FIU football counting on a ‘lights out’ recruiting class for 2023

FIU football coach Mike MacIntyre bounced up to the podium for Wednesday’s National Signing Day press conference and enthusiastically yelled:

“We have a bright future!”

Just then, the lights flickered off and quickly back on, which was fitting.

That’s because perhaps the most noteworthy of the 20 new FIU Panthers announced on Wednesday is quarterback Keyone “Lights Out” Jenkins, who led Miami Central this year to a 14-0 record, a state title and a No. 2 national ranking by MaxPreps.

Listed at 6-foot and 185 pounds, Jenkins committed to FIU on July 30 and flipped to Auburn on Nov. 19 … before surprisingly signing with the Panthers on Wednesday.

Jenkins was the first recruit MacIntyre mentioned on Wednesday, and that happened within the first minute of his speech.

“We’re excited about this signing class and about the legacy of Keyone Jenkins,” MacIntyre said.

A three-star recruit, Jenkins passed for 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions this year.

“They never gave up on me,” Jenkins said of FIU’s coaches. “Even after I committed to Auburn, (FIU) never gave up. They kept recruiting me hard, and they weren’t going to stop until they got me.”

That relentlessness is a great recruiting trait, and Dillard offensive tackle Daniel Michel said it embodies MacIntyre.

“He’s the glue to everything,” Michel said. “Everybody trusts him.

“I want to go down there and be a part of the building process.”

Indeed, the Panthers finished 4-8 this past season in Year One under MacIntyre. In the two seasons right before MacIntyre, FIU went 1-16.

The Panthers will, however, have to replace several of their best players who transferred out, including wide receiver Tyrese Chambers, who signed with Maryland; and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (Auburn).

In addition, Gaethan Bernadel, who led FIU with 103 tackles, and several other Panthers players have entered the transfer portal, although they haven’t yet found a new home. That list also includes center Julius Pierce; left tackle Shamar Hobdy-Lee; wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt; defensive lineman Savion Collins; linebacker Amahri McCray; and safety Henry Gray.

Quarterback Gunnar Holmberg, who started FIU’s 2022 opener but was quickly lost to injury, has retired from football, according to MacIntyre.

That leaves a quarterback depth chart that includes 2022 starter Grayson James; young backup Haden Carlson; Amari Jones, who redshirted as a true freshman last season; and Jenkins.

“We’ll let him compete,” MacIntyre said when asked if Jenkins could win the top job in 2023. “We’re able to give a lot of reps in spring.”

As for the overall FIU recruiting picture, the Panthers signed 15 incoming freshmen and five transfers.

They got 15 Floridians and one each from Alabama, Tennessee, Connecticut, Colorado and California, and FIU signed six players from Miami, two from West Palm Beach and one from Broward.

MacIntyre said that when looking at players who have entered their names into the transfer portal, he sorts the list by area. First he looks at South Florida, then the rest of the state and then the rest of the country.

In terms of positions, MacIntyre admitted he still needs to find running backs and inside linebackers. He didn’t sign a single player at either position, but he said he’s not worried.

MacIntyre is confident he will add players at those spots through the transfer portal or during the next signing period, which begins on Feb. 1.

“(Those positions) will be our focus in January and into February,” MacIntyre said. “We didn’t get who we wanted (at RB/LB), and we didn’t want to reach. We feel there will be some good guys (available) in January and February.”

FIU FOOTBALL SIGNEES

QB: Keyone Jenkins (Miami Central); WR: Luby Maurice (Palm Beach Central); Kyle McNeal (WPB Dwyer); TE: Christian Pedersen (Louisville transfer); Braiden Staten (Tennessee); Rowdy Beers (Valor Christian); OT: Travis Burke (Gardner-Webb transfer); Daniel Michel (Dillard); G/C: Jaheim Buchanon (Lehigh Acres); DL: Marquez Tatum (junior college in Mississippi); Antoine Cobb (Frostproof); Mykeal Rabess (Norland); Jack Daly (Bryant transfer); OLB: Toddrick Brewton (Northwestern); CB: JT Anderson (Bryant transfer); Preston Thompson (Moore Haven); Jamari Holliman (Norland); Victor Evans III (Monsignor Pace); S: Mister Clarke (Carol City); Landon Hale (Yulee).

Herald writers David Wilson and Bill Daley contributed to this report.

This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 4:44 PM.