FIU Panthers ‘won’t take no’ on football recruiting trail, plus soccer star drafted
Persistence pays.
That’s one of the central themes of FIU’s Class of 2023 football recruiting class.
Coach Mike MacIntyre announced the names of 20 signees on Wednesday, and several of them opted for FIU after relentless pursuits from the Panthers staff.
Junior-college defensive tackle Marquez Tatum, for example, committed to Western Kentucky on Oct. 22. But FIU defensive line coach George Frazier kept recruiting Tatum and got him to flip two months later.
Miami Norland cornerback Jamari Holliman committed to Colorado on August 3 and FIU kept on him for the next four months, getting him to sign on Wednesday.
Moore Haven cornerback Preston Thompson had been committed to Florida Atlantic for even longer – since Nov. 23, 2021. But FIU defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt and safeties coach Nate Taye stayed connected until they got Thompson.
The most famous flip in this class was Miami Central quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who dropped Auburn due to the dogged determination displayed by offensive coordinator David Yost and recruiting coordinator Corey Bell.
“Every time we could legally be at (Central), we were there,” MacIntyre said. “One day, I was there in the morning. I came back in the afternoon. Then I went to practice. until 7:30 (p.m.), and then we went to his house afterward.
“I was there all day. We didn’t take no for an answer.”
Persistence aside, here are five more takeaways regarding FIU’s recruiting class and also on men’s soccer:
1. IMMEDIATE HELP
The Panthers are 5-24 over the past three years. In other words, the need for a talent upgrade is dire, and it helps that nine of Wednesday’s 20 signees will be on campus next month, available for spring practice, including Jenkins, Tatum and Holliman.
The other six early arrivals are tight end Christian Pedersen; offensive lineman Travis Burke; defensive linemen Jack Daly and Mykeal Rabess; outside linebacker Toddrick Brewton; and cornerback JT Anderson.
Pedersen is a University of Louisville transfer. Before that, he attended Tom Brady’s alma mater, Junipero Serra High in the San Francisco area.
2. TOWER OF POWER
Burke, who is 6-8½ and 290 pounds, is now the tallest player on FIU’s roster. Last season, the tallest FIU players were 6-6.
Burke, a transfer from Gardner-Webb, can play left or right tackle. He grew nine inches between his freshman and junior years at South Broward High, where he also played defensive end and long-snapper.
This will be the third college season for Burke, who also played high school baseball.
3. UNCOMMON TRAIT
We can assume that all Division I football players are “athletic” to some degree, but Kyle McNeal, a wide receiver from West Palm Beach Dwyer, is “freakish”, according to MacIntyre.
“He’s a former AAU basketball player who can get his elbow above the rim,” MacIntyre said. “On the football field, he’s great at grabbing those 50-50 balls.”
Landon Hale, a safety from the Jacksonville area, is also highly athletic and has a shot at winning state titles in the long jump and triple jump, MacIntyre said.
FIU also loaded up at tight end with three of them in this class because – again – their athleticism was too good to pass up.
Those tight ends are Pedersen, Braiden Staten and Rowdy Beers, who MacIntyre said has “the best name in college football.”
4. BEATING BRYANT … AGAIN
FIU opened the 2022 season with a 38-37 overtime win over Bryant.
More than three months later, the Panthers have gotten the best of Bryant again as Daly and Anderson have agreed to transfer to FIU.
At 6-3 and 315 pounds, Daly was a no-brainer graduate-transfer signing for FIU.
“If you saw us play Bryant, (Daly) ran through. us a bit,” MacIntyre said. “As soon as he came through the portal, I said, “We need to get him.’
“He brings size. He will fit perfectly.”
Anderson, who has three years of eligibility remaining, is a 6-1, 180-pound corner. MacIntyre likes his length and the fact that he’s an in-state player (Tampa).
5. FIRST-ROUNDER
Congratulations are in order for Panthers star Stephen Afrifa, who was selected eighth overall on Wednesday by Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.
Afrifa, a forward, is the sixth first-rounder in FIU soccer history. He had 10 goals this past season as FIU went 14-5-1, losing in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
FIU FOOTBALL SIGNEES
QB: Keyone Jenkins (Miami Central); WR: Luby Maurice (Palm Beach Central); Kyle McNeal (WPB Dwyer); TE: Christian Pedersen (Louisville transfer); Braiden Staten (Tennessee); Rowdy Beers (Valor Christian); OT: Travis Burke (Gardner-Webb transfer); Daniel Michel (Dillard); G/C: Jaheim Buchanon (Lehigh Acres); DL: Marquez Tatum (junior college in Mississippi); Antoine Cobb (Frostproof); Mykeal Rabess (Norland); Jack Daly (Bryant transfer); OLB: Toddrick Brewton (Northwestern); CB: JT Anderson (Bryant transfer); Preston Thompson (Moore Haven); Jamari Holliman (Norland); Victor Evans III (Monsignor Pace); S: Mister Clarke (Carol City); Landon Hale (Yulee).
