FIU adds versatile athlete to play tight end
FIU’s newest tight end can throw a football 55 yards.
James Resar, a 6-4 and 230-pound junior college transfer, is perhaps the most interesting recruit signed by the Panthers on Dec. 3, and here are some of the reasons:
▪ In high school at Jacksonville’s Bishop Kenny, Resar showed toughness, playing the final nine games of his sophomore season despite sustaining a broken left leg.
“We thought it was a bone bruise at first,” Resar said.
Resar also showed speed on his high school track team, running the 100 meters in 10.6 seconds, which is especially impressive for an athlete his size.
▪ In the spring of 2023, Resar signed with the University of Iowa … to play quarterback.
▪ And this past season at Independence (Kansas) Community College, Resar switched to tight end … except that, due to injuries, he started the season finale at quarterback, completing 19 of 31 passes for 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
“James is a great athlete,” FIU quarterback Willie Simmons said. “He can come in right away and give us a different element [due to his size and speed]. He’s like that new wave of tight end that you see in the NFL.”
If that sounds hyperbolic, consider that Independence offensive coordinator Marlon Barnett has compared Resar to former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, who was the 14th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Resar believes he has a great opportunity at FIU because the Panthers are losing starting tight end Dallas Payne (transfer portal) and backups Justin Cayenne (out of eligibility) and Braiden Staten (retired).
Also at tight end, Jackson Verdugo, who had a strong freshman season, is due back, and FIU signed incoming freshmen Davis Brown and Ayden Passley.
Frank Ponce, FIU’s associate head coach/tight ends, goes way back with Resar. Back when he was a Miami Hurricanes assistant, Ponce recruited Resar as a quarterback, although a scholarship offer was not forthcoming.
Now, Ponce is thrilled to have Resar on his side.
“James can boogie, and his greatest asset besides his speed is his football IQ,” Ponce said. “He understands the game from a quarterback’s point of view.
“He also has great ball skills.”
FIU offensive coordinator Nick Coleman is also looking forward to working with Resar, who arrived on campus last week.
“I love that James is a former quarterback,” Coleman said. “QBs have the best ball skills. We can do some cool stuff with James — double passes, direct snaps …”
Resar, 20, said FIU’s coaches brought up the issue of trick plays.
“I’d love to have a little taste,” Resar said of FIU’s trick plays. “I’d love to have a little package.”
Resar said he was “a little rusty” when he played quarterback for Independence.
“But I wasn’t getting many good looks [at tight end due to injuries to Independence’s top two quarterbacks],” Resar said. “[Playing quarterback] was a fun way to play with no stress. And I thought our offense looked the best it had all season.”
Resar, who believes he can run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, chose FIU over Temple.
“I’m a big warm-weather guy,” said Resar, a criminal justice major. “Playing in the cold and wind in Iowa and Kansas the past couple of years was rough.”
Barnett said Resar’s biggest issue is his in-line blocking, but it’s not because he lacks the desire to mix it up with linebackers and defensive ends.
Resar said the issue is technique and having a dedicated coach who specializes in tight ends and can teach him proper footwork and hand placement. Resar will have that at FIU in Ponce.
“In our practices, James showed early on how twitchy he was,” Barnett said. “We watched him and said, “Yeah, we’ve got to get him the ball.
“Then, in just his second game with us, he made this insane one-handed catch and scored from 30 yards out.”
Beyond that, Resar said he has grown to love playing tight end.
“The position uses my physical skills better than quarterback does,” Resar said. “I can play fast and let my athleticism take over.”