FIU Panthers:
The FIU Panthers are gearing up for an important 2024 football season under head coach Mike MacIntyre. After a rebuilding 2023 campaign, the question surrounding the Panthers is whether last season was an outlier or if they are trending upward as a program.
Offense
Sophomore QB Keyone Jenkins is set to lead the Panthers’ offense. Jenkins showed promise last season with 2,400 yards through the air and he did have six rushing touchdowns, although he was credited with 117 carries for just 50 yards. Jenkins was sacked 37 times, a byproduct of holding the ball too long and having a lackluster offensive line.
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The running game will be spearheaded by Shomari Lawrence, a junior transfer known for his agility and speed. He had 4.5 yards per carry last season and Kejon Owens, a redshirt junior, had 5.7. The receiving corps is led by Eric Rivers, but the loss of Kris Mitchell is enormous. He had 1,118 yards, a 17.5 average, and seven of the team’s 12 receiving scores.
Defense
FIU finished last season with just 17 sacks, as they failed to generate negative plays. They also only had six interceptions. They did allow fewer than six yards per play for the first time since 2020 and actually ranked in the top 25 in red-zone TD% against.
MacIntyre attacked the transfer portal in hopes of finding some edge rushers and this will be a mash-up of returnees and newcomers for DC Jovan Dewitt in his third season with the program. For a team that was outscored by an average of nearly 12 points per game, a lot of work has to be done here.
Outlook
I would understand any enthusiasm Panthers fans have after last season’s better-than-anticipated performance, but TSI is not as optimistic, projecting just 3.9 wins and rating them last in the conference with the eighth-rated offense and ninth-rated defense.
Pick: Under 4.5 Wins
