With Fall Camp starting to wrap up, FAU held another closed practice as the Owls are heading into a mock game week this weekend. After practice we had the opportunity to speak with OL Coach Stephen Hamby, OL Scarlee Jean, and OL Braden Cunningham as we preview the trenches of the Florida Atlantic offense, the Offensive Line.
The Offensive Line
Coach Hamby’s role as an offensive line coach started at Bowling Green in 2016. From there, Hamby went to Western Kentucky where he paired up with now Owls head coach, Zach Kittley for the second time in their careers. Since then, the two have been together from WKU, to Texas Tech, to now Florida Atlantic.
Hamby spoke about that relationship with Kittley on Friday, “You say family, my brain says quality of life because at a certain point after 13 years of knowing somebody you kind of take it for granted that you are family. You don’t even really talk about your family. We’re new here and we’re trying to get [the players] to understand like they’re now our family.”
The Freshmen
Logan Husband – Freshman, 6’4, 295 lbs
Nikolas Turner – Freshman, 6’8, 273 lbs
Rain Banick – Freshman, 6’5, 290 lbs
Landon Rapkiewicz – Freshman, 6’4, 315 lbs
The youngest members of the “family”, the freshmen that joined the Owls, committed during Tom Herman’s tenure. One could say these four along with the transfers have been adopted into the FAU family.
Coach Hamby highlighted the quartet of freshmen saying “Overall I’m very impressed with them.” Hamby then highlighted each member of the freshmen class with high praises.
Rain Banick – Freshman, 6’5, 290 lbs
Quotable: “Rain Banick’s doing a phenomenal job being from Canada. He’s been away from his parents for four years. Like, he’s literally lived in Georgia. He came down here on an official visit. His parents literally moved him in and went right back. So, he’s been away from home for a long time and he’s adjusted phenomenally to this.”
Logan Husband – Freshman, 6’4, 295 lbs
Quotable: “[Logan Husband has] done a lot of great things at the center position. He’s got the calls down now. His is now high school strength, now he’s feeling what it is in college.”
Nikolas Turner – Freshman, 6’8, 273 lbs
Quotable: “[Nik’s] got a ways to go, but like at the same time if we can get his intangibles, that’s the size you’re looking for.”
Landon Rapkiewicz – Freshman, 6’4, 315 lbs
Quotable: “You’ve got Landon Rapkiewicz. He’s done awesome, too. And so, he’s a good guard body. Pregame out here. I mean, he tried to punch a hole in my chest and fired me up. So he has the intangibles”
Expectations for the Freshmen
Overall for the group we can expect to see an appearance from each member of the class, but 2025 looks to be an improvement year for all four. Expect the majority of the group to redshirt this season with each player having the opportunity to appear in at most four games.
The Transfers
Carson Osmus – Redshirt Freshman, 6’6, 303 lbs
Qae’Shon Sapp – Redshirt Junior, 6’4 305 lbs
Vincent Forney – Sophomore, 6’5 275 lbs
Key Transfers
Madden Sanker – Redshirt Sophomore, 6’5, 305 lbs
Originally a strong contender at the center position coming out of spring practice, Sanker unfortunately encountered an injury early on in the fall cycle and was sidelined.
As a result he has fallen out of the two deep, and a clear timeline on if or when he can return is unavailable at the present.
C Vincent Fiacable – Redshirt Junior, 6’4, 320 lbs
Spending time with the Indiana Hoosiers last season, Fiacable was sidelined due to injury as he was on pace to have a bigger role in the CFP team’s season.
Now at Florida Atlantic, Fiacable has been in competition for the center spot for Florida Atlantic. While viewing of the o-line has been limited to drills for the most part, Fiacable has stood out as a great addition for the Owls, but looks to be slotted for the number two role at the center position.
For the remainder of the transfers, it’s now about those final pushes for a back-up role or being on the practice squad.
Returning Owls
Michael Unis – Redshirt Junior, 6’6, 300 lbs
Okino King – Redshirt Junior, 6’3, 305 lbs
Dylan Lloyd – Redshirt Freshman, 6’4, 305 lbs
Robert Medici – Redshirt Freshman, 6’5, 295 lbs
Ovie Dubre – Redshirt Sophomore, 6’4, 325 lbs
Mauricio Hinds – Redshirt Freshman, 6’5, 305 lbs
Keon Rohé – Redshirt Freshman, 6’7, 300 lbs
Key Owls Returners
LT Ja’Kavion Nonar – Redshirt Junior, 6’8, 315 lbs
Nonar has been an interesting Owl to follow this season as the redshirt junior transitioned back to the offensive line after spending time at tight end last season. Now spending time as the FAU left tackle, the build of Nonar is a huge man, but very athletic.
