Quarterback Kohl builds chemistry quickly among FIU teammates

New FIU quarterback J.J. Kohl likes to play poker for fun, and he operates in the pocket in much the same way.

“Like in poker, sometimes you can be aggressive,” Kohl said. “But sometimes you know you don’t have a great hand, so you have to check it down or throw it away.”

Kohl, who is easily the biggest QB in FIU history (6-7, 245 pounds), is playing at his third university in three years, following stints at Iowa State in 2024 and Appalachian State in 2025.

He became a collegiate starter for the first time last season, completing 61.6% of his passes for 1,465 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Kohl parlayed that success into what a source told the Herald is a $140,000 NIL deal that is by far the largest in FIU history.

That investment is important because it signals that Kohl — at the very least — will get first crack at the QB job when the action resumes this fall.

On Saturday, Kohl led “Navy Blue” to a 17-6 intrasquad win over “Biscayne Blue” in FIU’s annual Spring Game.

There were no official statistics, but — by this reporter’s rough count — Kohl completed 12 of 19 passes for 123 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. There was no contact on quarterbacks, but Kohl had three “sacks”, one pressure that forced an incompletion and a dropped pass.

In addition, there was an interception that was called back due to an offsides call.

“J.J. had good command of the offense, which we expect of a guy who has played a lot of snaps at the college level,” FIU coach Willie Simmons said after the scrimmage. “J.J. won most improved quarterback this spring. That typically doesn’t happen for a starting quarterback.

“To see him develop and learn this offense is something we’re encouraged about.”

FIU offensive coordinator Nick Coleman is thrilled to have Kohl on this roster.

“J.J. has a high sense of awareness,” Coleman said. “He knows situational football and schematics.

“He also does a good job of bringing other people along with him on and off the field. [For example], he holds his own film sessions with [teammates] to get those guys ready.”

That film study is necessary because Kohl is building chemistry with a new group of pass catchers.

Coleman said he has noticed Kohl talking to his receivers, asking them what they saw on a particular play or how they felt on their routes.

Kohl said there’s no secret as to how to build chemistry with his pass catchers.

“It’s those hidden hours in the film room,” Kohl said. “That’s how we’re learning the offense and getting on the same page.”

Kohl has also gotten on the same page with Coleman. Even though Kohl has only been on campus for few months, he and Coleman seem to have built a solid relationship.

For one thing, Kohl loves to learn, and Coleman enjoys teaching.

“It’s fun,” Kohl said of his relationship with Coleman. “We tell jokes all the time. I love his coaching style.

“If I make a mistake and throw a pick, he’s not cussing at me. We talk through things, trying to learn and grow.”

Kohl said he has worked hard this spring at understanding Coleman’s play designs. If Kohl can figure out what Coleman wants out of each play, then the quarterback can move through his progressions faster.

That would equate to getting the ball out of his hand quicker, avoiding sacks and just being more decisive in general.

To get there, though, will require some trial and error, and Simmons has helped Kohl embrace this progress.

“Coach Simmons wants us to fail because that’s when you grow the most,” Kohl said. “You learn from failure.”

By the time the season starts on Sept. 5 at the University of South Florida, Simmons is no doubt hoping that the poker-playing Kohl has learned from his spring miscues so that he can be the Panthers’ version of the song “The Gambler,” by the late Kenny Rogers:

“You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em; know when to walk away and know when to run.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ The defense dominated much of Saturday’s scrimmage, led by safety Demetrius Hill, who had two interceptions.

▪ A report posted by FIU on April 1 that stated it would have college football’s first golden turf was – yep, you guessed it – an April Fool’s joke.

This story was originally published April 11, 2026 at 10:54 PM.