BERRIEN CO., Ga. – Willie Taggart and his FAU staff have another verbal commit to add to their 2020 class of defensive linemen.

Defensive lineman Jaden Wheeler grew up in Nashville, and was mostly overlooked by FBS schools until he was invited to play in the Georgia Elite Classic All-Star game where he showed his skill and grabbed the attention of college coaches and the media.

Suddenly the hulking 6’3″, 270-lb Wheeler became a darling and offers started coming in fast and people paid close attention to his 71 tackles, five sacks, four fumble recoveries, and two deflected passes as a senior, earning him first-team all-region and Georgia all-state honorable mention.

Wheeler went from only a few lower division offers to over 30 total in just a few weeks, he told FAUOwlsnest.

Offers came from USF, Tulane, and Syracuse, where he almost went for a visit but has since canceled as he is all in on FAU and will be in Boca Raton for an official weekend visit on January 24, 2020.

According to the FAUOwlsnest, Wheeler is going in with a “chip on his shoulder,” due to having always been overlooked and plans on going to FAU with an “underdog” mentality.

Wheeler continued by saying he was going to prove every person who doubted him wrong. “I got to take care of my family because I don’t want them to struggle anymore, so I’m coming to take a spot,” he told FAUOwlsnest.com.

Owls fans will see Wheeler being used along the defensive line from playing tackle, and also standing up rushing the passer from the outside in Jim Leavitt’s hybrid 3-4 scheme.

2020 FAU Football Commit List – FAU Owl’s Nest