Manuel is back at linebacker, and FIU’s starting quarterback will likely be Grayson James

Donovan Manuel is back, but Gunnar Holmberg is still not practicing.

That’s the update regarding the two key FIU football players who suffered head injuries in last Thursday’s 38-37 overtime win over visiting Bryant University.

With FIU (1-0) set to play its road opener at Texas State on Saturday, Manuel is back practicing and is expected to start at inside linebacker. Holmberg is likely out, which means that backup quarterback Grayson James is set to make his first collegiate start.

But judging by his four-touchdown, no-interception, off-the-bench performance on Thursday, James is ready to take center stage.

James, who replaced Holmberg in the third quarter, completed 16-of-31 passes for 207 yards.

In overtime, he made two huge plays. On fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line, he correctly identified one-on-one coverage on star receiver Tyrese Chambers, hitting him with a rather easy touchdown fade pass. Then, on the winning two-point conversion, James perfectly placed a back-shoulder throw to running back E.J. Wilson.

Now it’s on to Texas State …

“It will definitely be a good moment for me – your first career start is a big thing,” James said. “But it won’t change anything with how I prepare.”

FIU coach Mike MacIntyre did not blame Bryant defensive end Chris Eaton for the hit that gave Holmberg a concussion.

“The ball was fumbled, Gunnar went to get it, and the guy (Eaton) hit him in the head with his head,” MacIntyre said. “But it wasn’t like it was a shot to hurt him. He was trying to get the ball.

“In my day, that would’ve been a fumble recovery going back the other way. They would’ve given the quarterback smelling salts and put him back in the game.

“I’m not saying that’s right. That’s why we have all the rules we have now.”

Asked what FIU needs to clean up from the Bryant game, MacIntyre laughed.

In other words, it’s a long list.

“We need to cover better on the back end at times,” he said. “We are working on the scramble lanes for the quarterback up the middle. We have to improve our running game …

“Usually we have a 15-minute correction period, but we had to extend that after the first game.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ FIU will be without its most experienced safety, Dorian Hall, for the first half on Saturday by virtue of the targeting call against him on Thursday.

▪ Texas State (0-1) on Saturday lost its opener on the road, 38-14, to Nevada. Texas State trailed 14-7 at halftime but got outscored 24-0 in a disastrous third quarter that included three turnovers.

▪ Texas State quarterback Layne Hatcher completed 33-of-51 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. But he was sacked four times and intercepted twice, and he lost one fumble.

▪ Texas State running backs totaled just 31 yards on 20 carries.

▪ MacIntyre said tight ends is one of the deepest positions on FIU’s roster. In Thursday’s game, second-stringer Josiah Miamen led the tight ends with four catches for 49 yards.

“He stood out,” MacIntyre said of Miamen, an Iowa transfer.

Starter Rivaldo Fairweather also got some touches, making three catches for 32 yards.

▪ MacIntyre said former Booker T. Washington and Syracuse University wide receiver Sharod Johnson has quit FIU’s team.