FIU football coach recruiting … and re-recruiting as he aims to fill 2022 class

FIU football coach Mike MacIntyre said he will bring in 32 recruits for this cycle – the maximum allowed by the NCAA in this transfer-portal era.

“Our roster is depleted in some areas,” MacIntyre told the Herald this week. “We need to find immediate help.”

So far, FIU has signed two prep players: Tennessee running back Antonio Patterson and guard/center John Bock II of Fort Lauderdale’s Cardinal Gibbons. FIU has also signed two junior college players: wide receiver Jalen Bracey and defensive lineman Will Prendergast.

Several other transfers are expected to join the squad soon, but that won’t be known for sure until Jan. 10, when they start classes.

That list of transfers is expected to include ex-Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt and City College of San Francisco cornerback Jesse Smith.

FIU is also expected to add Australian punter Jordan Doelling; edge rusher Paras Clines; defensive lineman DJ Aiken; and linebacker Kobe McCloud.

Hewitt returned a kickoff 72 yards this season against Idaho, which is probably of interest to new FIU special-teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield. Hewitt also played in all 18 of Indiana’s games the past two years, catching four passes for 41 yards this past season against Western Kentucky.

MacIntyre said, during his tenure, he is expecting to sign a lot of South Floridians who went away for college but now want to return.

“The transfer portal should be to our advantage with all the great players in this area,” MacIntyre said. “It’s exciting how many of them are interested in coming back.”

Besides recruiting new players, MacIntyre has been busy meeting the athletes already on his roster.

MacIntyre rented out hotel ball rooms in Orlando, Tampa and Port St. Lucie recently to meet with current players and their families.

He also flew to Baltimore to meet for three hours with star wide receiver Tyrese Chambers. In 2021, Chambers – in his first year at FIU -- broke school records set by current NFL star T.Y. Hilton, catching 45 passes for 1,074 yards, nine touchdowns and a 23.9 average.

“That worked out well for us,” MacIntyre said of traveling to Maryland to meet Chambers, who would’ve been popular in the transfer portal due to his credentials. “I spent a day in Baltimore with his mom and him at his house.”

MacIntyre said he has also talked to quarterback Grayson James, a native Texan who had his moments in 2021 as a true freshman backup.

“They had never met me,” MacIntyre said of his new players’ families. “They didn’t know me. I needed to reach out to them.

“I’m reaching out every way I can – on Zoom with the team twice. We’ve had meetings here. I’ve met with kids if they are local in Broward and Dade. I’ve called other kids.”

MacIntyre said he’s enjoyed meeting everyone.

“I got good feedback from the kids and their parents,” MacIntyre said. “I talked to them about what I believe in and how I was going to love and care for their kids and coach them.

“They asked a lot of different questions, which was good. I was able to answer them. The ones that I didn’t know, I told them that I will get the answers.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 11:25 AM.