The 6’8, 315 lbs man added the weight to go back on the line this season during the Spring and Summer. Scarlee Jean highlighted Nonar, “I love playing next to him, work, talk all the time, communicating all the time on the field, making great plays, like picking things up together, dabbing each other up after plays. Like playing next to Jay, a blast. Probably the most fun I’ve had playing football with somebody.”
That connection between the duo will play a major factor for the Owls this season with the starting LT spot looking to go to Nonar on August 30th.
LG Scarlee Jean – Graduate, 6’4, 320 lbs
On the left side of the line, Jean looks to make good on his extra year of eligibility. After suffering a knee and pec injury for most of the season last year, Jean shared that he has no concerns for a reinjury, “I’m perfectly fine. I mean, shout out to our training staff, especially Brad [Marsic]. You know, me and Brad joke about it all the time, coming off of the knee was very more of a mental thing than a physical thing, honestly. That was my first serious injury. So having to play while thinking about that knee kind of slowed me down. But now I don’t even worry about it.”
The recovery has been great for Jean as he seems to have taken over the LG spot and should be Florida Atlantic’s starter this year.
It looks to be a nice pairing on the left side with Jean and Nonar. The duo definitely will feed off each other and have obviously been trusted by the coaching staff starting off this year.
Rounding out our Video Coverage for Day 1⃣3⃣ here are Friday's Player Interviews featuring @TsgScar and @BCunningham2024 - both of whom are in serious contention for starting roles Week One vs #Maryland. #FAU 🦉 pic.twitter.com/KOHxSvfNOc
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) August 15, 2025
C Braden Cunningham – Redshirt Freshman, 6’6, 315 lbs
The youngest Owl expected to start on the offensive line has been highlighted by nearly every o-lineman we have talked to and offensive coach we have spoken with. Cunningham (main picture, Rick Henderson) has made great strides in Fall camp with him earning respect for how quickly he has learned the center role in the college game.
Cunningham shared his thoughts on how well he has done with the role during the offseason, “I think that my handle on it is good. The Spring helped me a lot. Coach Hamby, we’d have sit down meetings. He walked me through everything and now it’s just getting the calls out quick so we can roll it because it’s up tempo…and stuff like that. But I have a good grasp of it I think.”
Overall, it looks like he does as well. He has been coached by the two veterans between Atcavage and Jean to high right and left sides. Jean mentioned too that the guys will trust Cunningham’s blocking calls, and if he is wrong they will talk to him, but trust is a big factor in the room.
The center position is still a closer battle between Cunningham and Fiacable, but it seems the job will go to the redshirt freshman in week one.
RG Alex Atcavage – Graduate, 6’5, 300 lbs
Atcavage returned for his sixth season after deciding to stick around with Florida Atlantic last Winter. The graduate spoke on the impact of his decision earlier during Fall camp, “It definitely has paid off. I just texted Coach Kittley when we did our report meeting just saying how much I appreciated him. Since January, it has been a new life, has brought new life for my love of the game. I always loved the school and never wanted to leave. I wish I had five more years left with this staff. They’ve helped me out tremendously on and off the field and I’m so blessed and thankful that I decided to come back.”
Throughout Fall camp, Atcavage has been noted as the offenses’ leader which makes perfect sense. His tenure as an Owl, alongside the amount of playing time he has had put the leadership role in his lap. With captains being announced on the 19th, Atcavage should be in line for the role.
Overall for Atcavage it should be another solid year for the Pennsylvania native. Atcavage is lined up to start at right guard this season, but do not be shocked if he is moved around to tackle when needed.
RT Daughtry Richardson – Redshirt Junior, 6’5, 320 lbs
Richardson earned one of the highest praises for any lineman in the offensive game as he was named to Bruce Feldman’s Top 101 Freaks List at number 78. That automatically says one thing about the redshirt junior, he has next level talent.
After playing in Florida Atlantic’s first two games last season, Richardson did not see the field again until November.
Camp has been great for Richardson who looked to be set for the starting role, but seems to have solidified it thanks to a dominant offseason. While not highlighted as much as the other four expected starters, Richardson has shown he can be called upon in whatever position is needed on the line, and should be expected to do the same this season.
Up Next
With the Owls turning to a mock game week, our next opportunity to see the team will not be until August 19th. Then, we will highlight the other side of the trenches as our next positional preview will be the defensive tackles.