New FIU coach MacIntyre works ‘deep South’ connections in football recruiting
FIU football coach Mike MacIntyre is working his “deep South” recruiting connections.
MacIntyre, the son of former Vanderbilt coach George MacIntyre, was the Memphis Tigers defensive coordinator before getting hired by FIU last Thursday. MacIntyre also played his high school football in Tennessee.
Given that, it’s no surprise that MacIntyre worked his Dixie roots to sign Antonio Patterson, who is a prep running back from Tennessee; and Jalen Bracey, a junior-college wide receiver from Jackson, Mississippi.
MacIntyre’s first FIU recruit was a local player: John Bock II, a guard/center from Cardinal Gibbons who signed on Wednesday morning. Patterson signed later on Wednesday, and Bracey signed on Thursday.
Bracey, who is 5-10 and weighs 185 pounds, ranked second among Mississippi community colleges with eight touchdown grabs this past season.
He also ranked third in receptions (42) and was twice named first-team All-Big South.
Patterson, who is 5-11 and 195 pounds, was a two-year starter at Murfreesboro’s Oakland High. All Oakland did during that time was win two state titles with a perfect 30-0 record.
In two years, Patterson gained 2,827 yards, mostly as a running back but also as a kick returner.
Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said he is confident MacIntyre will have FIU — which lost 17 straight games against FBS opponents under previous coach Butch Davis — back on track soon.
“Coach Mac is a program-builder,” Creasy said. “I expect good things out of FIU in the future.”
Creasy said Patterson was trending toward Western Kentucky. But that was before WKU lost both of its offensive coordinators: Zach Kittley to Texas Tech and Bryan Ellis to Georgia Southern.
Patterson had previously been on Memphis’ recruiting board, back when MacIntyre was on the Tigers’ staff.
Now Patterson will be going to school in a city he has yet to visit.
“I really don’t know — palm trees, good beaches,” Patterson said when asked what he knows about Miami.
Patterson has some impressive testing numbers — a 4.48 clocking in the 40 and a 285-pound max on the bench press.
Ultimately, Patterson chose FIU because of MacIntyre.
“I trust him,” Patterson said. “I’ve known him since the end of my junior year. He’s going to help me become a better player and a better man.”
▪ Former FIU left tackle Miles Frazier, who put his name in the transfer portal, signed with LSU on Thursday.
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 6:38 PM.
