BOCA RATON –– Devin Singletary's national coming-out party continued Tuesday night.
With the news of Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin signing a new 10-year contract breaking earlier in the day and the Boca Raton Bowl airing on ESPN in prime time, Singletary racked up 124 yards and scored three times in FAU's 50-3 blowout of Akron at FAU Stadium. He became Conference USA's record holder for most rushing touchdowns in a season (32) and finished the season with a school-record 1,920 rushing yards."This guy leads the country in touchdowns," Kiffin said. "Great player. He's only a true sophomore. So excited about having him back."
Here it is! Motor is now your @ConferenceUSA single season rushing TD leader! pic.twitter.com/ulvEje0MZ4
— FAU Football (@FAU_Football) December 20, 2017
The former American Heritage star, who was The Post's 2015 Small Schools Offensive Player of the Year, is already the No. 3 all-time rusher in Florida Atlantic history, trailing Charles Pierre and Alfred Morris, and is second all-time in all-purpose yards. He entered Tuesday's game with more rushing touchdowns than any other player in Owls history.
Only 16 Football Bowl Subdivision teams have more rushing touchdowns than Singletary, and he has rushed for more than 100 yards in 12 consecutive games.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Complete FBS rushing statisticsÂ
"This many touchdowns -- I don't know if I (saw) that coming," Singletary said. "All we preach is trying to be the top in rushing yards, so big shout out to the O-line for that one."
The Owls star running back got off to a slow start Tuesday, rushing for 31 yards on his first 12 carries as the Zips focused on him. But his early-game slump didn't hurt FAU too much, as the Owls got off to a 14-3 lead.
Singletary finally got going late in the first half, scoring on a 6-yard run to put Florida Atlantic ahead 21-3 entering halftime. He came right back in the second half, rushing for 27 yards on the Owls' first drive of the third quarter and punching in for a 2-yard score. He scored for a third time on a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter.
"He's as good as there is," Akron coach Terry Bowden said.
Your 2017 @ConferenceUSA Most Valuable Player is @FAU_Football's own Devin "Motor" Singletary!!https://t.co/Y5qo3zDlGx pic.twitter.com/dhZSYhbJ9B
— #AtlanticRising (@FAUAthletics) December 6, 2017
Singletary reportedly received offers from Florida State and Miami coming out of high school, but he ultimately chose between Illinois and FAU, flipping from the Illini to the Owls on National Signing Day.
The 5-foot-9, 200-pound running back, becoming the first Owl to be an Associated Press All-American, making the third team.
With at least one, and potentially two, years left in his college career, the potential for Singletary to become FAU's first Heisman finalist remains a possibility.
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"After this little break that we get when the offseason comes back around, get back to the grind," Singletary said. "Try to tweak any little thing in my game that I can get better at."
