Peter Holland Jr./ Contributing Writer
If you follow the FIU football team, it’s quite obvious that expectations is extremely high for a team that finished 4-8 last season. I get it we’re a mediocre football team that can’t win games, or we can’t sell out seats every home game. That is what a stereotypical negativity from spectators that’s not to familiar about the Panthers would say and could be right. The team was in rebuild mode two years ago when Head Coach Ron Turner took over the program.Two years later after recruiting heavily in the state of Florida, returning starters are back, and expectations is higher than ever. For the head coach or one of the returning players, this is a make or break season.
FIU fans should have every right to be excited for this coming season. Eight players selected as Pre Season All Conference, first two games are away, now just recently four players from FIU are now on the watch list nationally as the best in their position. At the same time Coach Turner is now on hot seat and his job could be in jeopardy if they don’t finished the season above 500.Here are the players that are now on the watch list.
Jonnu Smith John Mackey Award for best Tight End and Wueffel Award
Its no secret Jonnu Smith is one of the best tight ends out there. He finished last season 61 catches for 710 yards and eight touchdowns. Led the nation for most receiving yards as a tight end and broke the school record for most catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. He was also selected first team All-Conference USA was All-American honorable mention according to CBS Sports.com. He’s ranked number 87 in the college football top 100 by jersey numbers and was selected as All Pre Season All-Conference USA. Not to mention he’s very active towards his community as he’s also on the Wueffel Award Watch list for best Community service.
Richard Leonard Jim Thorpe Award for best Defensive Back
Arguably the best athlete on the team after finishing last season with five interceptions two went in the endzone for touchdown. Led the nation in fumble recoveries including one he recovered that resulted to a 100 yard touchdown against FAU. With a remarkable football résumé, he could of easily gone to the NFL, yet he still got a score to settle. He’s projected to be the C-USA Defensive Player of Year and is ranked number 42nd best defensive back in the country. The defense got a whole lot better now that he’s back for one more year.
Michael Wakefield and Denzel Perine Rotary Lombardi for best linemen
For Quarterbacks, it’s hard enough to deal with one elite pass rusher attacking their blindside. Unfortunately if you’re a QB that’s playing FIU this season, you have to deal with two elite pass rushers. You heard of a one two punch for running backs? This is a one two punch for defensive ends. Both ends finished the season with 14.5 sacks combined. Wakefield led the team in tackles for loss (14.5) and was ranked number three in C-USA in sacks and was 2nd team All C-USA. Perine recorded 40 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. He was the 2nd on the team in tackles for lost and number 15 in C-USA. He was selected All-Conference USA Honorable Mention. With these two Ends and Richard Leonard at cornerback, its amazing how the defense was ranked number one in the nation in fumble recoveries,(19) and number 35 overall defense.
Its time for the team to make huge leap under Coach Turner and not be all hyped. It won’t be a easy task since their first two game is away. If the panthers get a 2-0 start, it will be the first time since 2011 when Mario Cristobal was head coach. For the seniors its all or nothing for them to finish on top and on a positive note before they become an alumni. For Panther Nation, its time for us to make a leap to come out and support the team. With Under pressure the team need us as roaring fans. Their first home game is not until September 19th against North Carolina Central. We will all find out if the team lives up to their expectation.
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