Jaymz Cosme | Contributing Writer
10 players from FIU football were selected for the 2023 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Team on Thursday, May 25.
The spotlight is on the sole member of the C-USA first team, senior linebacker Donovan Manuel.
Manuel spent his first three seasons at East Tennessee State before transferring to FIU.
He seized the opportunity and turned into a star for the Panthers, totaling 97 tackles, three passes defended and one sack.
The C-USA second-team selections included sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Guerad, junior tight end Josiah Miamen, senior linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr. and junior punter Daton Montiel.
Guerad secured 34 tackles, three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, totaling 34 yards lost.
He applied pressure all season long, especially in FIU’s double overtime game against LA Tech, where his six total tackles and sack helped secure the win.
Miamen hauled in 27 receptions for 242 yards and a touchdown this past season.
His best performance was in the final game of the season against Middle Tennessee where he tallied seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Peterson Jr. had a breakout season with 28 tackles, including six sacks and eight total tackles for loss.
His six sacks were tied for the 10th-highest single-season total in FIU history and 10th among C-USA leaders in 2022. His sacks per game were fifth in C-USA.
Montiel averaged 42.1 yards per punt. He also had 13 punts over 50 yards and a season-high of 64.
Junior wide receiver Kris Mitchell, sophomore offensive lineman John Bock II, junior defensive lineman Jeramy Passmore, junior linebacker Avery Huff and junior placekicker Chase Gabriel all make C-USA third and fourth team selections.
Mitchell started out the season hot with three catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns against Bryant.
He’d finish the season with 23 catches for 348 yards and four touchdowns.
Passmore posted 43 total tackles on the season as he was plugging up the middle of the defensive line.
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