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Former West Virginia WR Jovon Durante latest to transfer to Florida Atlantic

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer
Durante had 35 catches in 2016. (Getty)
Durante had 35 catches in 2016. (Getty)

New Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin is taking in a lot of transfers.

The latest player to say he was transferring to FAU was former West Virginia wide receiver Jovon Durante. He announced Saturday that he was heading to the Owls.

Durante had 35 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns in 2016 and hadn’t been with the Mountaineers in fall camp.

He’s the third high-profile player to transfer to FAU this week. Previously, former Auburn quarterback/wide receiver John Franklin III said he was heading to FAU and former Oklahoma quarterback Chris Robison said he was going to play for Kiffin.

Robison was dismissed from Oklahoma this summer for a violation of team rules. He enrolled early with the team this year after he was a four-star recruit in the 2017 recruiting class.

Franklin is perhaps more known for his role in the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U” than for what he did for Auburn. Franklin played the 2015 season at East Mississippi Community College after transferring from Florida State. He threw for 204 yards and ran for 430 with the Tigers in 2016 and was practicing at wide receiver this fall after the arrival of former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham.

Franklin will also play wide receiver at FAU. The Owls’ offense is coordinated by former Baylor offensive coordinator (and son of former Baylor coach Art Briles) Kendal Briles.

The three transfers this week means Florida Atlantic has taken in over 10 transfers from FBS schools since National Signing Day.

“We’re glad to give guys second chances,” Kiffin told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel this week. “I think most of us have had them in life, especially at a young age. These guys are held to really high standards. When you’re a Division I football player, it’s higher standards than the normal students. I’m glad we can do that.”

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!