FAU spring football: Red team wallops white as Herman praises changes in physicality, effort

In FAU’s spring game Saturday afternoon, the red team handled business against the white team 42-17.

The white team had a three-point lead before the game started as they had more players who won one-on-one drills.

Owls new head coach Tom Herman said that the spring was a success for FAU.

“​​I think the one major goal from us coming into spring practice was to learn how to practice and I think through 15 opportunities, we definitely did that. I hope the people here that have seen previous teams have seen a change in physicality, in effort, and a change in just the ability to love each other, to play for each other,” Herman said. “Put yourself aside and play for the guy next to you. I think the message is loud and clear and the guys are really trying to live by that culture every day and it's been fun to watch.”

Here are three takeaways from FAU’s spring game:

Quarterback battle

As last season concluded the N’Kosi Perry era, FAU is looking to find its next starting quarterback. But there’s not a lot of experience in the quarterback room.

Daniel Richardson seems like the most likely option for now as he’s the only player with Division I playing time from his stint in Central Michigan. He’s been shown to make plays during practice and was the best quarterback on the field in the spring game.

“Well, I'll give hats off to the offensive line on both sides and the receivers and running backs for making plays for me,” Richardson said. “Without the offensive line, nothing can get started and getting the ball to the playmaker's hands.”

The junior from Miami threw for 238 yards and three touchdown passes for both the red and white team and showed he could be the front-runner for QB1 after the spring game. Anything can change with the time left until the regular season and the transfer portal.

While Richardson had a solid day, graduate student Ben Ballard also had three passing touchdowns for 223 yards.

Herman said that all three quarterbacks, including Tyriq Starks, played well and this room is “about as good” as he’s been around.

“I think Daniel [Richardson] did a really good job of finding the open guy and finding his read in terms of what the defense dictated, but I thought Ben [Ballard] and Tyriq [Starks] really played well. This is gonna be a fun summer. I think it'll be very competitive in that room,” Herman said. “Those guys really enjoy being around each other. They want to be the starter, but they also know that if they can help the guy next to them get better, they're going to do it.”

Skill position players are bright spots

Even though the outcome of the spring game should be taken with a grain of salt, the skill position players showed they can be a surefire positive.

In the running back position, Larry McCammon and Zuberi Mobley return after having productive seasons, but the addition of Kobe Lewis adds another layer. He joined the Owls in January after playing with Purdue and Central Michigan.

He led FAU with 12 carries for 89 yards and had some nice plays where he evaded and shed tacklers. McCammon had 10 carries for 65 yards and scored the first touchdown of the spring game.

Herman said that the running back room that FAU has is a “blessing” and implied that there won’t be one workhorse.

“I have been very happy with the ability and depth at that position for us to have three guys in that room that could probably go play anywhere in the country. They're all great young men and really hard workers. Kobe [Lewis] is the kind of elder statesman, so he's a bit of a leader in that room,” Herman said. “As much as they want to be the focal point, they also know that for their long-term durability, it's good to have a guy or two that can come in and take some of the load off. I believe that God only puts a certain amount of carries on every running back.”

Fans might know the names of wide receivers LaJohntay Wester and Je’Quan Burton by now, but it’s time to start also looking at players like Jymetre Hester, Omari Hayes and B.J. Alexander. Each had a fruitful amount of targets with Hester and Alexander each scoring a touchdown.

Living up to the standard set by the basketball team 

What Herman and the team wanted to show in the spring was a culture change compared with previous seasons. With the success of the basketball team reaching new heights, he said that it sets a standard for the university and one for which the football program needs to strive.

“I cannot tell you the amount of excitement our guys had for the run that our basketball team had. I think it was a great example to our team that this is real for the guys. Like going to New Year six games, 12 team playoffs, winning conference championships. That is real and that is attainable at FAU,” Herman said. “Our guys not only are proud of our basketball team as am I, but I think they've learned a lot and understand that the bar has been set for athletics around here.”

Herman said that “any publicity is good publicity,” and cites the admissions and how much merchandise was sold by the school’s bookstore and how many eyes it brings to FAU.

Even though the spring is now behind them, the team is still looking to improve in the offseason on a physical and mental note.

Kobe Lewis said that the work has just started for the team as they have big aspirations for the upcoming season.

“The season really starts in the offseason. The real work is put in during the summer, the winter workouts, the weight room, things like that. We got that championship mindset, we’re trying to establish a culture. Being a new team in this conference, we’re trying to make a statement,” Lewis said. “When you have a coach like him that have been there and done what we're trying to do, it helps. These next few months are going to be hectic.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU spring football: Herman sees changes in Owls' physicality, team effort