Ex-Davie Western High star looking to lock down starting job in FIU secondary

Websley Etienne doesn’t lack for confidence.

“I feel like I’m an all-around safety,” Etienne said. “I can play the ball in the air, and I can come into the box and fit.”

Last year’s starting safeties have transferred out as JoJo Evans (Louisville) and C.J. Christian (Washington) landed at “Power Four” schools.

Due to those departures, Etienne, a 5-11, 190-pound transfer from Arkansas State, appears to have a solid shot at winning a starting job.

Last season, he ranked fifth on Arkansas State in tackles (56); second with five pass-breakups; and tied for second with two interceptions.

Etienne played 29 games in three years for Arkansas State, including 25 in the past two years.

“Being in college for three years already, I come with a lot of experience,” said Etienne, who helped Arkansas State finish 8-5 last season, winning a bowl game for the first time since 2019.

Etienne, who played his high school ball at Western High in Davie, said new FIU coach Willie Simmons recruited him out of the transfer portal by appealing to his desire to shine in his hometown.

THIS AND THAT

▪ FIU’s Spring Game is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Pitbull Stadium.

▪ The date for FIU’s season opener has been announced: It’s Friday Aug. 29 against visiting Bethune-Cookman.

▪ FIU junior quarterback and third-year starter Keyone Jenkins worked on a bunch of things in the offseason, including getting stronger, reading defenses and building a connection with his offensive line.

“I want to run this system like a pro quarterback,” Jenkins said. “I don’t want to make the mistakes I made my freshman and sophomore seasons.

“I want to be a real solid quarterback -- going through my progressions, making my check-downs. I want everything to go really smooth.”

▪ Kenneth Gilstrap, FIU’s new special-teams coordinator, said his unit is a Panthers priority.

“Coach Simmons has made it mandatory that starters play special teams,” Gilstrap said. “Special teams are the first thing we meet on each day.”

▪ Simmons said Julius Pierce, who has extensive experience at center, has been working at tackle this spring. Wyatt Lawson has been working as the starting center. Jaheim Buchanon, the unit’s only returning starter, has been working at guard.

Other standouts on the offensive line this spring include Jamarrion Solomon from Palmetto High; Daniel Michel from Dillard; University of Miami transfer Antonio Tripp Jr.; and Jackson Schultze from Oklahoma.

▪ Eric Nelson and Kyle McNeal have continued to impress at wide receiver, and UAB transfer Noah Grant has won the job at kicker.

▪ New FIU punter Trey Wilhoit has experience at Dodge City Community College, Eastern Illinois University and Florida A&M University.

At Dodge City, Wilhoit averaged 43.3 yards to rank as the top punter in the junior-college rankings. He had 10 punts over 50 yards, five over 60 and one at 80 yards.

At Eastern Illinois, he led the Ohio Valley Conference with a 44.0 average, the second-best performance in program history.

Said Gilstrap: “Trey is trying to perfect his swing so he can flip the field and be a game-changer.”