(Photo Credit: Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB D’vonte Price, DE Tevin Jones, DE Kevin Oliver, DT Jason Mercier, DT Davon Strickland, LB Jamal Gates, LB Josh Powell, CB Rishard Dames, CB Josh Turner, FS Dorian Hall, SS Richard Dames, KR Lexington Joseph, PR Bryce Singleton, PK Chase Gabriel, and PT Tommy Heatherly.
Key Players Departing:
OG Dallas Connell, OG Shane McGough, OG Shacquille Williams, OT D’Antne Demery, OT Devontay Taylor, and LB Tyson Maeva.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DT Savion Collins (Miami, Florida), DL Jeramy Passmore (Indiana transfer), S Demetrius Hill (Miami, Florida), RB Katravis Geter (Opa Locka, Florida), QB Grayson James (Duncanville, Texas), WR Artez Hooker (St. Petersburg, Florida), LB Gaethan Bernadel (Hallandale, Florida), WR Tyrese Chambers (Sacred Heart transfer), OT Kareem Harden (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), and DE Travonte O’Neal (Vero Beach, Florida).
2020 Results:
G01 at Liberty L 34-36
G02 MIDDLE TENNESSEE L 28-31
G03 JACKSONVILLE STATE L 10-19
G04 FLORIDA ATLANTIC L 19-38
G05 at Western Kentucky L 21-38
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 0-5 (6th in CUSA East)
Home: 0-3
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 0-3
Non-CUSA: 0-2
Head Coach: Butch Davis
Florida International: 23-21
Career: 86-64
Bowls: 6-4
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Max Bortenschlager (22-48, 284 yards, 45.8%, 5.9 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: D’Vonte Price (85 car., 581 yards, 6.8 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Bryce Singleton (14 rec., 150 yards, 10.7 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: D’Vonte Price (5)
Sacks: Davon Strickland (3)
Tackles: Richard Dames (36)
Interceptions: Rishard Dames/Josh Turner (1)
Pass Deflections: Rishard Dames/Josh Turner (3)
Tackles For Loss: Davon Strickland (4)
Forced Fumbles: Tevin Jones (1)
Kick Returns: Lexington Joseph (11 ret., 368 yards, 33.5 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Bryce Singleton (6 ret., 63 yards, 10.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Chase Gabriel (3-4 fg/fga., 75%, 11-12 xp/xpa., 20 pts.)
Punting: Tommy Heatherly (32 punts, 1420 yards, 44.4 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Max Bortenschlager (GR/TR)
RB: 24 D’Vonte Price (SR)
WR: 00 Tyrese Chambers (SO/TR)
WR: 1 Shemar Thornton (SR)
WR: 2 Bryce Singleton (RS JR)
TE: 88 Sterling Palmer (JR)
LT: 51 Dontae Keys (RS SR/TR)
LG: 72 Sione Finau (SO)
OC: 00 Api Mane (GR/TR)
RG: 71 J.D. Gomez (RS JR/TR)
RT: 77 Lyndell Hudson (RS SO)
KR: 8 Lexington Joseph (SO)
PK: 37 Chase Gabriel (FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 5 Kevin Oliver (SR)
DT: 92 Jason Mercier (JR)
DT: 99 Davon Strickland (RS SO)
DE: 6 Alexy Jean-Baptiste (RS SR/TR)
LB: 10 Daniel Jackson (SR)
LB: 8 Hal Vinson (GR/TR)
LB: 9 Jamal Gates (SR)
CB: 4 Rishard Dames (RS JR)
CB: 7 Josh Turner (RS JR/TR)
FS: 00 Dorian Hall (RS JR)
SS: 3 Richard Dames (SR)
PR: 2 Bryce Singleton (RS JR)
PT: 1 Tommy Heatherly (SR/TR)
Team Grades
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/02 LONG ISLAND SHARKS | First meeting between schools.
09/11 TEXAS STATE BOBCATS | First meeting between schools.
09/18 at Texas Tech Red Raiders | FIU lost (3-56) the only prior meeting between schools in 2005.
09/25 at Central Michigan Chippewas | First meeting between schools.
10/02 at Florida Atlantic Owls | LIU trails the series 5-14. The Panthers are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series win (33-31) was in 2016.
10/08 CHARLOTTE 49ERS | FIU leads the series 5-0. The Panthers won (48-23) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/23 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | FIU trails the series 6-8. The Panthers are 2-6 since 2011, and their last series win (38-17) was in 218.
10/30 at Marshall Thundering Herd | FIU trails the series 2-6. The Panthers lost (27-30 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/06 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | The series is tied 3-3. The Panthers won (24-17) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/13 at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | FIU trails the series 5-11. The Panthers are 2-8 since 2011, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2018.
11/20 NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN | FIU leads the series 5-3. The Panthers are 1-1 since 2011, and they lost (14-17) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
11/27 at Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles | FIU won (24-23) the only prior meeting between schools in 2013.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 4-3
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 8-0
Non-CUSA: 2-3
Overall: 10-3 (1st in CUSA East)
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