FIU’s defense starting to take shape as spring practice rolls on

Keegan Davis, Percy Courtney Jr. and Shamir Sterlin are among the players who have earned early praise from FIU defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt.

Davis, a defensive end, is in his fifth collegiate season – all of them at FIU. He has played 37 games, including 12 as a starter last year when he had a career-high 3½ sacks.

“Keegan has done a tremendous job,” Dewitt said after FIU held its fourth session of spring practice on Tuesday. “We’ve highlighted him as an example for his teammates because of his pursuit and consistent effort.”

It is notable that Davis was the first player Dewitt mentioned when asked about the defense.

Dewitt also mentioned FIU’s other starting d-lineman, Quaylen Hill, a 5-11, 315-pound tackle.

Another standout mentioned by Dewitt: Su Agunloye, a 6-6, 295-pound transfer from Marshall.

“What’s exciting about our defensive front is how much longer we are,” Dewitt said. “When I got here a couple of years ago, we were not very big at all.

“We have addressed those issues. We are now averaging 6-4 or 6-5. You have to either be wide or long or both.

“Somebody like Quaylen Hill is wide. It’s a five-dollar cab ride to get around him. Then we have guys that are long such as Su; Toddrick Brewton (6-4); Lamont Green Jr. (6-3½); Keegan (6-3) …

“They are super long, and they can defend more area. For example, they can disrupt a quarterback’s zone-read play.”

Dewitt plans to continue to use a base 4-2-5 defense with a slot corner instead of a third linebacker.

Courtney, a linebacker who is in his fourth year at FIU, “has great command of the defense,” according to Dewitt.

Dwight Nunu, a junior-college transfer who played four games for FIU last year before redshirting, is competing at linebacker with players such as Johnny Chaney Jr. and Josiah Taylor.

Chaney, a transfer from Colorado, is a “thumper in the middle,” DeWitt said.

Taylor, Dewitt said, will surprise people with his improvement.

Brian Blades, a returning starter, was the first cornerback mentioned by Dewitt. Mister Clark and Preston Thompson were other cornerbacks mentioned.

Then there’s Ashton Levells, a 6-foot-1 corner from DeSoto, Texas.

“He’s a transfer from (Butler Community College),” Dewitt said. “He’s made plays every day.”

At safety, former FIU standout Demetrius Hill has transferred back home after a short stint at Illinois.“He has to knock a bit of the rust off,” Dewitt said of Hill, who suffered a knee injury at Illinois. “But he gets it.”

Arkansas State transfer Websley Etienne is another veteran who could emerge as a starter.

But Dewitt also talked about Landon Hale and Sterlin – a pair of rangy 6-foot-2 safeties.

“Landon has the length and knowledge of the system,” Dewitt said of Hale, who is an excellent student. “He’s already working on his MBA. He’s so smart – he doesn’t make many mental mistakes.”

Sterlin was a second-string safety for three games last season before suffering a hamstring injury.

“If it clicks for him, look out,” Dewitt said. “When he figures it out, he will be one of the best safeties in Conference USA.”