Coach Howard Schnellenberger brought his Owls to their first bowl game. The program has only been IA for three years. Schnellenberger has brought the program along since it's birth and is now seeing the fruits. The Owls have several prospects who are returning next year. They should once again challenge to win the Sunbelt Conference.

College: Florida Atlantic Conference:Sunbelt Columnist:Brett Walker
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Note

Taheem Acevedo 6 6'1.0" 220 4.65E S 2008

Active safety who had 8 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Good FS who has the ability to stay deeper than the deepest. Got called for PI. Did a good job all evening of doing what your FS should do, stop the big play. Grade: Positive

Josh Pinnick 97 6'5.0" 220 4.90E DE 2008
DNP

Cergile Sincere 45 6'1.0" 4.78E 215 LB 2008
Had 6 tackles . Has the ability to scrape down the line and string a play out or make the tackle. Filled the hole several times. Got called on a facemask penalty. Didn't do anything special. Grade: Neutral


College: Memphis Conference:USA Columnist:Craig Fobbe
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Note

Duke Calhoun 22 6'4.0" 195 WR 2010
Big target who plucks the ball. Finished the evening with 4 catches for 40 yards. Had one play where it was a jump ball against a small DB and failed to come down with the ball. Still very raw prospect and is only a SO so he has time to develop. Grade: Slightly Negative

Brett Russell 85 6'3.0" 245 TE 2009
Athletic TE who looks the part. Showed some ability to settle into zones and find the open spot. Finished the evening 4 catches for 45 yards and a TD. Showed effort in his blocking, but needs to improve in that area.

Carlos Singleton 89 6'8.0" 218 WR 2010
Monster heigth and has the ability to pluck the ball and come down with the jump ball. Looks very raw and seems more comfortable when he can use a basketball post up style move on the defender. If this kid can learn the finer points of the postion he could really be something. Finished the night 4 catches for 63 yards and a TD Grade:Slightly Positive.

Game Notes:
FAU is stacked with SOs or JRs who will be coming back. QB Rusty Smith was 25-32 336 with 5 TDs and 1 INT. He's a SO..... The following players will be put into our database next year and scouted heavily. DiIvory Edgecomb RB and RS, Charles Pierre RB, Tavious Polo CB who is a current FR, Rusty Smith QB, Frantz Joseph MLB, Jason Harmon TE, William Rose FB, Charles St. Clair DE, and Cortez Gent WR..... On a lighter note, QB Rusty Smith looks like the grown up adult version of 1950s child puppet Howdy Dowdy.

One thing you can say about a team coached by Schnellenberger is they will always be prepared. The job he and USF's coach have done the past 3 years is incredible. They both have a very good eye for talent so once these teams perform collectively as a unit, the individuals begin receiving attention on a national level.

FAU's offense intruiged me. Smith has some Kosar in him- he throws like Uncle Rico in Napolean Dynamite.

Schnellenberger said that he thinks Rusty Smith is a future NFL first round pick. I haven't seen him play at all, but his numbers speak volumes. Is his delivery really that funky? Is it problematic?

No, it's kinda like Phillip Rivers or like a baseball throw. He gets rid of it quick and it's like a catcher's throw. He takes it up to his ear hole with a short windup and gets rid of it quickly. It's not sidearm like Colt Brennan. I don't think it's a problem. He does look like a future high pick at this time, and Howdy Dowdy too!

Does his short-windup take away from his arm strength? Does he throw downfield with any accuracy, or is he more of a short-passing game type of player?

His arm strength appears to be good from the top of my memory. I don't remember him throwing any bombs, but he can throw the deep out with no problems. His delivery isn't that unconventional. He's only a sophmore and that bowl game is as good as I've seen him look. I saw him against Kentucky earlier in the year and he wasn't anything special. He really came on like a gangbuster at the end of the year. They beat Troy and then the bowl game win. Most of his throws are intermediate to short. That's most offenses. They run a pro set style offense with a FB, TE and 2 WRs at all times basically. That will help shorten his learning curve.