With a talented 2023 NFL Draft class emboldened by transfer additions, can Willie Taggart and the FAU Owls assert dominance in the C-USA? Here’s a look at the core of players that the Owls will rely on to compete in 2022.
FAU prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft
FAU has gone a couple of drafts without having one of their players selected. Will that change in the 2023 cycle? There’s a chance, but they may need one of their high-upside players to break out.
N’Kosi Perry, QB
N’Kosi Perry is easily the headliner of the Owls’ 2023 NFL Draft class. Originally a four-star recruit in 2017, a roller-coaster career has led Perry to a sixth year at FAU. He transferred to FAU from Miami in 2021 and embarked on a career-best season, completing 210 of 346 passes for 2,771 yards, 20 scores, and seven picks. Set to be a 25-year-old rookie, Perry can only rise so far. But he has the smooth athleticism and high-end arm talent to be worth a look as a quality camp body or developmental backup.
Johnny Ford, RB
The FAU backfield is quite a sight. Perry is 6’4″, while Johnny Ford stands beside him at just 5’5″, 175 pounds. Ford is undersized even against the smallest defenders, but he still manages to produce. In 2021, he put up 131 carries for 831 yards and five scores and caught 23 passes for 280 yards and two additional TDs. Ford’s size comes with unexpected boons. He’s incredibly shifty and explosive and is a threat to score in multiple phases. Maybe he’s too small for the NFL, but a J.J. Taylor-esque arc isn’t unachievable.
Larry McCammon III, RB
Ford is good. He’s a dynamic weapon. But he’s not built to be a workhorse back. The Owls might not have anyone who fills that mold perfectly, but Larry McCammon’s size could grant him an increased role in 2022. McCammon, originally a three-star recruit, got off to a fast start with FAU in 2019. He earned 324 yards and seven scores as a freshman but missed much of 2020 with an ankle injury. After taking a step forward in 2021, McCammon can reclaim a regular role with his 204-pound frame, vision, and motor as a runner.
Je’Quan Burton, WR
Je’Quan Burton started his career at Southern Illinois, where he proved his value both as a receiver and a return man. 2021 was a career season on offense for Burton, who racked up 483 yards and three scores on 27 catches. As his 17.9 yards-per-catch average signifies, Burton can be relied upon to get chunk yardage when it’s needed.
It’s no doubt a byproduct of his athleticism. Burton was on Feldman’s Freaks list in 2022, with a documented 45″ vertical, an 11’5″ broad jump, and a 4.36 40-yard dash. He has the tools to benefit greatly from being Perry’s top target.
Javion Posey, WR
Javion Posey doesn’t have the production or the proven athletic numbers that Burton has, but he’s just as intriguing in his own right at WR. Posey is, in fact, a former QB who saw playing time under center with the Owls in 2020. Posey did most of his damage on the ground, however, picking up 58 carries for 403 yards and three scores. Now two years removed from his stint at QB, Posey is transitioning to WR full-time, where his 6’1″, 213-pound frame could translate very well as a RAC threat.
Chaz Neal, OT
It’s impossible not to be intrigued by Chaz Neal, a 6’8″, 315-pound behemoth who logged starts at both left and right tackle for the Owls in 2021. Neal is a former Florida State commit who’s involved himself in charitable endeavors off the field. Although he can be lumbering in space and struggles with pad level at times, he could bring enough appeal with his high character and positional versatility to earn a look from an NFL team in camp.
Nick Weber, C
A sixth-year senior, Nick Weber has been a starter in some capacity for the Owls since 2019. He’s taken reps at both right guard and center but has settled in lately at the center of the line. The 6’4″, 300-pound blocker looks very natural snapping from the middle. And at that position, he provides value with his steady, assignment-sound play. Weber will be a 24-year-old rookie, but he does at least showcase the ability to get into space and make blocks on the move.
Jake Holaday, DL
One of FAU’s most impactful transfers this year may come from the Division III ranks. Most recently, Jake Holaday was a standout for the Wheaton Thunder. Standing at 6’3″, 272 pounds, he racked up 44 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and nine pass deflections across the 2021 campaign. Holaday’s size isn’t something you often see at the D-III level, and it’ll no doubt give FAU some respectability on the defensive front.
Jaylen Joyner, EDGE
The Owls will be relatively reliant on transfer additions for production on the defensive line. However, Jaylen Joyner does provide a bit of steadiness and stability. The 6’3″, 262-pound defensive lineman has logged 10.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons. The peak of his career so far was a three-sack performance on Halloween in 2020 against UTSA. The hope is that Joyner — a strong, stout defender with a hot motor — can build on that in 2022.
Xavier Peters, EDGE
Xavier Peters has all the potential in the world if he can maximize his stop at FAU. He was originally a four-star recruit in the 2018 class, with offers from schools like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. At 6’4″ with a strong frame, he had a documented 4.68 40-yard dash and a near-32″ vertical. He signed with Florida State, transferred to Kentucky, then transferred to Garden City CC after academic issues limited his playing time. Now listed at 255 pounds with FAU, Peters has the size and athleticism. But is he ready to put it all together?
Morven Joseph, LB
Peters isn’t the only recruiting gem stashed on FAU’s roster. The Owls also have Morven Joseph at linebacker. Joseph was a four-star recruit in the 2020 class, and he fielded offers from numerous SEC schools. He signed with Tennessee and rotated onto the field as a utility defender for two seasons. He even logged a sack as an extra pass rusher in 2021 but chose to transfer in search of increased opportunities. Joseph has an appealing mix of athleticism and size at 6’3″, 222 pounds, and could be a versatile piece for Taggart’s squad.
Romain Mungin, CB
He’s listed at 5’9″, 162 pounds, but Romain Mungin packs a punch at the contact point. In fact, Mungin’s clips from high school and college are littered with hard hits coming downhill. He may be undersized, but he isn’t afraid to use every pound he has to rattle the opponent’s teeth. He’s also not bad in coverage, either. In 2020, Mungin allowed a mere 37.1% completion when opposing QBs threw his way. And in 2021, he notched two picks and five deflections, showing off his chops as a playmaker.
Teja Young, S
The Owls’ secondary will be anchored by fifth-year senior Teja Young, who returns as one of the team’s most productive playmakers. In 2021, Young registered 57 tackles, five pass deflections, a forced fumble, and three interceptions, including two pick-sixes. At 5’11”, 192 pounds, he’s light on his feet in space and has enough length to compete in contested situations. But he’s also shown he can jump routes and convert at the catch point. Young is one FAU defender who may earn a chance in camp.