(QB Keyone Jenkins – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
QB Keyone Jenkins, RB Shomari Lawrence, RB Kejon Owens, WR/PR Dean Patterson, WR Eric Rivers, TE Rocky Beers, OC Ming Tjon, OG Naeer Jackson, OG Wyatt Lawson, OT Travis Burke, DE Jeramy Passmore, LB Elijah Anderson-Taylor, LB Reggie Peterson, CB Brian Blades II, CB Hezehiah Masses, NB Jamal Potts, FS CJ Christian, KR Ross Fournet, PK Chase Gabriel, and PT Daton Montiel.
Key Players Departing:
QB Grayson James (Boston College transfer), WR/KR Jalen Bracey, WR Kris Mitchell (Notre Dame transfer), OC John Bock II, OG Jacob Peace, OT Phillip Houston (Colorado transfer), DE Jordan Guerad (Louisville transfer), NG Jack Daly, LB Donovan Manuel, LB Alex Nobles, CB Adrian Cole (Arkansas State transfer), and SS D’Verick Daniel.
(QB Clayton Dees – Bradenton.com)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: EDGE Eddie Walls III (Bethune-Cookman transfer), DS Jaden Williams (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), RB Devonte Lyons (St. Augustine, Florida), EDGE Giovanni Davis (UT-Martin transfer), QB Clayton Dees (Palmetto, Florida), OT Jonathan Rodriguez (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), CB Raheim Sexil (Bradenton, Florida), LB Josiah Taylor (Sebring, Florida), DE Germaine Carter (Miami, Florida), and DS Shamir Sterlin (Port. St. Lucie, Florida).
2023 Results:
G01 @ Louisiana Tech L 17-22
G02 MAINE W 14-12
G03 NORTH TEXAS W 46-39
G04 @ UCONN W 24-17
G05 LIBERTY L 6-38
G06 @ New Mexico State L 17-34
G07 UTEP L 14-27
G08 @ Sam Houston W (2OT) 33-27
G09 JACKSONVILLE STATE L 16-41
G10 @ Middle Tennessee L 6-40
G11 @ Arkansas L 20-44
G12 WESTERN KENTUCKY L 28-41
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 4-8 (9th in CUSA)
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 1-7
Non-CUSA: 3-1
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre
Florida International: 8-16
Career: 54-81
Bowls: 0-1
(RB Shomori Lawrence – Miami Herald)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Keyone Jenkins (194-332, 2414 yards, 58.4%, 7.3 avg., 11 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Shamori Lawrence (125 car., 566 yards, 4.5 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Eric Rivers (32 rec., 370 yards, 11.6 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Keyone Jenkins (7)
Sacks: Reggie Peterson (3.5)
Tackles: Reggie Peterson (104)
Interceptions: CJ Christian (3)
Pass Deflections: Brian Blades (6)
Tackles For Loss: Reggie Peterson (7.5)
Forced Fumbles: Jamal Potts (2)
Kick Returns: Ross Fournet (12 ret., 213 yards, 17.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Dean Patterson (13 ret., 132 yards, 10.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Chase Gabriel (9-12 fg/fga., 75%, 21-23 xp/xpa., 48 pts.)
Punting: Daton Montiel (72 punts, 2820 yards, 39.2 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 Keyone Jenkins (SO)
RB: 0 Shomari Lawrence (RS SR/TR)
WR: 9 Nazeviah Burris (GR/TR)
WR: 11 Dean Patterson (RS JR/TR)
WR: 13 Eric Rivers (RS JR/TR)
TE: 89 Rocky Beers (RS JR/TR)
LT: 77 Travis Burke (RS JR/TR)
LG: 50 Naeer Jackson (RS SO)
OC: 59 Jahiem Buchanan (RS FR)
RG: 55 Wyatt Lawson (RS JR)
RT: 56 JaDarious Lee (RS SO)
KR: 15 TJ Snowden (RS SO/TR)
PK: 37 Chase Gabriel (SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 44 Keegan Davis (RS JR)
NT: 93 Cole Gustafson (JR/TR)
DE: 8 Jeramy Passmore (RS SR/TR)
LB: 10 Eddie Walls III (JR/TR)
LB: 1 Elijah Anderson-Taylor (RS SR/TR)
LB: 0 Reggie Peterson (RS SR)
NB: 7 Jamal Potts (SR)
CB: 12 Hezekiah Masses (JR)
CB: 22 Brian Blades II (RS JR)
FS: 4 CJ Christian (SR/TR)
BS: 32 Bobby Salla Jr. (RS JR/TR)
PR: 11 Dean Patterson (RS JR/TR)
PT: 25 Daton Montiel (RS SR/TR)
(LB Reggie Peterson – FIU Athletics)
Team Grades
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 @ Indiana Hoosiers | FIU trails the series 0-3. The Panthers lost (28-38) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/07 CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS | FIU lost (27-31) the only prior meeting between schools in 2021.
09/14 @ FAU Owls | FIU trails the series 5-16. The Owls are 2-7 since 2014, and they lost (7-52) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/21 MONMOUTH HAWKS | First meeting between schools.
09/28 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | FIU trails the series 1-5. The Panthers lost (17-22) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (42-34) was in 2022.
10/08 @ Liberty Flames | FIU trails the series 0-2. The Panthers lost (6-38) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (34-36) the inaugural meeting in 2020.
10/16 @ UTEP Miners | The series is tied 3-3. The Panthers lost (16-27) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (32-17) was in 2019.
10/22 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | Last season’s 33-27 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/29 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | FIU trails the series 1-2. The Panthers lost (17-34) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (21-7) was in 2022.
11/16 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | FIU trails the series 0-2. The Panthers lost (16-41) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (10-19) the inaugural meeting in 2020.
11/23 @ Kennesaw State Owls | First meeting between schools.
11/30 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | FIU trails the series 5-14. The Panthers 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (4th in CUSA)
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