FAU transfer portal: QB Caden Veltkamp, WR Easton Messer are back
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BOCA RATON — The winter window for the NCAA football transfer portal has officially closed, and Florida Atlantic is once again feeling its effects.
Head coach Zach Kittley will be faced with a noticeable roster overhaul in Year 2 at the helm. His Owls went 4-8 last season (3-5 in the American Athletic Conference) and suffered the loss of 26 players to the transfer portal.
Some of their most notable losses include linebacker Tyler Stolsky and running back Gemari Sands. Stolsky, who’s headed to West Virginia, had 86 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery in 2025. Sands, who signed with Florida State, rushed for 582 yards on 136 carries and added 277 yards on receptions with two touchdowns in two seasons in Boca Raton.
The good news is that while programs lose players every year via the transfer portal, they also can bring in new players. More importantly, the Owls were able to retain some of their most important pieces from the 2025 season. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp and wide receiver Easton Messer — who each transferred from Western Kentucky to FAU prior to last season — will be returning.
Veltkamp was one of the top passers in the AAC, throwing for 3,641 yards (8th in FBS) with 24 touchdowns (24th in FBS) and 17 interceptions. Messer was his top target, hauling in 104 passes (3rd in FBS) for 1,052 yards (15th in FBS), and 6 touchdowns.
Additionally, offensive lineman Vince Fiacable, and defensive lineman Wilky Denaud withdrew their names from the portal and will return to FAU for the 2026 season.
The Owls added 31 players via the transfer portal, including …
Here are the new FAU football players
Here are the players who are transferring to Florida Atlantic (and their stats from 2025):
- RB Brady Tillman, Edward Waters. 61 carries for 387 yards, one TD, five receptions for 51 yards, one TD, 320 kick-return yards
- DB Amar Reynolds, Illinois. Vero Beach graduate did not play in 2025.
- DL Blake Burris, SMU. Appeared in 13 games in 2025.
- OT Benjamin Galloway, Georgia Tech. 6-4, 310-pound sophomore.
- TE Marcus Vinson, New Mexico. Did not play in 2025.
- TE Antonio Johnson, Villanova. Fort Lauderdale native with 20 receptions for 231 yards and 5 TDs.
- DB Wallace Foster IV, LSU. Played in one game in 2025.
- OL Aqil Meredith-Smith, Long Island. 6-2, 299-pound sophomore.
- DL Corey Clark, Mississippi State. Played in 4 games in 2025.
- DL LeBron Edmond, UT Martin. 10 starts, 18 tackles, half sack.
- LB Joseph Sipp Jr., Kansas. Tampa native played in 3 games with 3 tackles.
- OT Kortez Winslow, Lamar. 6-4, 304-pound junior.
- DB Tyson Rooks, Illinois. Played in 12 games, five tackles.
- Edge Jonathan Bax, TCU. 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack.
- Edge Jay Crable, Ohio. 33 tackles, 6 sacks.
- DB JK Johnson, Oklahoma State. Also played at Ohio State, LSU
- WR Kelby Valsin, Texas Tech. 3 receptions, 35 yards.
- QB Drew Devillier, Rice. 10 of 21 passes for 123 yards, 1 TD.
- DB Ahlston Ware, Ferris State. 58 tackles, 2 interceptions.
- TE Brooks Johnson, Coastal Carolina. 11 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD.
- OT Aiden Jones, Virginia Military. 6-4, 300-pound redshirt sophomore.
- K Collin Rogers, SMU. Made 1 of 4 field goals.
- P Reed Chandley, Georgia State. 54 punts, 45.8 average
- LB Nate Fischer, San Diego. 97 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 1 INT.
- WR RJ Garcia II, Bowling Green. 27 receptions, 283 yards.
- WR Jahmari Powell-Wonson, Maryland. 2 receptions, 14 yards.
- S Bo Simpson-Nealy, Western Carolina. 54 tackles, 7 for loss.
- RB Leonard Farrow, Fairmont State. 1,438 rushing yards, 8.1 yards per carry, 14 total TDs.
- WR King Phillips, Texas A&M-Kingsville. 880 yards on 68 receptions, 5 TDs
- Edge Kenyon Garner, Livingstone. Okeechobee native, 15 sacks led Division II.
- WR Tucker Holloway, Virginia Tech. 5 receptions, 82 yards.
Here are the FAU football players who left
- DB Zion Paret, UConn. 15 tackles, 1 pass deflection in 2025.
- WR Jabari Smith Jr., Louisville. 32 catches, 462 yards, 6 TDs in two seasons.
- RB Xavier Terrell, Northern Iowa. 73 rushes, 467 yards, 4 TDs in three seasons.
- WR Mykel Calixte, Mercer. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- WR Asaad Waseem, Purdue. 66 catches, 699 yards, 5 touchdowns in 2025.
- WR Jayshon Platt, Illinois. 55 catches, 791 yards, 6 touchdowns in four seasons.
- DL Chenellson Exume, Eastern Kentucky. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- TE Brock Kuhl, Sam Houston. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- S Michael Wright III, Bowling Green, 14 tackles, 1 interception in two seasons.
- OT Daughtry Richardson, Coastal Carolina.
- OL Qae’Shon Sapp. North Carolina A&T.
- DB Lawrence Johnson, Florida International. 27 tackles, 3 pass deflections in two seasons.
- TE Reid Mikeska, Texas Rio-Grande Valley. 1 catch for 3 yards in 2025.
FAU transfer portal players still undecided
- QB Kasen Weisman. 416 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions in 2024; did not play in 2025.
- QB Carson Cruver. Completed 1 of 3 pass attempts for 9 yards in two seasons.
- WR Quincy Brown, 1 catch for 10 yards in 2025.
- PK Andrew Nelms. Primary kickoff specialist in 2025.
- DB Antonio Robinson. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- S Loren Hall. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- DB Cameron Goggins. 16 tackles, 3 pass deflections in two seasons.
- TE Tamez Young. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- DB MJ Hinson. Did not appear in a game in 2025.
- Edge Eric Brantley Jr. 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble in two seasons.
- TE Martavious Collins. 3 catches for 19 yards in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU Owls have Caden Veltkamp, Easton Messer back, lost Tyler Stolsky
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