Here’s how the four-man battle is shaping up as FIU hopes to continue rare success at QB
Over the past three years, only three schools have had multiple quarterbacks drafted — reigning national champion LSU, perennial power Oklahoma … and FIU.
FIU’s two QBs drafted — Alex McGough in the 2018 seventh round and James Morgan in the 2020 fourth — are almost as many as the entire Atlantic Coast Conference’s three passers selected during that span.
To be fair, two of those ACC quarterbacks were first-rounders, including 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
Still, FIU’s recent success at the position is a nice feat, especially for a mid-major program, and, once the new season gets underway, the Panthers will again be looking for a new quarterback.
FIU coach Butch Davis, hired in November of 2016, will have a lot to choose from because he has signed one freshman quarterback in each of his four recruiting classes — Kaylan Wiggins in 2017, Caleb Lynum in 2018, Stone Norton in 2019 and Haden Carlson in 2020.
Those four passers figure to battle for the starting job, although it’s also possible that a graduate transfer could be brought in this summer.
Wiggins — a 6-2, 200-pound redshirt junior — is the early favorite for the starting job. He is the only one of the four who has started a college game, a 30-17 win over New Hampshire. FIU was struggling at the time, entering the game with a 0-2 record with Morgan at quarterback.
Morgan missed the New Hampshire game because of the injury, and Wiggins dominated, setting a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback (187). He also ran for two touchdowns and completed 12-of-18 passes for 127 yards.
Norton, the only non-Floridian among the four competing quarterbacks, is a 6-3, 200-pounder from Nashville. Named Mr. Tennessee Football in 2018, Norton redshirted last season, but he is expected to challenge Wiggins.
Lynum, a 6-2, 195-pound redshirt sophomore from the Orlando area, played quarterback but also defensive back in high school. This is a big year for him.
Carlson, a 6-3, 195-pounder from the Tampa area, would seem to be the biggest long-shot to win the job this fall, given the fact that he won’t even arrive on campus until next month at the earliest.
But Carlson, who passed for 2,582 yards, 33 touchdowns and just five interceptions last season, has a mature approach to his situation.
“I’m not focusing on that really,” Carlson said when asked about the starting job. “I’m just taking it as it comes. I’m going to work as hard as possible and do my best.”
Carlson said his senior year has not been what he expected. Prom was canceled and graduation ceremonies will be handled online next month, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
To keep in shape, he was able to buy some weights and work out at home. He was also able to “hop the fence” and get on a local field to throw with a couple of friends.
Once a week, Carlson jumps on the phone with FIU offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky to go over plays and concepts.
“He has a lot of knowledge of the game,” Carlson said of Skrosky. “I’ve been able to study what he gives me.
“I’m trying to use this [down] time the best way possible. I’m spending more time with my family before I go off to college. This is my last hurrah at home.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Of the six former Dade and Broward county high school football players who were drafted by NFL teams last month, three of them are expected to be immediate starters: Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (Columbus); Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (Deerfield Beach); and Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (Aquinas). All three were among the first 19 players selected in the draft.
▪ Three other South Florida draftees are projected as backups, at least initially: Patriots linebacker Josh Uche (second-rounder, Columbus); Bills running back Zach Moss (third-rounder, Hallandale); and Vikings safety Josh Metellus (sixth-rounder, Flanagan).