FIU Panthers 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Michael Berlfein/FIU Athletics)

Key Players Returning:

QB Grayson James, WR/KR Jalen Bracey, WR Kris Mitchell, OC John Bock II, OG Jacob Peace, DE Jordan Guerad, DE Jeramy Passmore, LB Donovan Manuel, LB Alex Nobles, LB Reggie Peterson, CB Adrian Cole, CB Hezehiah Masses, NB Jamal Potts, SS D’Verick Daniel, PR Dean Patterson, PK Chase Gabriel and PT Daton Montiel.

Key Players Departing:

WR/PR Tyrese Chambers, TE Rivaldo Fairweather, TE Josiah Miamen, OC Julius Pierce, OG Rey Burnett, OT Shamar Hobdy-Lee, DE Keegan Davis, DT Davon Strickland, LB Gathan Bernadel, LB Shaun Peterson Jr., CB Andrew Volmer, FS Demetrius Hill and SS Dorian Hall.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
QB Keyone Jenkins (Miami, Florida), DS Jamari Holliman (Miami, Florida), DS Kyle McNeal (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida), WR Luby Maurice (West Palm Beach, Florida), DL AJ Cobb (Frostproof, Florida), LB Avery Huff (Miami transfer), OG Jaheim Buchanon (Lehigh Acres, Florida), TE Braiden Staten (Mt. Juliet, Tennessee), EDGE Toddrick Brewton (Miami, Florida) and DS Landon Hale (Yulee, Florida).

2022 Results:

G01  BRYANT  W | OT  38-37
G02  @ Texas State  L  12-41
G03  @ Western Kentucky  L  0-73
G04  @ New Mexico State  W  21-7
G05  UCONN  L  12-33
G06  UTSA  L  10-30
G07  @ Charlotte  W  34-15
G08  LOUISIANA TECH  W | 2OT  42-34
G09  @ North Texas  L  14-52
G10  FAU  L  7-52
G11  @ UTEP  L  6-40
G12  MIDDLE TENNESSEE  L  28-33

Team Info:

2022 Overall:  4-8 (9th in CUSA)

Home:  2-4
Away:  2-4
Neutral:  0-0
CUSA:  2-6
Non-CUSA:  2-2

Head Coach:  Mike MacIntyre

Florida International:  4-8
Career:  50-73
Bowls:  0-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Grayson James (210-358, 1969 yards, 58.7%, 5.5 avg., 11 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: 
Grayson James (79 car., 223 yards, 2.8 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: 
Jalen Bracey (39 rec., 294 yards, 7.5 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Kris Mitchell (4)
Sacks: 
Jordan Guerad (3)
Tackles: 
Donovan Manuel  (97)
Interceptions: 
CJ Christian/Adrian Cole/Reggie Peterson (1)
Pass Deflections: 
Adrian Cole/Jamal Potts (5)
Tackles For Loss: 
Donovan Manuel (8.5)
Forced Fumbles: 
Adrian Cole/Alex Nobles/Jamal Potts (1)
Kick Returns: 
Dean Patterson (1 ret., 21 yards, 21.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Dean Patterson (3 ret., 3 yards, 1.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Chase Gabriel (7-12 fg/fga., 58%, 23-24 xp/xpa., 44 pts.)
Punting: 
Daton Montiel (67 punts, 2819 yards, 42.1 avg., 17 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  3  Grayson James  (JR)
RB:  00  Shomari Lawrence  (RS JR/TR)
WR:  10  Kris Mitchell  (RS JR)
WR:  11  Dean Patterson  (RS SO/TR)
WR:  14  Jalen Bracey  (SR/TR)
TE:  85  Jackson McDonald  (RS SR)
LT:  77  Travis Burke  (RS SO/TR)
LG:  50  Naeer Jackson  (RS FR)
OC:  62  John Bock II  (SO)
RG:  67  Jacob Peace  (RS SR/TR)
RT:  54  Phillip Houston  (JR/TR)
KR:  14  Jalen Bracey  (SR/TR)
PK:  37  Chase Gabriel  (JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  8  Jeremy Passmore  (RS JR/TR)
NT:  00  Jack Daly  (SR/TR)
DE:  99  Jordan Guerad  (RS SO)
LB:  97  Alex Nobles  (GR/TR)
LB:  10  Donovan Manuel  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  42  Reggie Peterson  (RS JR)
NB:  7  Jamal Potts  (JR)
CB:  6  Adrian Cole  (RS JR/TR)
CB:  12  Hezekiah Masses  (SO)
FS:  11  Ladarian Paulk  (JR/TR)
SS:  24  D’Verick Daniel  (SR/TR)
PR:  11  Dean Patterson  (RS SO/TR)
PT:  25  Daton Montiel  (RS JR/TR)

Team Grades

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  A

Schedule:

08/28 
@ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs  |  FIU trails the series 1-4.  Last season’s 42-34 OT win was their first win of the series dating back to 2013.

09/02  MAINE BLACK BEARS  |  FIU trails the series 0-2.  FLU lost (14-24) the last meeting between schools in 2003.

09/09  NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN  |  The series is tied 5-5.  FIU lost (14-52) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series win (41-16) dates back to 2011.

09/16  @ UCONN Huskies  |  Last season’s 12-23 loss was the first meeting between schools.

09/23  LIBERTY FLAMES  |  FIU lost (34-36) the only prior meeting between school sin 2020.

10/04  @ New Mexico State Aggies  |  The series is tied 1-1.  Last season’s 21-7 win was the first meeting between schools since 2004.

10/11  UTEP MINERS  |  FIU leads the series 3-2.  Last season’s 6-40 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2019.

10/18  @ Sam Houston Bearkats  |  First meeting between schools.

10/25 
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS  |  FIU lost (10-19) the only prior meeting between schools in 2020.

11/11  @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders  |  FIU trails the series 5-13.  The Panthers are 2-8 since 2013 and their last series win (24-21) was in 2018.

11/18  @ Arkansas Razorbacks  |  FIU lost (10-58) the only prior meeting between schools in 2007.

11/25  WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS   |  FIU trails the series 6-10.  The Panthers are 2-6 since renewing the series in 2015 and their last series win (38-17) was in 2018.

Predictions:

Home:  5-1
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  0-1
CUSA:  7-1
Non-CUSA:  1-4

Overall:  8-5  (2nd in CUSA)