FIU’s improvement on offense is largely Rocket-fueled thanks to former Miami Central stars

The Miami Central High Rockets are making a significant impact on FIU Panthers football.

Keyone Jenkins, who is 2-0 as the starting quarterback, and running back Kejon Owens, who is coming off a career-high 101-yard game, are both ex-Rockets. Running back Lexington Joseph, who led FIU in rushing last season and is out for this year due to an injury, is also a Central product.

Owens — the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week — said there’s no mystery why Rockets players are successful on the next level.

“Miami Central is a big-time program,” said Owens, who is Jenkins’ roommate. “We come from hard work and discipline. We just do what we do.”

Jenkins, who ranks second in Conference USA in passing yards per game (291.5), added this: “I always say: ‘It’s not Rocket science. It’s Rocket football.’”

But it’s not just Central.

When the Panthers (2-1) visit the Connecticut Huskies (0-2) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network), there will be a total of six offensive starters and four defensive starters who hail from South Florida high schools.

Aside from Jenkins, the list on offense includes center John Bock II (Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons); guard Naeer Jackson (Miami Killian); tackle Travis Burke (Hollywood South Broward); tight end Jackson McDonald (Marathon); and running back Shomari “Showtime” Lawrence (Pompano Beach Ely).

Defensive starters from South Florida include cornerbacks Jamal Potts (Delray American Heritage), Hezekiah Masses (Deerfield Beach) and Adrian Cole (Plantation); and defensive end Jeremy Passmore (Miami Columbus).

Owens, by the way, said he visited Central just last week.

“Central is always in my heart — it’s home,” Owens said. “I have so much Central gear that it’s all over the place. I don’t even know where.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ FIU middle linebacker Donovan Manuel leads C-USA with five tackles for losses. FIU wide receiver Kris Mitchell leads the league in reception yards per game (99.0). Lawrence is second in rushing yards (254).

▪ The Panthers, who have won two games in a row and are off to their best three-contest start since 2018, are starting to show some defensive depth.

In last week’s 46-39 win against North Texas, the Panthers were without a pair of injured standouts: linebacker Khaya Wright and safety Ladarian Paulk. However, linebacker Avery Huff and safety CJ Christian stepped in and made plays.

▪ Jenkins said Masses is so good that he often avoids throwing toward his direction in practice. Masses, who had a pick-six last week, said North Texas was trash-talking about FIU’s supposed lack of physicality. “[But] they laid down in the fourth quarter after we kept scoring,” Masses said.

▪ Connecticut, which went 6-7 and lost its bowl game to Marshall last year, is in its second season under coach Jim Mora. The Huskies beat host FIU 33-12 last year.

▪ The Huskies this year have lost at home to North Carolina State 24-14; and on the road at Georgia State 35-14.

▪ Connecticut has used quarterbacks Joe Fagnano and Ta’Quan Roberson fairly evenly this year. But Fagnano, who was Maine’s starter last year, has been ruled out for Saturday due to injury. Roberson won Connecticut’s starting job last year but got hurt in the season opener and didn’t return until 2023.

▪ Running back Victor Rosa and wide receiver Brett Buckman are Connecticut’s top playmaking threats. Rosa led the Huskies in rushing (636 yards) and touchdowns (11) last year. This year, he leads the team in rushing yards (116) and average per carry (6.1). Buckman, who had 61 catches in four years at Delaware, tops the Huskies in receiving yards (11 for 112).