Rusty Smith will be gone, but Jeff Van Camp showed he is adept at handling FAU's offense. (Ralph Notaro photo)
Strong-armed future
> Owl Analysis: We examine the play of FAU quarterbacks in the first of FAUOwlAccess's series examining the play of each of the Owls' units in 2009 and analyzing prospects for the future.
Originally published on
12/16/2009
by
Chuck King
> Owl Analysis: RB
Prior to the start of the season the loss of pre-season co-Sun Belt Player-of-the-Year Rusty Smith would have been viewed as a death blow to Florida Atlantic's offense.
Well, the Owls did lose Smith, but the offense's heart kept beating rhythmically.
FAU quarterbacks combined to throw for more than 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2009 despite losing Smith in the seventh game to a season-ending shoulder sprain.
“I was pleased with them,” said former quarterback coach Jeff Brohm, who left FAU for the same job Illinois earlier this week. “Rusty was having a good year. Unfortunately, we lost a few games but he was having a good year.
“Jeff stepped in and did a tremendous job. He was tough. He goes to battle every time in there and the guys respond to him.”
Van Camp had already shown he could play prior to Smith’s injury by leading the Owls on their lone scoring drive in the season opener at Nebraska.
The junior made the move to starting quarterback fluidly, throwing for 254 yards and 3 TDs at UAB in his first game. Van Camp finished the season with 12 touchdowns against two interceptions, one of which came when he was hit while throwing and the other occurring on a pass that bounded off a lineman’s helmet.
Van Camp also ripped off a couple big runs, both by design and on scrambles, giving FAU the kind of mobility it has never enjoyed from starting quarterback.
“I think he will be a great leader and asset to the team next year,” Brohm said.
Another result of Smith’s injury was that FAU coaches received their first look at another quarterback of the future: David Kooi. The redshirt freshman took snaps in three games, showing off a big arm and good mobility.
While the Owls would have been a better offensive team in 2009 had Smith been under center for the full season, the increased playing time for Van Camp – and, to some extend, Kooi - will pay dividends next season.
SeasonBrowser: Quarterbacks
Season high point: Offensive explosion at ULL.
Rusty Smith threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-29 win at Louisiana-Lafayette - the Owls’ second victory of the season. Van Camp also completed a pass in that game for 13 yards and rushed for seven more. Overall, this was the Owls’ best offensive perfomance of the season.
Season low point: Bucked by Wyoming.
It’s tempting to pick the loss to Middle Tennessee, which ended Smith’s career, but that game actually featured the most passing yards of the season. Smith threw for 309 yards and two TDs that afternoon. Van Camp led the final drives, completing 5-of-9 for 73 yards. Not bad output, unlike the Owls’ loss to Wyoming where Smith threw for 235 yards and a touchdown and for the second-consecutive game couldn’t lead the Owls down the field in the closing moments.
Key losses: Smith
This spring the lone loss from the unit, Smith, could become the first Owl ever drafted by an NFL team.
Recruiting priority: High
With Kooi and Wilbert redshirting in 2008, FAU chose not to ink a quarterback as part of last year’s recruiting class. FAU is looking to sign one QB this year. Right now they are focusing on North Broward Prep’s Brandon Doughty. For a complete list of prospects, check out FAUOwlAccess.com’s recruiting page.
The immediate future: Van Camp’s solid play during the final five games showed that next year’s starting quarterback play should be, at the very least, stable. He will have to deal with a rebuilt offensive line, so that will present a challenge. Having running back Alfred Morris behind him should help ease any rough patches.
Down the road: David Kooi and Graham Wilbert entered the season about even on the depth chart, but Kooi emerged as the third-team guy. The coaches believe Kooi has tremendous potential, and another year spent learning the intricacies of FAU’s offense should be a huge benefit. Look for Kooi to be the starting signal caller in 2011.