Navy @ Florida Atlantic preview
FAU Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2012 ) Florida Atlantic 17, Navy 24
The faces may change through the years for Navy, but the Midshipmen continue to roll forward with one of the top ground games in the country. Navy takes that running arsenal to Florida Atlantic on Friday, where the Owls open the Lane Kiffin-era with a tough challenge to begin a new chapter in program history.
The triple-option offense run by Navy finished third in the FBS last season with 4,342 yards rushing and led the nation with 61 touchdowns on the ground behind quarterback Will Worth, who combined for 2,595 yards of offense. New Midshipmen quarterback Zach Abey, who started the final two games last season after Worth was lost to injury, is the latest to take command of the potent Navy attack that set school records in points (531), touchdowns (70) and total offense (5,136 yards) last season. Starting the final two games last season leads to hope of a seamless transition for Abey, a 6-2 junior. “My one word for Zach is confidence. It's all about confidence," Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper told the Capital Gazette. "My goal going into the first game is for him to be comfortable. Because if he feels comfortable, he's going to play fast and be a much better football player."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Navy -10
ABOUT NAVY (2016: 9-5): The offense drives the Midshipmen to success and looks to the defense to get them back on to the field, something that didn’t happen with regularity last season as they allowed 31 points per game. Navy figures to improve with seven returning starters on defense, which includes seven of the top eight tacklers from a year ago led by senior linebacker Micah Thomas and his team-leading 107 tackles. Senior fullback Chris High (546 yards, seven touchdowns) is the top returning rusher.
ABOUT FAU (2016: 3-9): The Owls entered final preparations for the season opener unclear of their quarterback situation. Jason Driskel, last year’s starter, has not secured his role and was expected to be challenged by junior college transfer De’Andre Johnson, a former Florida State recruit who has been slowed by injuries during preseason workouts. That has allowed former redshirt freshman Daniel Parr to enter the conversation to earn the opening-night start under center.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Kiffin returns to the head coaching ranks for the first time since 2013. Kiffin served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders, University of Tennessee and USC before spending the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator at Alabama.
2. The Midshipmen were last in the nation by stopping only 46 percent of third-down conversion attempts on defense last season.
3. Navy completed 93 passes for an average of 19.3 yards in 2016.
PREDICTION: Navy 35, FAU 27