Five Things To Watch in FIU football’s matchup Tuesday at Western Kentucky
FIU’s football team – which has lost two straight games -- held a players-only meeting earlier this week.
The Panthers (2-3 overall, 0-1 Conference USA) are hoping to get back on track on Tuesday night when they visit Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
However, Western Kentucky, which is a 7½-point favorite, is 5-1 overall and leads the league with a 3-0 conference record. In addition, Western Kentucky has beaten FIU five straight times, and the Panthers lost 73-0 the last time they went to Bowling Green, which was in 2022.
WKU has won at least eight games in each of the past four years. In that same span, FIU is 13-35.
Here are your five things to watch:
1. JENKINS’ PRODUCTION
Panthers quarterback Keyone Jenkins – who has four turnovers in his past two games – remains the starter.
Jenkins did not finish FIU’s previous game, a 51-10 loss to Connecticut. However, FIU coach Willie Simmons said it was not a benching but rather a decision to rest Jenkins, who had suffered a mild ankle injury.
In five games this season, Jenkins is completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 775 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.
Backup Joe Pesansky has gotten into three games, completing 63.6 percent for 168 yards, no TDs and two picks.
Jenkins has earned 5.5 yards per attempt as compared to 7.6 for Pesansky. However, Jenkins has a much better interception percentage per pass (2.9 to 9.1).
“Because of the nature of the position, the brunt of the blame will fall on the quarterback’s lap,” FIU coach Willie Simmons said. “Of course, Keyone has to play better. But I have to coach better. We all have to play better and coach better.
“We had 42 missed assignments on defense (against UConn). We had 29 on offense. We had two busted coverages that resulted in 60-yard touchdowns, missed tackles, missed alignments … None of that is on the quarterback.
“Yes, (Jenkins) has to make better decisions with the football. He has to protect it. But for us to play the football we need to play, it’s going to take all 11 – not just the quarterback.”
Asked directly about competition at the position, Simmons said: “No, we’re not opening up a quarterback competition right now. Keyone Jenkins is our starting quarterback.”
Simmons added that if Jenkins continues to turn the ball over, and he is missing assignments, and he’s late with throws, then “at that point, his job would be in jeopardy.”
2. HELP FOR PERRY
Alex Perry leads FIU with 16 receptions, but Simmons has said he wants to see more out of his wide receivers.
“It starts with our practice habits,” Simmons said, “and running our routes at full speed so we can get our timing down.”
Simmons said FIU uses tracking devices on its players during practices. These devices, Simmons said, show that his receivers are not running full speed on a consistent basis.
“Too many times after practice, (strength and conditioning coach Matt) Hickman has had to pull receivers aside to get their high-effort work in,” Simmons said. “A receiver should never have to get extra running done after practice.
“Our guys are running. But they’re not running full speed.”
3. WKU PASSING GAME
Western Kentucky quarterback Maverick McIvor leads C-USA in passing yards per game (284) and passing touchdowns (12).
McIvor transferred in from Abilene Christian, where last year he passed for more than 3,800 yards, 30 TDs and eight interceptions. Rick Bowie, who was Abilene’s offensive coordinator, is now WKU’s OC, which has made for an easier McIvor transition.
In a 52-51 loss at Texas Tech last year, McIvor completed 36-of-51 passes for 506 yards, three TDs and no interceptions, so he is legit.
4. DBs RETURNING
The good news for FIU is that two of their five starting defensive backs – cornerback Brian Blades II and safety Shamir Sterlin – appear to be ready to return on Tuesday.
FIU safeties coach Kenneth Gilstrap said Sterlin can be elite.
“He doesn’t need football,” Gilstrap said. “He’s a highly intelligent kid. He is a civil engineering student. The game needs Shamir more than Shamir needs football.”
5. DAVIS EMERGING
Defensive end Keegan Davis, who has been praised by his coaches as FIU’s biggest all-effort player, has a team-high three sacks in five games. Prior to this year, he had just 4½ sacks in 37 games.
“A lot of the plays I’m making are because of my (fellow defensive linemen),” said Davis, a fifth-year senior. “As long as we rush as a unit, one of us is going to get home, and I don’t care who it is. I just want to win.”
To Davis’ point, FIU ranks tied for third in C-USA with 11 sacks. But the Panthers are next-to-last in fumbles forced (three) and recovered (two).
Davis said FIU defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze wants his players hunting strip sacks.
“We can make a great play,” Davis said, “and (Udeze) will tell us, ‘Get the damn ball out!’”