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Athlon Sports
FIU Football: 2024 Panthers Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
21 days ago
Optimism for FIU is usually high in the summer — at least, it has been under head coach Mike MacIntyre. However, the Panthers have to find a way to keep any momentum they establish early in the season. Injuries have definitely been partially to blame, but the Panthers have ended the last two seasons on four-game losing streaks. That chain has to break if this program is going to sneak into bowl contention in 2024.
Dual-threat quarterback Keyone Jenkins was arguably the brightest spot of FIU’s 4-8 campaign in 2023. The Miami native rushed for six touchdowns while throwing for more than 2,400 yards last season as a true freshman. In all likelihood, he’ll have the starting job again and be more formidable after adding about 12 pounds of muscle in the offseason.
The receiver room’s most notable returner is Dean Patterson, who caught 28 passes for 423 yards last season. Leading receiver Kris Mitchell, who went for more than 1,100 yards, transferred to Notre Dame.
FIU will also have the benefit of an experienced running back trio in a healthy Lexington Joseph (who missed 2023 with a knee injury), redshirt junior Kejon Owens and former FCS South Dakota standout Shomari Lawrence. Lawrence was FIU’s leading rusher last season with 566 yards, and he added four touchdowns on the ground. The rushing attack will once again come via committee in 2024 behind a younger offensive line that lost two starters from last season’s group.
Replacing defensive production is arguably FIU’s biggest concern in 2024. Leading tackler Donovan Manuel is off to the pros after recording 218 tackles over the last two seasons. Thankfully for the Panthers, they do return veteran linebacker Reggie Peterson, who had 104 tackles in 2023. He’ll likely be the defense’s key piece in 2024.
Along the defensive line, there are more holes to fill. Jeramy Passmore will need to step up and be a bigger part of a pass rush that posted only 17 sacks in 2023, putting them near the bottom of FBS.
In general, turnovers have to be more of a priority for the Panthers in the coming season. They finished 2023 with a turnover margin of minus-9. Only seven FBS programs were worse in that department last season.
Senior placekicker Chase Gabriel is fairly dependable, making 75 percent of his field goals last season. He missed only one attempt out of five from beyond 40 yards. Punter Daton Montiel, a former All-CUSA selection, returns for his redshirt senior season after averaging 40.6 yards per punt so far in college.
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