Redshirt sophomore beat out Nick Tronti and Justin Agner in three-way quarterback battle

Meet Florida Atlantic’s new starting quarterback, the same as the Owls’ old starting quarterback.

Redshirt sophomore Chris Robison, who started 11 games last season, won the Owls’ 2019 quarterback competition, head coach Lane Kiffin announced before Saturday's opener at fifth-ranked Ohio State. Robison beat out redshirt sophomore Nick Tronti and junior Justin Agner.

Robison completed 22 of his 34 passes for 178 yards in the 45-21 loss. He threw a late touchdown to tight end John Raine.

"Tough environment, very tough defense; but again, to win those games, everybody's gotta do their jobs," Kiffin said of Robison’s outing Saturday.

FAU listed Robison as the starting quarterback in a two-deep depth chart posted online this week. Agner, who missed almost two weeks of fall camp with an illness, is listed as the No. 2 quarterback; Tronti is the third-string quarterback.

Robison also started last year’s opening loss to Oklahoma. He became the first FAU quarterback to start consecutive season openers since Jaquez Johnson did so every year from 2013-15.

"He seems to be more composed, more calm than he was a year ago as a freshman," Kiffin told the Fox Sports 640 South Florida pregame show.

Robison, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback from Mesquite, Texas, threw 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year. Conference USA coaches named Robison and Marshall QB Isaiah Green the league’s co-freshman of the year.

Kiffin said on a conference call last Sunday he had a "very good idea" of who would start at quarterback against Ohio State.

Robison was suspended for all of spring camp for off-field issues. University police investigated Robison in December after a student’s allegation of sexual battery. The woman later said the encounter was consensual and that she did not want to press charges, according to documents obtained by The Post.

Robison rejoined the team in June. He impressed throughout fall camp both with his play and his maturity. Robison acknowledged early in training camp he hopes to represent both himself and the university better off the field.

Robison threw four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Owls’ two public scrimmages this summer.

Agner completed three of his five passes for 30 yards and an interception after he relieved Robison.

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