year.
Armani-Eli Adams was FAU’s leading tackler with 69 tackles and earned all-conference honorable mention accolades. He also was second on FAU with seven pass breakups to go with two tackles for loss and one interception.
Linebackers Eddie Williams and Courtney McBride both return after pacing the Owls with 5.5 TFLs. Williams also tied a team high with 2.5 sacks while ranking second with 65 tackles. McBride added 29 tackles and a team-best four quarterback hurries.
Defensive lineman Latrell Jean also returns after tallying 2.5 sacks, 4.5 TFLs, and 24 tackles.
In the secondary, safety Dwight Toombs II paced the team with three interceptions while adding 64 tackles and five pass breakups. Cornerback “Smoke” Romain Mungin paced the Owls with eight pass breakups to go with 34 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and two interceptions.
FAU also added linebacker Ja’Corey Hammett (West Virginia), defensive back Jarron Morris (Texas State), and EDGE Richard Thomas (Indiana) via the transfer portal.
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FAU Football Season Prediction
FAU won’t win the AAC but will win eight games during the regular season.
I have high expectations for the Owls. Though winning the conference championship would be difficult, I think they have a lot going for them.
I’m anticipating FAU will start the season strong with two wins at home against Monmouth and Ohio. However, I expect the Owls’ next two games at Clemson and Illinois will be losses.
And I believe FAU can go 6-2 against AAC teams. I’m expecting the Owls will be better than Tulsa, USF, Charlotte, UAB, East Carolina, and Rice.
But even if they suffer a letdown loss among one of those matchups, they face UTSA and Tulane at home. I don’t think it’s impossible for FAU to win one of those games.
Maybe they’re not an elite Group of Five program, but the Owls should be in for a fun season in 2023.
