BOCA RATON — When Ocie Rose arrives in Liberty City for FAU’s scrimmage on Saturday morning, the former Booker T. Washington safety will have plenty of friends and family watching in the stands — and witnessing his return to the first-team.
While Rose’s supporters would have mostly seen him with the second-team just a week ago, a recent string of strong practices has elevated Rose — who was primed to start last season as the nickelback before mainly playing in garbage time — into the starting safety role previously occupied by rising sophomore Zyon Gilbert.
“Just focusing on my craft and trying to get better than what I was in the past years,” Rose said of climbing the depth chart.