Panthers offensive coordinator gives assessment of FIU’s position battles at this point

With FIU’s season opener at Liberty fast approaching Sept. 26, offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky said running back is his deepest position while the offensive line has the most question marks.

Senior running back D’vonte Price is expected to start, but Skrosky mentioned four other players who are competing for carries, including Shaun Peterson, Lexington “Flex” Joseph, Demarcus Townsend and Maleek Williams.

Skrosky said Peterson is a “big, good-looking athlete,” and the coach said Townsend has had a good camp. But it seemed like Skrosky saved his biggest praise for Joseph, a sophomore from Miami Central.

“Every day in practice, ‘Flex’ does something to make me say, ‘Dang, this kid is talented’,” Skrosky said. “He’s short [5-9], but he’s not small [195 pounds]. He has great vision and good hands, just a different style runner.”

As for the offensive line, Skrosky mentioned, in order, left tackle D’Antne Demery, guard Sione Finau, center Shane McGough, guard Mershawn Miller and right tackle Lyndell Hudson.

Depth, though, could be a factor.

“I feel about the guys who have played,” Skorsky said of his veteran linemen. “But the o-line is a position where we lack game experience overall.”

Here’s what else Skrosky said about his offense:

▪ Skrosky said the quarterback competition has yet to be thinned, with Maryland transfer Max Bortenschlager still battling redshirt junior Kaylan Wiggins, redshirt freshman Stone Norton and true freshman Haden Carlson.

Bortenschlager had three different offensive coordinators in three years at Maryland.

“His recall of all those concepts is a positive,” Skrosky said. “He’s a hard-working, talented kid, and he’s been exposed to a lot of football.”

Skrosky said Wiggins has had a “good preseason”, and the coach said Norton “is an accurate thrower who makes good decision and is intelligent in the way he can process things for a young kid.”

Carlson, Skrosky said, “is going to be very good,” perhaps signaling that his development may be a bit down the road.

“They are all splitting reps,” the coach said.

▪ At wide receiver, Bryce Singleton and Georgia transfer JJ Holloman will likely be two of the three starters. The third spot will be a battle between converted quarterback Caleb Lynum, redshirt freshmen Kris Mitchell and Nate Jefferson as well as redshirt sophomore Jordan Underwood, who is making strides.

“Kris has the speed to take the top off coverage,” Skrosky said. “Jordan has been a little bit of a surprise. He’s had a nice preseason.”

▪ At tight end, junior starter Sterling Palmer is being challenged by sophomore Kamareon Williams from Delray Beach and freshman Rivaldo Fairweather (Boyd Anderson High). “Kamareon has had a really good preseason,” Skrosky said. “Rivaldo has opened some eyes, learning the system quicker than we thought. He will see the field early.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ With the recent passing of FIU receivers coach Aubrey Hill, the Panthers have made staff adjustments. Special teams coach DJ McCarthy will now handle receivers. Harrison Green, who had previously coached at FIU in 2017, has returned to coordinate special teams. Green had been at Johns Hopkins the past two years, serving as defensive coordinator in 2019.

▪ FIU men’s basketball coach Jeremy Ballard on the ACC’s proposal for every Division I team to be allowed to make college basketball’s NCAA Tournament in 2021. “I’d be for it this year,” Ballard said. “Every program got robbed [in March when the NCAA Tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns].

“There’s so much uncertainty going forward. But if all these athletes can experience March Madness, that would be a ray of sunshine during a stormy year. Plus, if [ACC coaches] Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams are pushing this, it has a chance.”

The NCAA’s decision is expected by Wednesday.