FAU is next up on the 2026 Rice football schedule, so we’re going behind enemy lines with Owls’ insider Robbie Lastella.
Florida Atlantic writer Robbie Lastella of FAU Owls Nest was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and FAU. The answers below should shed some light on the Owls’ upcoming opponent.
Q. FAU is coming off a disappointing defensive performance against an option team, allowing 479 yards rushing and eight rushing touchdowns to Army. Is that a sign of things to come against the Owls’ option attack? What adjustments could FAU make to flip the script next week?
A: Last week’s performance was a step back for a Florida Atlantic defense which has shown improvement in year two under Brett Dewhurst. If you ask Zach Kittley, the Owls lacked physicality and discipline against Army, as they were unable to force tackles-for-loss and consistently allowed missed tackles that allowed the Black Knights to churn yardage.
The FAU defense has been burned by multiple big plays this season, but they have found ways to overcome them on later drives. This time, those big plays never came, and it seemed like they lacked the aggressiveness that has led to turnovers and tfl’s in other games to start the year.
Against Rice, expect to see Jaccuri Brown break off a big run, or multiple, but the key for the FAU defense will be showing the in-game resolve to step up and make a play that knocks Rice off track later in the game.
If Rice is able to control the clock and operate their offense with ease in similar fashion to Army, FAU’s bad week against the Black Knights goes from an outlier to a concern.
Q. QB Caden Veltkamp has had a turnover problem in prior years, but has cut down on interceptions significantly in 2026. Is that a fluke, or are those statistical improvements backed up with better play?
A: Caden Veltkamp has elevated his game in year two under Zach Kittley, commanding an offense with an accuracy that was missing in year one.
It is debatable what led to the turnover bug in 2025, as Veltkamp stepped into Kittley’s high octane offense for the first time with an inefficient offensive line and he was also affected by a shoulder injury that led to off-season surgery. Whether it was simply a case of Veltkamp getting more comfortable in the Kittley offense, or a by-product of a healthy shoulder, those turnovers seemingly have gone by the wayside for the most part.
While health and comfortability are certainly important, the Owls’ improved offensive line play has also played a big part in Veltkamp’s accuracy in year two.
FAU’s left tackle Ja’Kavion Nonar, center Braeden Cunningham and right guard Vinny Fiacable all were with the program a year ago and their retention, combined with the additions of Ben Galloway (Georgia Tech) at right tackle and Aiden Jones (LIU) left guard, have led to an improved unit which has allowed Veltkamp to operate with poise in the pocket.
Veltkamp will be tested more than he has over the next few weeks and FAU will need him to continue to be accurate if they’re going to compete against some of the top teams in the American Conference.
Q. What’s been the biggest surprise, good or bad, from the team so far this season?
A: This was foreshadowed in the previous question, but FAU’s biggest surprise this season has been the solid play from their offensive line. It is never a guarantee that the moves a G-6 team makes pan out on the offensive line, however the Owls have seemingly hit on both of their transfer portal additions (Jones, Galloway) and their retention of three players from last year (Nonar, Cunningham, Fiacable) have paid off.
While Veltkamp has been sacked 11 times, which is tied for 5th most in the American Conference, overall he has had much more time in the pocket this year, helping plays develop and leading to a much more efficient offense out-put.
In last week’s loss to Army starting right guard and captain Vinny Fiacable left with an unknown injury and did not return and Zach Kittley was uncommitted to commenting on his status, but noted the offense was “limping” this week. Should he be out against Rice, that would be a detrimental loss to the FAU line and a potential area the Owls defensive line could exploit.
Q. Who is an under-the-radar guy Rice fans should keep an eye out for on Saturday?
A: Rice will have two under the radar wide receivers to keep an eye on this week. FAU wide receivers Tucker Holloway and Braeden Hoch could be in-line for increased snaps with starting WR Kelby Valsin’s status in question following an injury against Army,
Holloway and Hoch check in as the 4th and 5th leading receivers on the year respectively for the Owls, combining for 16 receptions for 183 yards and 1 touchdown. Both bring a different skillset to the table, with Hoch being a bigger physical receiver that Veltkamp may look to in the redzone, while Holloway can do a bit of everything, with speed that FAU may look to capitalize on.
Valsin has been a feature piece in the FAU offense this season and his absence will definitely be something to monitor ahead of this matchup. Kittley has spoken confidently in his second team wide receivers group throughout the year and this could be the first matchup of the season where someone has to step-up and prove it.
Q. What’s one thing Florida Atlantic has to do to win this game?
A: While a total bounce back on the defensive side of the ball would certainly go a long way in helping FAU win this game, it most likely will still be a work in progress on that side of the football.
The key for FAU this week will be winning the turnover battle. Veltkamp and the special teams have to protect the football, while defensively they need to find a way to throw Rice off-script and if possible force a turnover on that end.
The game got away from FAU against Army because they gave the Black Knights extra possessions and they were unable to get them back with a defensive stop or turnover. That could easily happen again this week against a Rice team who has the ability to cause the FAU defense similar problems.
One of the biggest differences from year one to year two for Zach Kittley has been a positive turnover differential and getting back to that this week against Rice will help FAU put their disastrous performance against Army behind them.