BOCA RATON — Quarterback competitions are nothing new for Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin, but running back battles are a new challenge.

The early departures of All-American Devin Singletary and his backup, Kerrith Whyte, created big voids in FAU’s backfield. Gone are more than 2,200 rushing yards and 33 all-purpose touchdowns from the pair, both of whom elected to enter the NFL Draft rather than return for their senior seasons.

Kiffin reached into his past for Singletary's potential replacement. Former top prospect BJ Emmons, who played under Kiffin at Alabama in 2016, joined the Owls in January. He split first-team carries with redshirt junior James Charles throughout the spring.

Emmons originally signed with FAU as a junior college transfer after the 2017 season but sat out last year to fulfill academic requirements.

Redshirt sophomore Daniel LeConte worked his way into the spring rotation and displayed a bruising running style. True freshmen Kelvin Dean and Larry McCammon III arrived on campus in May and are candidates to see the field early.

Kiffin said he hopes another true freshman, Glover Cook, will be with the Owls when camp starts. Cook played running back in high school but could play receiver for the Owls.

“We've got a good group of guys coming in, and we’ve got a good group of guys here already,” Emmons said this spring. “They passed the baton. All we’ve got to do is keep raising the standard and hopefully FAU can be like a Running Back U for (Conference USA).”

Projected depth chart:

BJ Emmons — Jr. (6 feet, 220 pounds): Emmons is still the favorite to have most of the running back carries. The junior appeared more comfortable as spring camp continued and scored a touchdown in FAU’s final scrimmage. Emmons ran for 173 yards and a touchdown at Alabama in 2016.

OR

James Charles — R-Jr. (5-foot-10, 205 pounds): No longer buried on the depth chart, Charles didn't need long to show his explosive ability in offseason workouts. The St. Thomas Aquinas High alumnus stayed with the first team all spring, making plays on the ground and in the passing game. Charles ran for 20 yards on three carries in limited duty last year.

Daniel LeConte — R-So. (5-foot-10, 190 pounds): No one is quite sure why LeConte’s nickname is “Muscle Beach.” But LeConte found a way on the field this spring and consistently impressed, even breaking off a 70-yard touchdown in the Owls’ final scrimmage. His only action the past two years has been on special teams.

The big question: Who will become the lead backs with Singletary and Whyte gone? FAU needs at least one, and likely two, dynamic running backs to carry the load. Emmons and Charles are the early favorites after their spring performances, but Dean and McCammon weren’t signed just to sit on the bench and redshirt. Kiffin won’t hesitate to give them meaningful reps if they emerge as viable options.

Names to know: Dean and McCammon. Everything that could be said about one goes for the other; they’re two highly recruited freshmen who could be FAU’s running backs of the future. Dean is a 6-foot, 195-pound back who averaged 9.9 yards per rush on 97 carries at Tallahassee-Rickards last fall. McCammon ran for more than 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns at Alabama powerhouse Hoover High last year. His former coach, Josh Niblett, called McCammon "a make-a-difference guy ... he’s a guy you want on your team.”

Redshirt freshman Malcolm Davidson broke off a 32-yard run on his first college carry last year, but academics kept him temporarily sidelined this spring. Junior Tyrek Tisdale has shown flashes in the past, though injuries have limited him to seven carries in two years.

The pressure is on: Emmons. FAU needs Emmons at his best, slipping through holes and escaping defenders. A full summer with running backs coach Kevin Smith will help him, especially after he didn’t play football last year. FAU’s offense will have no problems on the ground if Emmons can show why ESPN once ranked him the nation's top high school running back prospect.

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FAU position previews:

[Quarterbacks]