FIU coach Simmons can’t wait for Barrett Schulz to line up for the Panthers

FIU recruit Barrett Schulz can’t use his phone without being reminded of the play that has made him an Internet sensation.

A huge target at 6-6 and 195 pounds, Schulz has given FIU great hope that he will eventually be a star wide receiver for the Panthers.

Schulz, who will arrive at FIU in June, had a great senior season at Lake Mary High, which is located 18 miles north of downtown Orlando. Schulz caught 74 passes for 1,193 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The last of those 74 catches – a so-called “Hail Mary” reception in the Class 7A state final this past Saturday night -- will be one that Schulz will never forget, and – ironically – the play happened at FIU’s Pitbull Stadium.

FIU coach Willie Simmons was on a plane when Schulz made his grab. The state finals were played during a recruiting “dead period”, which means that college coaches were not allowed on site.

“Once my plane landed, Barrett’s play was one of the first things I saw,” Simmons said. “I texted him at about 1:30 in the morning. He texted me right back so he was still riding the high.

“I said, ‘Way to make pays on the field where you will be scoring touchdowns next year.’”

To set the stage: The Lake Mary Rams entered the game with an 11-3 record. Vero Beach entered with a 14-0 record and a No. 1 rating among the state’s 7A teams.

Vero Beach had the ball and led 27-19 in the final minute. One first down would’ve iced the game, but rather than hand the ball to Jonathan Hillsman – who had rushed in this game for 238 yards and a 12.5 average – Vero Beach kneeled three straight times. Then, on fourth down, Vero Beach had its quarterback run back about 20 yards into the rear of the end zone, wasting as much time as possible before taking a safety.

Instead of having an eight-point lead and being guaranteed of at least overtime in a worst-case scenario, Vero Beach punted with 12 seconds left and the game still on the line.

That’s where Schulz came into play. Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs – a Notre Dame recruit – threw a 45-yard Hail Mary pass that was deflected by Vero Beach defenders and caught by Schulz at the four. But when Vero Beach defenders immediately grabbed Schulz, Lake Mary running back Tavarius “TJ” Brundidge – who was in the end zone -- ran over to his teammate and started yelling:

“Give me the ball! Give me the ball!”

Finally, Brundidge, as he put it, “snatched” the ball from Schulz on what was nearly a forward handoff but was ultimately ruled a lateral. From there, Brundidge scored and Lake Mary’s extra point gave the Rams a 28-27 win and the first state title in program history.

“TJ made a crazy, high-IQ play,” Schulz said.

The irony on that play is that Vero Beach had press coverage against Schulz.

“That’s why Barrett was late getting down there,” Lake Mary coach Scott Perry said. “But it ended up working out because the ball went right to him on the deflection.”

FIU offensive coordinator Nick Coleman joked on Tuesday that the Panthers will put Lake Mary’s miracle play into their playbook.

“We’ll call it ‘The Schulz,’” Coleman said.

Perry, meanwhile, called Schulz the “real deal.”

After all, Schulz finished the state final with seven catches for 129 yards even though he was being covered the entire game by Florida State recruit Jordan Crutchfield, who had three interceptions in the game.

“He’s a heck of a player,” Schulz said of Crutchfield, a 6-3, 200-pound safety. “But it came down to who wanted it more.”

The Panthers are hoping Schulz brings more of that spirit to FIU for 2026.

Perry, who played defensive end for the Florida Gators in the 1990s, said he believes Schulz will fit in “great” with the Panthers.

“We had receivers at Florida that were not as good as Barrett,” Perry said, “and we won three straight SEC titles while I was there.

“Barrett is a competitor. He wants the ball in his hands.”

Brundidge agrees.

“Whenever we needed a play, ‘B Schulz’ made it,” Brundidge said. “He’s a great person. In practice, he locks in.”

Schulz said “tons” of FIU fans are now following him on social media.

He also said he can’t pick up his phone without seeing the aforementioned winning play.

“I’ve watched it 100 times,” Schulz said. “It’s great to make this kind of first impression while playing at (Pitbull Stadium).

“I couldn’t ask for a better way to end the season.”