Senior Darian Mallary likely again will get the majority of the running back work this week with a sprinkling of junior Kedrick Rhodes. Senior Jeremiah Harden’s practicing but still nursing knee and ankle injuries. Senior wide receiver Jacob Younger should be back from the hip pointer sustained against Middle Tennessee State.

Long-snapping issues

Senior Shae Smith handled the long-snapping duties in the season opener, along with playing center for the first time in college. Two high snaps leading to a missed field goal and a blocked field goal sent FIU back to its regular long snapper, senior Mitch McCluggage. McCluggage has had three bad snaps this season, one for a safety and two (in the last two weeks) causing punter Josh Brisk to be tackled before he could punt and setting up opponent touchdown drives. There could be a change again Saturday at South Alabama.