FIU football team adds six transfers, bringing recruiting class to 26
FIU Panthers football coach Mike MacIntyre on Wednesday announced the signing of six transfers, including former Miami Hurricanes linebacker Avery Huff.
The signees offer hope for immediate help on all three levels of FIU’s defense and also at running back and wide receiver.
Coupled with the signings that FIU announced last month, the Panthers now have 11 transfers and 15 incoming freshmen as part of their Class of 2023.
The Panthers are not expected to be highly active on Feb. 1, which is the next signing date on the NCAA calendar.
“We might sign or one two players,” MacIntyre said. “It’s a moving target because of the transfer portal.”
Here’s a look at the six signees announced on Wednesday:
▪ Shomari Lawrence, a 6-0, 210-pound running back from Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, played three years at the University of South Dakota. He had his best season in 2022, gaining 597 yards (5.6 average). He was recruited by FIU running backs coach Eric Hickson.
Lawrence will join a running-back room that includes Lexington Joseph, Kejon Owens and Antonio Patterson.
▪ Ja’Coby Matthews, a 5-11, 170-pound wide receiver, caught just 14 passes the past two years at SW Mississippi Community College.
“He was slowed by a foot injury (in 2022),” MacIntyre said. “He can really run, and he was a state champion in the high jump.”
Matthews joins a receivers group that includes Kris Mitchell, Jalen Bracey, Dean Patterson, Artez Hooker, Mike Jackson and Ross Fournet.
MacIntyre said he’s particularly excited about Jackson, who redshirted last season.
▪ Claude Larkins, a 6-4, 270-pound defensive end who won a state title at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, played three games in two years as a North Carolina State backup.
“He’s long and athletic,” MacIntyre said. “He can be dominant.”
In December, FIU added defensive tackles Jack Daly (Bryant transfer) and Marquez Tatum (junior-college transfer).
All three of those defensive linemen will join a group that includes Jordan Guerad, Ty Danzy, Jeramy Passmore and Will Prendergast.
Danzy, out with a foot injury last season, has gotten bigger and stronger, MacIntyre said.
▪ Huff, a 6-2, 205-pound linebacker from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, played 26 games in four years as a Hurricanes backup. Huff, who has great speed, can play inside or outside.
▪ Elijah Anderson-Taylor, a 6-0, 235-pound inside linebacker, started all 11 games last season, leading Northern Colorado with 111 tackles. He spent three years there before transferring.
FIU returns both its starting outside linebackers, Shaun Peterson and Alex Nobles. Starting inside linebacker Donovan Manuel also returns. Perhaps Huff and Anderson-Taylor will battle to replace Gaethan Bernadel, who transferred to Stanford.
▪ JoJo Evans, a 6-2, 195-pound safety from Palm Beach Gardens, played two years at Marshall and one for Kent State. He had a breakout season last year for Kent State, starting all 11 games and totaling 83 tackles, including 3.5 for losses.
“He’s rangy, long and athletic,” MacIntyre said. “His coach left at Marshall, and then it happened again at Kent State. He is happy to be back home.”
Evans could replace starting safety Dorian Hal, who graduated. FIU also has options such as CJ Christian and D’Verick Daniel, who had their moments last season.
FIU in December also signed three other transfers: cornerback J.T Anderson, (Bryant); 6-foot-9 offensive tackle Travis Burke from Gardner-Webb by way of Hollywood South Broward High; and ex-Louisville tight end Christian Pedersen.
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU safety Demetrius Hill was recently named a Freshman All-American as voted by the Football Writers Association. T.Y. Hilton was the only previous FIU player even to win this award.
