The Florida Atlantic Owls haven’t had a player selected in the NFL Draft since the 2020 cycle. Will that drought end with the 2024 NFL Draft? It’s still early, but there’s a chance several prospects could be considered for draft capital from FAU’s ranks.
Florida Atlantic Owls NFL Draft Prospects
2022 wasn’t a great year for the Owls, who ended up finishing 5-7 and missed out on bowl season. But aside from a few notable losses — among them QB N’Kosi Perry, center Nick Weber, and safety Teja Young — Florida Atlantic kept many of its core playmakers on both sides of the ball and added players at areas of need.
The Owls still have a talented defense flush with quality players at all three levels. And on offense, there are several dynamic weapons in place, with a new proven collegiate QB now at the helm in Casey Thompson.
Ultimately, the most notable change for the Owls’ program comes at the top. Willie Taggart is out at head coach, and the Owls replaced him with former Houston and Texas head coach Tom Herman. Herman went 32-18 in five years at Texas and 4-0 in bowl games, so there’s hope that he may be able to mold this talent into a more imposing unit.
Casey Thompson, QB
Casey Thompson now enters his third year with a third different team at Florida Atlantic. At two separate stops — Texas and Nebraska — he’s been replaced by a more tools-rich passer. But Thompson himself quietly has some appeal as a potential late-round or PFA prospect with backup ability.
At 6’1″, 200 pounds, Thompson’s not going to fit every coach’s prototype, but he’s a capable pocket operator with a willingness to test tight windows, and he has flashes of exceptional situational precision.
Larry McCammon III, RB
Larry McCammon III was viewed as a potential breakout candidate ahead of the 2022 season, and he delivered. With an increased workload, he piled up 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns on 193 carries, averaging over five yards per tote.
McCammon has always had the density required to take on heightened volume at 5’11”, 204 pounds. But his production ultimately benefits most from his vision and urgent motor as a runner.
Je’Quan Burton, WR
Thompson’s presence at QB helped Trey Palmer emerge in 2022, and it could do the same for Florida Atlantic’s resident vertical threat, Je’Quan Burton.
Catching passes from N’Kosi Perry in 2022, Burton put up career-best numbers: 33 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns.
At 5’10”, 187 pounds, Burton is a Feldman Freak with a documented 4.36 40-yard dash, 45″ vertical, and 11’5″ broad jump. Thompson could be the one to help fully unlock that absurd dynamic potential.
LaJohntay Wester, WR
Alongside Burton, LaJohntay Wester is another WR with similarly exciting dynamic ability in Florida Atlantic’s offense. Wester has enough speed to be a vertical threat, but his specialty is taking designed touches underneath while Burton stretches the field.
Wester is incredibly versatile, as reflected by his usage in 2022 (62 catches and 15 carries, 825 total yards). At 5’11”, 167 pounds, Wester’s weight will be a red flag, but his shiftiness in space helps him compensate.
Evan Anderson, DT
Nose tackles are the ultimate force multipliers for NFL defenses. If you’re looking for a sleeper to follow in the 2024 NFL Draft, keep Evan Anderson’s name in the vault.
Anderson, standing at a massive 6’3″, 356 pounds, has accumulated 3.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in three years with the Owls. In 2021, he piled up a whopping eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Balance and conditioning are still question marks, but he’s explosive enough to rush as far outside as 3-tech, and he has a violent swim in his arsenal.
Latrell Jean, DT
While Anderson serves as the space-eater on FAU’s front, Latrell Jean profiles as the high-upside disruptor. Jean’s first-step explosiveness stands out against Group of Five competition. Though he’s a bit undersized at 6’3″, 280 pounds, he gets off the line with unnerving quickness, and he has the proportional length to channel that burst into power as well.
Jean put up 2.5 sacks and 4.5 TFLs in 2022, but he has the potential to do even more with further refinement.
Romain Mungin, CB
Romain “Smoke” Mungin already has a great vibe score with his nickname, but he’s a talented player who terrorized opposing QBs in 2022. Listed at a wiry 5’9″, 170 pounds, Mungin doesn’t meet the desired size threshold, but he compensates well with his zone awareness, twitchy short-area athleticism, and high-end ball skills.
Over the past two seasons, he has four picks and 13 deflections. Alongside the next prospect on this list, he could once again give passers fits.
Jarron Morris, CB
There’s a lot of ball-hawking talent in the Owls’ secondary, but the completing piece is projected nickel defender Jarron Morris. Morris transferred from Texas State this offseason after a productive five-year career with the Bobcats. His best work came in 2020, when he secured four picks and 11 pass deflections in a dominating campaign.
Being 5’9″, 170 pounds, Morris will always be working against his size as a prospect, but his ability to generate incompletions is enthralling.
Dwight Toombs II, S
Florida Atlantic quietly has a very intriguing safety tandem with Dwight Toombs II and Armani Adams — both returning starters who could end up being deep 2024 NFL Draft sleepers.
Both players can fulfill a number of roles at the safety spot, but Toombs — standing around 6’2″, 210 pounds — functions particularly well as an intermediate and deep safety with long-striding range and play strength at the catch point. He amassed 64 tackles, three picks, and six deflections in a standout 2022 campaign.
Armani Adams, S
Armani Adams is the complement to Toombs in the Owls’ secondary. He doesn’t quite have Toombs’ long-striding range at 5’11”, 193 pounds, but Adams might be more versatile when projecting to the NFL.
He’s a sturdy tackler entering the box, who’s also shown he can match route patterns in space with his hips and close on passes. Adams produced to the tune of a team-leading 69 tackles, two TFLs, seven pass deflections, and a pick this past year.
Other Notable Names
- Javion Posey, WR
- Chaz Neal, OT
- Malcolm Lamar Sr., OT
- Marquice Robinson, G
- Kamaar Bell, G
- Morven Joseph, EDGE
- Courtney McBride, EDGE
- Eddie Williams, LB
- Michal Antoine Jr., CB
- Justin McKithen, CB
Florida Atlantic Owls Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Monmouth Hawks - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. Ohio Bobcats - Week 4
Sept. 16: at Clemson Tigers - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Illinois Fighting Illini - Week 6
BYE - Week 7
Oct. 7: vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane - Week 8
Oct. 14: at South Florida Bulls - Week 9
Oct. 21: vs. UTSA Roadrunners - Week 10
Oct. 27: at Charlotte 49ers - Week 11
Nov. 4: at UAB Blazers - Week 12
Nov. 11: vs. East Carolina Pirates - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Tulane Green Wave - Week 14
Nov. 25: at Rice Owls - Week 15
BYE