FIU gets speed by virtue of being in South Florida, where even sub-.500 high school teams have kids with sub-4.6 40s. But it’s not as easy to put bulk onto the roster, especially in bulk.

Aside from redshirt freshman Jordan White (6-4, 300), sophomore defensive tackle Isame Faciane (6-5, 290) and redshirt junior defensive tackle Andre Pound (6-3, 285), the Panthers defensive front comes in big, but not XL. And the offensive line actually got a bit smaller last year, although they blocked well enough for running back Kedrick Rhodes to run for more than 1,000 yards.

Consider this the Size Matters recruiting year for the Golden Panthers.

“We’d like to get bigger and rangier,” coach Mario Cristobal said of one recruiting goal.

So far, their oral commitment list speaks of mass on both lines, in the secondary, even at running back. One of the four recruits already enrolled, 6-0, 210-pound running back Lamarq Caldwell from Tampa Bay Tech, will be FIU’s biggest back in spring practice.

North Palm Beach Benjamin offensive lineman Trenton Saunders, who is 6-4 and 280 pounds, is the eighth recruit already orally committed to FIU or enrolled in the school at or over 270 pounds.

That super-size club includes two of the four recruits already enrolled: North Carolina Tech Prep defensive end Fadol Brown (6-4, 270) and 6-4, 285-pound offensive lineman Delmar Taylor, a Miami Beach High graduate who spent time at Navarro Junior College in Texas.

In the 280-300 pound range are recruits Marques Cheeks, 6-4, 280, and Darrian Dyson, 6-3, 295, two defensive linemen from Louisiana, which is also where FIU found Faciane.

The list tops out with offensive lineman Edens Sineace, 6-5, 334, out of Wellington Palm Beach Central.

That doesn’t include players such as 6-6, 230-pound Orlando Freedom High defensive end Dieugot Joseph or 6-3, 230-pound defensive end Michael Wakefield from Valdosta (Ga.) High.

FIU didn’t just look for size up front. Three cornerbacks — redshirt sophomore Jose Cheeseborough, sophomore Sam Miller, freshman Richard Leonard — stood 5-9.

Cristobal speaks well of all and from before Leonard’s first college game, extolled his talents. Leonard picked off three passes last season and Miller snagged two. But at times, they seemed overmatched against bigger receivers.

When Marshall’s Rakeem Cato hit Aaron Dobson for a 31-yard touchdown in the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl with a perfect throw, Miller couldn’t have had better coverage. A few more inches of height and length might have made the difference between a touchdown and second down.

Among the five defensive backs over 6-feet who saw significant playing time this season, three will be seniors next season: Jonathan Cyprien, Tevin Blanchard and Junior Mertile. One of the others, long-armed 6-2 redshirt freshman safety Justin Halley, finished the season with a team-high four . interceptions.

All five defensive backs who have orally committed to FIU stand over 6-feet. That doesn’t count First-team All-Dade defensive back Johnnie Durante from Krop High, who stands 6-0 and had seven interceptions this season because Durante likely will play on offense next season.