State recruiting: FAU targets linemen, USF heavy on secondary and running backs
Florida Atlantic and South Florida — both under new coaches in their first month at their respective jobs — came away with some noteworthy football players on Wednesday.
Here’s a closer look around the state on the early National Signing Day in this recruiting cycle:
FAU
New coach Willie Taggart, who was fired by Florida State in November — halfway through his second season with the Seminoles — signed nine players for the Owls on Wednesday.
Two of recruits are junior-college transfers: offensive lineman Sebastien Dolcine, formerly of Miramar High, and defensive tackle Alvin Dempsey.
The defensive line was a major point of emphasis for the Owls, who also signed Travis Lockhart, Marlon Krakue and Decarius Hawthorne.
FAU, which has won the Conference USA championship in two of the past three years under former coach Lane Kiffin, had a veteran defensive line in 2019 with three senior starters, making those reinforcements understandable.
On defense, the Owls also signed an undersized linebacker, 6-1, 190-pounder Joe Lewis of Tampa, and an undersized safety in 5-9, 155-pound Charles Toombs.
Offensively, the Owls signed Dolcine and Miami Columbus’ Andre Lamas for the blocking wall.
Justin McKithen, another smallish player at 5-10 155, is a Georgia wide receiver who also joined the FAU program.
Toombs, who had five interceptions and two punt-return TDs as a senior, may be the most athletic of FAU’s signees so far.
However, the Owls are expected to sign Killian running back Frank Gore Jr. on Thursday.
The son of the long-time NFL standout running back who goes by the same name, Gore Jr. committed to FAU in June, when Kiffin was the coach.
But Taggart has apparently convinced Gore to stay true to the Owls.
If so, he would join other sons of famous football players on the FAU roster: wide receiver Terique Owens (son of Terrell Owens) and defensive lineman Warren Sapp II (son of Warren Sapp). Both of them were freshmen this past season.
USF
New coach Jeff Scott, who won two national titles as Clemson’s co-offensive coordinator, targeted running backs and defensive backs, and he started to fill those holes on Wednesday.
At running back, USF graduated Jordan Cronkite, who led the 4-8 Bulls with 687 rushing yards this season.
On Wednesday, Scott, 38, signed Sarasota running back Brian Battle, who rushed for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. The Bulls also added ex-Fort Myers running back Darrian Felix, who transferred from the Oregon Ducks and has two years of eligibility remaining. He rushed for 1,477 yards and 20 TDs as a senior.
As for defensive backs, Scott signed a pair of 6-2 corners in Chris Townsel (Deerfield Beach) and Ben Knox (DeLand). Safety Mac Harris and 5-10 corner AJ Hamilton also signed.
The only other USF signees so far: wide receiver Omarion Dollison (South Carolina) and defensive tackle Sione Tuitupou (Hawaii).
Dollison had a huge senior year: 86 catches for 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns, and Scott used his Clemson knowledge of South Carolina prospects to make the connection.
FAMU
Florida A&M, which finished 9-2 this past season, did not announce any signings.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
The Wildcats, who finished 7-4, including a 31-27 win over rival FAMU, did not announce signings.