Grading FIU football position-by-position in Willie Simmons’ first season
With the regular season over, it’s time to grade the FIU Panthers, who finished 7-5 – their first winning season since 2018.
FIU is also one of just three schools in the state that is going to an FCS bowl game this season, joining Miami and South Florida.
QUARTERBACK
Backup Joe Pesansky saved the season by going 3-0 as the emergency starter. Keyone Jenkins lost his job due to a groin injury but then returned last week with his second-biggest passing game of his season (291 yards). Credit Jenkins with a great attitude, even when everyone was raving about Pesansky. GRADE: B-
RUNNING BACK
Kejon Owens broke the program single-season rushing record with 1,298 yards, which ranked third in Conference USA. Owens, who averaged 6.3 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns, also ran for at least 100 yards five times. Backup Anthony Carrie was solid with 447 yards, a 4.7 average and five TDs. GRADE: A
WIDE RECEIVER
Hawaii transfer Alex Perry had a career year with 53 catches for 816 yards and nine touchdowns, ranking second in the league in receiving yards and tied for first in TD catches. But FIU struggled to find legit No. 2 and No. 3 receiving options. Kyle McNeal (29 catches, 9.9 average) and former walk-on Maguire Anderson (22 catches, 11.5 average) were FIU’s next-best receivers. GRADE: B-
TIGHT END
UAB transfer Dallas Payne set career highs in catches (25), yards (266) and TDs (three). True freshman Jackson Verdugo added 10 catches for 101 yards and one score. Justin Cayenne had just seven catches, but he did a good job blocking and with his knowledge of the offense. GRADE: C
OFFENSIVE LINE
Two ways to judge an o-line: rushing yards and sacks allowed. FIU averaged 5.0 yards per rush, which ranked first in the league, and this unit opened the way for Owens’ record-breaking season. In the passing game, FIU ranked fifth in the league with just 21 sacks allowed. In fact, with one fewer sack, the Panthers would’ve ranked third. Center Julius Pierce had some snapping issues at times, but this was a solid unit with guards Jaheim Buchanon and Antonio Tripp Jr. and tackles Daniel Michel and Jaleel Davis. GRADE: B+
DEFENSIVE LINE
As a team, FIU ranked tied for second in C-USA in sacks. Keegan Davis (5.5 sacks) was often praised by his coaches for his consistent effort. Davis and Kenton Simmons (6.0 sacks) finished among the top-six in the league in sacks. Those two led a deep d-line that also included run-stuffers Quaylen Hill and Olasunkonmi Agunloye; as well as Germaine “Termite” Carter; Dante Anderson (three fumbles forced); and Xion Chapman. GRADE: A-
LINEBACKER
FIU used an effective three-man rotation of Johnny Chaney Jr. (team-high 99 tackles); Josiah Taylor (66 stops); and Percy Courtney Jr. (37). When Courtney missed three games due to injury, that opened the door for Taylor. Chaney, a transfer from Colorado, made this unit go. GRADE: B+
CORNERBACK
Mister Clark, a first-year starter, earned his first name, leading the league with 16 pass-breakups, including three interceptions. Brian Blades II missed two games, but he’s a top cover corner in this league. Victor Evans III had some struggles but was solid overall. GRADE: A-
SAFETY
True freshman Jessiah McGrew was a revelation, tying for second in the league with four interceptions. McGrew played all 12 games and finished second on the team with 68 tackles. Shamir Sterlin missed just one game and finished fifth with 60 stops. These guys were so good that bigger schools will try to get them to transfer. GRADE: A+
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Noah Grant started the season as the backup but got his shot due to injury and finished third in the league in field-goal accuracy (14-for-18, 77.8 percent). He also went 25-for-25 on extra points. C’Quan Jnopierre (24.0 average) is one of the best kickoff returners in C-USA. Trey Wilhoit finished fifth in the league in punting average (43.9). Wilhoit had a couple of rough games, including a punt blocked against FAU and a punt returned for a touchdown in a loss to Delaware. But he also nailed 13 kicks inside the 20 with only two going for touchbacks. GRADE: B-
COACHING
First-year FIU coach Willie Simmons did an exceptional job on many fronts. First of all, he got rid of 48 players, many of whom did not fit his culture. He also handled what could’ve been a team-splitting quarterback controversy. He identified Owens as his bell-cow running back. He identified Perry as his go-to receiver. He played veterans when they were the best choice, but he also made the courageous/wise decision to start two rookie safeties when older players were available. Most importantly, he ended FIU’s five-year bowl drought. GRADE: A