FIU football moving Shaun Peterson Jr. from running back to linebacker

Shaun Peterson Jr., who entered this spring as the heir apparent for FIU’s starting running back job, said Tuesday he has switched to outside linebacker.

Peterson played running back in his first four years at FIU, but he was a two-way star at Broward’s Nova High.

He also has an excellent frame for linebacker at 6-3 and 215 pounds.

“It’s been going great,” Peterson said of his transition. “I’m making consistent plays.”

The switch is in line with the philosophy of FIU’s new football coach, Mike MacIntyre, who has said since his hiring in December that he would try players in different positions.

“It was a mutual decision,” Peterson said. “(MacIntyre) talked to me about it. He said, ‘Would you like to try this?’ I said, ‘of course’.’”

MacIntyre needs to replace D’vonte Price, who led FIU in rushing in each of the past two seasons and is now the Panthers’ top prospect for this month’s NFL Draft.

Before the position switch, Peterson was FIU’s most experienced running back with 478 career rushing yards, a 4.6 average and four touchdowns.

Miami Central graduate Lexington Joseph is now FIU’s most likely starter at running back. Joseph was second on the Panthers in rushing yards last year (273). He averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season, and he first made his mark at FIU when he ran a kickoff for a touchdown in 2020.

FIU also has some other options at running back, including EJ Wilson, who ran for 239 yards and a 5.7 average last year. Kejon Owens, who is also from Miami Central, and Hosea Robinson figure to be in the hunt for playing time, too.

Beyond that, true freshman Antonio Patterson is due to arrive in time for the season this fall.

“We’ve got great backs,” Joseph said. “We’re all competing.

“I know we all can make an impact, but I want to be the starter real bad.”

Joseph said he has been impressed by Peterson at linebacker.

“Shaun’s an athlete,” Joseph said. “He was a top linebacker coming out of high school. We knew he could play both.

“He felt he could make our team better at outside linebacker. He’s only been at linebacker a couple of weeks, but he’s been making plays. He’s tackled me a couple of times.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ The Panthers’ spring practices will close with Saturday’s “showcase” event, which will start at 6 p.m. at FIU Stadium. Besides football, the event – which features free admission for all – will include food-truck row; interactive games for kids; contests and prizes; and appearances by cartoon characters and super heroes. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

▪ Maleek Williams, buried on FIU’s running back depth chart with just 18 carries for 84 yards in the past three years, has also moved to linebacker. He’s a 5-11, 225-pounder who started his career at the University of Arkansas.

▪ MacIntyre said the Panthers could add some transfers this summer. “After all our spring practice are over, we will know what our needs are,” MacIntyre said. “We may also have transfers who leave our program.”

▪ FIU’s candidates at kickoff returner for this fall include Sharod Johnson, Tyrese Chambers and Jacolby Hewitt. Chambers is the likely punt returner.

Special teams coach Ricky Brumfield said MacIntyre has given him the “leeway” to use any player – starter or reserve – on his unit.

“At the same time, you have to be smart,” Brumfield said when asked about using starters on special teams. “You want to be limited in how you use them.”

▪ Jordan Doelling, who is currently in his native Australia, is due to enroll at FIU this summer. He will likely be FIU’s starting punter this fall.

This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 3:43 PM.