Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537537
A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 8 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M If you're going to try building a nation- ally relevant football program in a state where there's already an abundance of historically successful Power Four teams, you might as well attempt it in Florida. At least there are plenty of elite players to go around. Florida International leaned into its Sunshine State identity when it hired Willie Simmons to take over the program after six consecutive losing seasons under Butch Davis and Mike MacIntyre. Sim- mons is a Tallahassee native whose first coaching job was as a high school assis- tant in his hometown. From 2018-23, he was head coach at Florida A&M, where he went 45-13 in five seasons. Simmons has been lauded for his re- cruiting prowess in Florida, and those ties to the high school coaching community will come in handy while he tries to build a roster that can compete in Conference USA. Even before he was officially hired, he pulled off a significant recruiting win by convincing quarterback Keyone Jen- kins to remain at FIU for his junior year. Jenkins totaled 4,971 yards, with 33 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, in his first two seasons. He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 180 yards and 8 more scores during that span. Those are the kind of numbers that can make some- one into a commodity, and the Miami na- tive was indeed thinking about entering the transfer portal last December. But just before Simmons was announced as head coach, he texted Jenkins in hope of convincing the rising junior to delay his decision. Jenkins agreed and has since bought into Simmons' plan for upgrading the program. That plan involves keeping the home- grown talent in South Florida, as well as judicious use of the portal to import the kind of players who will be needed to breathe life into a program that has en- joyed only four winning seasons in its 23- year existence. This year's backfield exemplifies that approach. The Panthers return veteran running back Kejon Owens, who's rushed for 928 yards and 11 touchdowns in three active seasons at FIU. But they also brought in a high-impact transfer in Ajay Allen, formerly of Miami and Nebraska. Another former Hurricane, guard An- tonio Tripp, was signed to bolster an of- fensive line that returns just one starter — interior lineman Jaheim Buchanon. The receiver corps is FIU's biggest question mark on offense. The Panthers are hoping that Juju Lewis is ready to shine after suffering a season-ending ACL tear last September. Lewis had shown big- play potential before getting hurt, total- ing 93 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 5 catches (18.6 yards per catch). Defensively, the Panthers return only two starters, but they're good ones. Cor- nerback Brian Blades II, son of former Miami and NFL wideout Brian Blades, totaled 29 tackles, 6 pass breakups and an interception as a junior. Up front, defen- sive end Keegan Davis had 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks. FIU will be heavily reliant on transfers elsewhere. Linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr. is a former Florida A&M standout who played for Deion Sanders at Colorado last year. Safety Wesley Hill spent the past two seasons at Illinois but was a Freshman All- American for FIU in 2022 and is now back where he started. After finishing 115th in the FBS in scor- ing offense (20.1 points per game) and 73rd in scoring defense (25.8) a year ago, the Panthers will be looking to make strides on both sides of the ball this sea- son. — Matt Herb S E P T . 6 | N O O N | B T N | B E A V E R S T A D I U M | S T A T E C O L L E G E Ke y o n e J e n k i n s t h r e w f o r 2 , 5 57 y a r d s w i t h 2 2 touchdowns and 8 interceptions as a sophomore last season. PHOTO COURTESY FIU ATHLETICS GAME 2 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL BEST-CASE SCENARIO Keyone Jenkins' return could give the Panthers the offensive boost they need to vie for their first bowl appearance since 2019. WORST-CASE SCENARIO The defensive rebuild could undermine FIU's attempt at a quick turnaround under Willie Simmons. QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Penn State leads, 1-0 Last Meeting: Anthony Morelli completed 23 of 38 passes for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 59-0 shutout of visiting FIU on Sept. 1, 2007 Head Coach: Willie Simmons (first season at FIU; career coaching record: 45-13) 2024 Record: 4-8, 3-5 Conference USA Returning Starters: 5 (2 offense, 2 defense) RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Kejon Owens (392 yards, 5 TD) Passing: QB Keyone Jenkins (2,557 yards, 22 TD) Receiving: WR Juju Lewis (93 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: DE Keegan Davis (30) Sacks: DE Keegan Davis (3.5) Interceptions: CB Brian Blades II, LB Percy Courtney Jr., S Antonio Patterson, NB Bobby Salla Jr. (1) 2025 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2024 Result Aug. 29 Bethune-Cookman — Sept. 6 at Penn State — Sept. 13 Florida Atlantic — Sept. 20 Delaware — Oct. 4 at Connecticut — Oct. 14 at Western Kentucky — Oct. 21 Kennesaw State L, 27-26 Oct. 29 at Missouri State — Nov. 8 at Middle Tennessee State W, 35-24 Nov. 15 Liberty L, 31-24 (OT) Nov. 22 Jacksonville State L, 34-31 Nov. 29 at Sam Houston L, 10-7