FAU Position Group Preview: Linebacker
BOCA RATON, FL - A big part of FAU’s game that they’re looking to improve upon in 2025 is their defense. The Owls averaged just north of 30 points allowed per game last year — slightly below average in the American Conference — but much of this can be attributed to them not playing Memphis or Tulane, the two highest-scoring American teams.
Out of the nine linebackers on the roster, six are new to the program, with Tito Nunez (redshirt freshman), Zyere Horton (redshirt junior), and Char’Quez Lee (redshirt freshman) being the only returning players. The group is one of the most inexperienced on the roster, but they have a ton of raw talent. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the top players in the linebacker room…
Juniors
The linebacker with the most experience at a high level is Tyler Stolsky, a redshirt junior who transferred from Minnesota. In two seasons as a Golden Gopher, he recorded 33 total tackles and 22 solo tackles, competing against the best of the best teams in the Big Ten, like Penn State and Michigan. Coach Kittley highlighted Stolsky’s leadership in his day 1 presser, emphasizing how he got after newcomers the right way when they weren’t doing the drill correctly.
I asked Stolsky about what he learned at Minnesota that he can apply to his game at FAU, and he responded by mentioning his experience in big games, pinpointing the game he played on the road at Ohio State in 2023. He also talked about learning from the veterans he played with, including current New York Giants starting safety Tyler Nubin.
Stolsky gave a ton of praise to the entire linebacker room, saying everyone has done such a good job that he can’t highlight a specific player who has impressed him.
Image courtesy of Dan Owen-247Sports
A promising JUCO prospect is Khmari Johnson, who transferred from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. He put up great numbers in his sophomore season, recording 83 tackles (16th in JUCO), 10.5 tackles for loss (T-32nd in JUCO), and four sacks.
I asked Inside Linebacker Coach Aaron Schwanz about how Johnson has impressed so far. He mentioned that Khmari loves the game and plays it the right way, adding that FAU is not just looking to acquire talent, but also to bring in the right people from a character standpoint.
Another new face, Leon Hart Jr., is looking to have a breakout season after spending the last three years at Marshall. Last season with the Herd, he played in 12 games, recording four solo tackles and nine assisted tackles.
When asked about Hart, Coach Schwanz stated, “He’s probably been our most consistent performer in the linebacker room throughout fall camp. He had another good day today. He’s a kid that’s a student of the game, loves football, consistent attitude, consistent action.” Coach later added that he works with younger players to make the room better as a whole.
Freshmen
One more player who received praise during Coach Schwanz’s Friday presser was Robert Lee, a freshman from Osceola High School. At Osceola, he helped the Kowboys advance to the 6A state championship game, ultimately falling to West Boca Raton by a score of 26-7. Schwanz spoke highly of Lee’s football instincts, emphasizing his ability to spark big plays.
Photo courtesy of Tom Loy-247 Sports
A second freshman who played in a high school state championship is Hector Chavez, a three-star recruit out of Miami Columbus. As a sophomore, his Columbus Explorers took down Apopka in the 4M state championship game, with Chavez contributing 102 tackles, two sacks, and six fumble recoveries that season alone. He logged 209 tackles, three sacks, and five interceptions while also playing running back in his decorated high school career.