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Practice Notes for 8/23

Mustafa Johnson is probably the one person who knows FAU's two quarterbacks the best.

While Greg Hankerson and Jaquez Johnson battle for the starting position, the center's locker is wedged between the quarterbacks.

The senior does everything in camp with Hankerson and Johnson and as uncertainty looms in the huddle, Johnson (pictured) can provide some clarity.

"It's funny," he says. "There always laughing and joking and we always hang out together. We eat lunch together, we eat dinner together, and we ride together to places and things like that, so there is competition between them, but there also respect and a friendship that has developed."

FAU coach Carl Pelini has yet to name a starter and he probably won't until the season kicks off next Friday at Miami. Johnson however feels that both players are serviceable running the offense along with DJ Juste.

Hankerson has been the surprise of camp thus far, and the true freshman continues to practice at a level above his age.

"Greg has had moments were I kind of just go wow," Johnson said with a smile. "He had a wow moment for me yesterday when we were in film watching a play and he threw a screen pass off of one leg while jumping backwards, and he got a ton of zip on the ball with a defensive lineman in his face –– I was just like, 'ok kid, you got it.'"

Friday morning the two quarterbacks rotated with the first team offense and Pelini left impressed with what he saw.

"They both did good. I thought the offense looked sharp today, they were sharp in the two-point drills, the red zone drill and the two minute drill," Pelini said.

FAU is set to hold a closed practice Saturday morning before the freshman kickoff celebration at 3:30 p.m. in FAU Stadium.


Crowd Noise

Pelini and his staff elected to hold Friday's morning session in the stadium to allow for some artificial noise. The equipment staff downloaded a sound track off the internet and played it over the PA system to simulate a loud stadium environment.

The Owl's responded well to the noise, and according to Johnson, it's all about the small things heading into the season.

"It kind of makes you want to focus in and make sure you're communicating. You kind of are over communicating, you're double calling things and making sure the offensive tackles can you hear and the receivers are getting the signals, and things like that," he said.


Injuries

- LB Randell Johnson, LB Adarius Glanton and CB Cre'von Leblanc all practiced Friday in green "no contact" jerseys. OL DeAndre Williams sat out practice, but Pelini mentioned that everyone is healthy and expected to play in the opener.