Yahoo Sports FIU football team hoping stronger Keyone Jenkins leads to improved play this season
The player known as “Lights Out” has bulked up.
With the FIU Panthers starting fall practice on Wednesday, coach Mike MacIntyre said quarterback Keyone Jenkins –who weighed 180 last year as a true freshman – is now up to 196 pounds.
“He bench-presses more, and his arm is stronger,” MacIntyre said of Jenkins. “He got beat up a lot last year (by pass-rushers). Now, his added size and strength will help him. Plus, he has a better grasp of our offense.
“(Jenkins) is an amazing guy. He gives everyone on the team a nickname. He’s an excellent leader.”
MacIntyre also believes he has three “excellent” running backs in Shomari Lawrence, Lexington Joseph and Kejon Owens. Lawrence was named a first-team pre-season All-C-USA running back by Lindy’s Magazine.
MacIntyre also believes he has an “improved” offensive line with plenty of experience.
“The two position where you most want to have guys with experience are offensive line and quarterback, and we have both.”
MacIntyre is also pleased with what he views as the stability of his program.
After FIU lost nine players to the transfer portal following the spring of 2023, MacIntyre said the departures this year have been more manageable, although star receiver Kris Mitchell signed with Notre Dame, and offensive tackle Phillip Houston went with Colorado.
MacIntyre said he has given his players some helpful advice regarding the portal.
“If you are transferring, you should do it in January,” MacIntyre said. “Last year, we lost those nine players, and they didn’t play (much) where they went.
“You have to embrace the transfer portal. It’s a good thing for athletes and certain teams. But there are negative for players, too. I think our players are now making better decisions (on whether to transfer or not).”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Lindy’s Magazine named FIU’s Dean Patterson its C-USA “special teams demon.” FIU’s Chase Gabriel was named Lindy’s second-team All-C-USA kicker. Patterson averaged 10.2 yards per punt return last year. Gabriel made 9-of-12 on field goals.
▪ Liberty, which won Conference USA last season in its first year in the league, is the favorite again. The Flames went 13-0 last year before losing to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Flames are led by seven players on the preseason all-league team, including quarterback Kaidon Salter. In 2023, Salter – a Tennessee transfer -- completed 61 percent of his passes for 32 touchdowns with just six interceptions for Liberty last year. He also ran for 1,089 yards and 12 TDs, winning MVP honors for the league.
Liberty running back Quinton Cooley returns after rushing for 1,401 yards, a 6.3 average and 16 TDs.
“They have key players coming back, and they are very deep,” MacIntyre said. “I know every team in our league will be gunning for them.”
▪ FIU has been picked to finish eighth in C-USA, ahead of Texas El-Paso and league newcomer Kennesaw State. UTEP lost two players to the NFL draft and also had a pair of running backs transfer out. Kennesaw State, formerly in the FCS, is playing just its 10th season overall.
▪ Middle Tennessee has a new coach – Derek Mason, formerly of Vanderbilt. He replaces Rick Stockstill, who was its coach from 2006 to 2023. Stockstill, a former quarterback, is now at his alma mater, Florida State, as an analyst.
▪ C-USA’s top NFL prospect for 2025 is Western Kentucky cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr. In fact, WKU has three of the league’s top-10 prospects, including quarterback TJ Finley and wide receiver Dalvin Smith. Finley has already played for LSU, Auburn and Texas State.
▪ Next year, Delaware will join C-USA, moving up from FCS.
