The positive aspect: Tom Herman is an accomplished football coach.
While not fully recognized, his performance at Texas was commendable. His tenure at Houston was exceptional, and he holds a record of 5-1 in bowl games. The 4-8 finish in his initial season at Florida Atlantic should be viewed as an outlier.
On the downside, this season is another one of rebuilding. An unusual situation appears to be unfolding, as Florida Atlantic has acquired numerous players through the transfer portal, but many of them are not guaranteed to be high-level contributors.
On the bright side, the American Athletic Conference is relatively less competitive than it was in the past, meaning Florida Atlantic’s schedule is manageable.
Conversely: It may take some time for team cohesion to develop, which is critical as three of the final four games are scheduled to be played away from home, and a mid-October matchup against UTSA is concerning.
Encouragingly, despite the influx of new players, the defense is expected to remain competent. However, the offense must improve its consistency and identify effective strategies; despite a challenging season, the Owls were close to achieving a 6-6 record.
A point of concern: The offensive line and secondary raise significant problems from the outset. Both units will require the duration of fall camp to establish their effectiveness.
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On a positive note, Florida Atlantic is located in Boca Raton, which offers an appealing environment for living, working, and playing college football.
Nevertheless, Even with eight teams on the schedule that did not qualify for bowl games, this season is anticipated to be demanding. However, there is optimism that FAU will show improvement.
The offense must discover a consistently effective strategy. Notably, the team won when the ground game exceeded 200 yards, recording a perfect 3-0 record. Consequently, the offense needs to commit to this approach.
The Owls demonstrated strong rushing performances against Rice and UAB, averaging over six and nearly five yards per carry, but fell short due to insufficient attempts in both contests.
There may be an adjustment period this year as the offensive line has undergone significant changes. Frederico Maranges is recognized as one of the premier centers in the AAC; however, the other four starting positions will feature new players.
Most of the leading rushers will also be new; the offensive line must improve its performance to avoid allowing excessive negative plays and leverage its physicality more effectively. With just 62 yards, Zuberi Mobley is the leading returning rusher, but Florida State transfer CJ Campbell is expected to have ample opportunity to make an impact.
Marshall transfer Cam Fancher has arrived and is anticipated to contribute significantly. While he experienced an inconsistent tenure at Marshall, his experience could enable him to enhance the team’s offensive capabilities. His ability to run adds a valuable dimension to the attack.
The receiving corps is also relatively inexperienced; BJ Alexander returns as the leading target with just ten receptions. However, Marlyn Johnson (Buffalo) and Milan Tucker (Appalachian State) will likely make immediate contributions, and tight end Zeke Moore should receive more targets.
Defensively, the performance was notably stronger than the offense, although it needed to be exceptional for FAU to achieve victories. The team went 4-0 when allowing 17 points or fewer and 0-8 when surrendering more.
The pass rush showed promise, the run defense was adequate, and the defensive unit managed to limit opponents to 24 points or fewer in nine games. However, there is now a need for cohesion and additional reinforcements from the transfer portal.
The secondary benefits from the addition of two promising new players. While the defensive backfield has a mix of experience, it is predominantly inexperienced. The two transfers, Phillip Dunnam (Indiana) at safety and Kahzir Brown (Maine) at cornerback, are expected to contribute immediately.
The pass rush must also provide support. Although Marlon Bradley showed potential, missing half the season was detrimental. The defensive tackles must compensate for losing 355-pound Evan Anderson with speed and effective rotation. Purdue transfer Prince Boyd is anticipated to be a key contributor at one tackle position.
Last season, Florida Atlantic quarterbacks completed 64% of their passes, but there were significant issues with the passing game’s effectiveness, particularly with an inadequate number of downfield completions and a high interception rate.
While Cam Fancher may occasionally throw interceptions, this is part of the risk that comes with the position. It is crucial to achieve over ten yards per completion, as FAU averaged a disappointing 9.76 yards per catch, while Fancher’s previous team averaged close to 11 yards.
What can be expected from Florida Atlantic this season? It remains uncertain.
With numerous new players, one might assume a continuation of a 4-8 record for a second consecutive year. However, strong coaching and a significantly lighter schedule provide some optimism.
The Owls are projected to win six games.
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