Florida Atlantic redshirt senior Kalib Woods, who served a suspension to start this season following a June arrest for a nightclub incident last January, is expected to make his season debut this Saturday against North Texas, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Woods, who led the Owls (3-3, 2-0 in Conference USA) with 68 catches and 934 receiving yards last season, was suspended indefinitely in June after an arrest at his apartment on two charges of alleged felony battery. Woods was accused of breaking another FAU student’s jaw at a January party at The Venue in Boca Raton and pleaded not guilty, requesting a trial by jury.

The trial began in August and is still ongoing, says Woods’ attorney, Michael A. Gottlieb.

Following the Owls’ Sept. 1 loss to Navy, Woods was reinstated by the Owls as a walk-on player after being stripped of his scholarship. At the time, FAU coach Lane Kiffin said Woods was not reinstated for the season-opening loss to the Midshipmen to "avoid a distraction."

"I’m glad to hear that FAU has reinstated Kalib with full privilege on the team," Gottlieb told The Palm Beach Post on Thursday. "I know they’re moving forward. I wish the Owls best of luck on Saturday."

Gottlieb said he was told any decisions made by the Owls to reinstate Woods were not tied to the trial.

An FAU spokesperson declined to comment on Woods’ reinstatement.

If Woods does play on Saturday, his return should provide a boost to an Owls offense that has continuously struggled in the vertical passing game. While FAU’s running game has been one of the nation’s top units, Kiffin has lamented the passing game’s inability to make plays and continue drives.

After recording 18 catches for 298 yards and two scores in his first two games this season, transfer receiver DeAndre McNeal has been limited to four catches for 25 yards in the past two. Kamrin Solomon — who also served a suspension after the university issued him a no-trespass order for his role in the fight allegedly involving Woods — has emerged as current starting quarterback Jason Driskel’s top target in recent weeks.

Neither Woods nor Solomon have been made available to the media following their reinstatements.

It is unknown when Kiffin and his coaches made the decision to activate Woods for Saturday’s game. During his Tuesday press conference, Kiffin explained he and his assistants used last week’s bye as an evaluation period for role players and those buried on the depth chart.

"Some of the guys who maybe don’t get quite as many reps in practice (are) getting more reps because more reps were slotted to the twos and threes in practice," Kiffin said of the process. "Threes don’t really get many reps normally. So we had some extensive time seeing them. Whether they play next week or not, hopefully it makes our program better."

The first-year coach has not specifically commented on Woods’ return in recent weeks.

FAU did not respond to an immediate request for comment. Kickoff for Saturday’s Homecoming game against North Texas (4-2, 3-0) is slated for 5 p.m.