The third week of Spring Camp progressed for FAU football, concluding their seventh session on Wednesday afternoon. Highlighting the day is the offensive line, which relentlessly performed blocking drills under the direction of offensive line coach Ed Warinner. Below is a quick glance at the make up of the unit for the Spring. Key Returners : Federico Maranges (R-Sr. 6-4, 300), Andre Lamas (Sr. 6-3, 300), Brayden Ramey (R-Fr. 6-6, 300), Alex Atcavage (Sr. 6-5, 300), Jordan Church (R-Fr. 6-4, 315), Michael Unis (R-Soph. 6-6, 300), Okino King (R-Soph. 6-3, 305), Woody Jean (R-Jr. 6-5, 315), Ovie Dubre (R-Fr. 6-4, 325), Malcolm Lamar (Gr. 6-5, 313), Chrisdasson Saint-Jean (R-Fr. 6-7, 310) Key Losses : Chaz Neal, Marquice Robinson, Dorian Hinton, Kamaar Bell, Wallace Unamba Newcomers : Daughtry Richardson (Transfer/Florida State), Ja’Kavion Nonar (Transfer/Maryland), Keon Rohe (Recruit/Germany), Mauricio Hinds (Recruit/Clearwater), Braden Cunningham (Recruit/Fleming Island, won’t join until the summer), Ethan Proffitt (Recruit/Bishop Kenny, won’t join until the summer), Manuel Reyes (Walk-On/Cypress Bay), Maddox Marchbank (Walk-On/Sarasota) With day seven of spring practice having concluded, here is the sixth of our parliament Owl position previews, beginning with three names at the wide receiver position, and some notes from today’s media availability. On The Line Expected to Lead Daughtry Richardson: Bringing championship experience to the position is invaluable, particularly with players like Daughtry Richardson (pictured below). Although mainly in a reserve role at Florida State, Richardson witnessed the team’s undefeated regular season and ACC Championship victory last year, providing him with invaluable insights. Throughout spring practice, he has been honing his skills with the first-string lineup, increasing the likelihood of him securing a starting position come August. Federico Maranges closely follows Richardson in this regard. Expected to retain his role as one of the team captains under head coach Tom Herman, Maranges anchored the center position in the offensive line last season, appearing in all 12 games. With key veterans such as Chaz Neal and Marquice Robinson departing, Maranges’ enhanced leadership will be crucial for fostering unity within the offense and striving for consistent success. Keep An Eye On Ja’Kavion Nonar: Back in his home state, Nonar (pictured top) brings considerable talent to the table after transferring from Maryland. During his two seasons with the Terrapins, Nonar made a single appearance, witnessing the team’s impressive 8-5 season culminating in a convincing 35-13 victory over Auburn in the Music City Bowl last season. While currently playing with the second-string lineup, Nonar’s activity and skillset make him a valuable asset, capable of contributing valuable reps throughout the regular season. Another player to watch closely is Keon Rohe. Hailing from Germany, Rohe possesses remarkable speed for his size, boasting a 40-yard dash time of 4.97 seconds, matching that of Georgia’s Broderick Jones, who outpaced all offensive linemen at the 2023 NFL combine. Currently acclimating to his new environment and absorbing the offensive system under head coach Tom Herman and offensive line coach Ed Warinner, Rohe has the potential to become a pivotal player in the rotation come the 2024 season once he fully settles in. Dark Horse Candidate Ovie Dubre: Dubre (pictured below) stands as a potential emerging talent poised to step out of the shadows. Throughout the 2023 season, he primarily served as a reserve while utilizing the year to redshirt. Emerging from McEachern High School, Dubre held an impressive ranking of 166th in the state of Georgia by 247Sports, securing a top-10 offensive lineman ranking for GHSA, and earning recognition as a GHSA Region 2-7A First Team selection. As Dubre acclimates to the program with a year of experience under his belt, there exists the potential for him to showcase the strength and mobility that propelled him to success in high school. With his abilities, he could earn valuable reps in the rotation as he continues to develop within the team. OwlBytes for March 27th Post-Scrimmage Thoughts The team hosted a closed scrimmage this past Monday to make up for last Saturday’s session being postponed due to weather conditions. Herman complimented the team’s performance throughout the day, saying they are ahead of schedule. “They were fresh, the intensity was great, the physicality was great, the defense tackled well…and the offense protected the ball,” Herman said. He does note that they need to be better at handling their fatigue as the day goes on. “We were still playing hard, but it got really sloppy at the end defensively. Really happy with where we’re at, but everybody in the program understands that we got a lot a long way to go,” he said. Embracing The Leadership Role Despite the change that has occurred in the offensive line since the end of last season, Maranges said he has focused on getting better as a leader at the position since he was a team captain throughout 2023. “A leader is someone who should always be a student of the game…you never know everything and that’s how a leader should be and that’s how a leader should treat everybody else,” Maranges said. Video Play Head Coach Tom Herman and offensive linemen Federico Maranges and Keon Rohe headline Video Play. The Owls will take a day off on Thursday before finishing the third week of spring camp with their eighth session on Friday.
