FIU football adds size and balance in its 23-player, 2024 signing class
FIU got Nunoo, Nana and Nonar … but they didn’t get nothing.
National Signing Day’s early period for football started on Wednesday, and the Panthers signed 23 recruits, including 13 freshmen.
One of those freshmen is quarterback Clayton Dees, who is from the Bradenton area.
“We like his arm talent and vision,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said. “He’s also very athletic. He can run.”
Among the 10 transfers are ex-Maryland offensive lineman Ja’Kavio Nonar, ex-Stetson wide receiver Nazeviah “Nana” Burris and former Dodge City linebacker Dwight Nunoo.
According to 247 Sports, FIU’s class ranks fourth in Conference USA behind No. 1 Liberty, second place Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech.
But the truth is that nobody knows if this class will be good or not.
What we do know is that it is balanced, filling almost all positions except for tight end and kickers. The Panthers signed five defensive backs and five offensive linemen as well as four each at linebacker and wide receiver. They also signed three defensive linemen, one quarterback and one running back.
With another signing period starting on Feb. 7, MacIntyre will continue to look for players, and he told the media on Wednesday that he and his staff are hoping to bring in another kicker and/or punter for added competition.
Indeed, FIU needs to replenish its roster because – aside from graduation losses -- the Panthers have lost eight players to the transfer portal, including wide receiver Kris Mitchell to Notre Dame and defensive lineman Jordan Guerad to Louisville.
Six other ex-FIU players are in the transfer portal but have not yet been picked up by another school: That list includes two starters: cornerback Adrian Cole and offensive tackle Phillip Houston.
The others are backups: quarterback Grayson James; defensive lineman Travonte O’Nea; linebacker Avery Huff; and safety D’Moir Jean-Baptiste.
As for the players signed on Wednesday, MacIntyre picked up a lot of size, most notably 6-5, 220-pound wide receiver Desna Washington, a New Mexico transfer; and 6-5, 250-pound linebacker Eddie Walls, a 6-5, 250-pound linebacker from Bethune-Cookman.
Of FIU’s 23 recruits, 18 are from Florida. And, of those 23 newcomers, only seven will arrive in the summer and thus not be available for spring ball. Those seven are running back Devonte Lyons; wide receivers Eric Nelson Jr. and Nicholas Smith; offensive linemen Jonathan Rodriguez and Knajee Saffold; and defensive backs Jaden Williams and Sadonnie Gay.
Former Northwestern coach Michaelee Harris said Gay could be FIU’s safety of the future. Harris said that when he first started working with Gay, he quickly noticed that this was a player who is a sure tackler.
“We moved him into the box,” Harris said. “He’s an explosive guy who makes tough tackles in short yardage.
“With the way he covers, he’s a hybrid guy.”
Rodriguez is another interesting FIU recruit, and here’s why:
In December of 2021, Cardinal Gibbons center John Bock II became MacIntyre’s first-ever FIU recruit. On Wednesday, MacIntyre signed another Cardinal Gibbons center -- Rodriguez, a 6-5, 280-pounder and a two-year starter.
“He’s very flexible, and his snaps are strong,” Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc said of Rodriguez. “He’s a 4.0 (grade-point average) student. He can make all the calls (on blocking assignments).”
Unfortunately for FIU, Bock will miss most of the 2024 season due to an NCAA suspension regarding usage of a banned supplement.
DuBuc was asked to compare Bock with Rodriguez.
“I don’t think you want to get into a fight with (Bock) in a phone book – he’s nasty,” DuBuc said. “But (Rodriguez) is longer. Both of them are highly competitive.”
FIU 2024 FOOTBALL SIGNINGS
QB: Clayton Dees, 6-2, 190, Bradenton Palmetto; RB: Devonte Lyons, 5-10, 185, St. Augustine; WR: Desna Washington, 6-5, 220, New Mexico (transfer); WR: Nicholas Smith, 6-0, 170, Stranahan; WR: Eric Nelson Jr., 6-1, 165, Miramar; WR: Nazeviah “Nana” Burris, 5-11, 185, Stetson (transfer); C/G: Jonathan Rodriguez, 6-5, 280, Cardinal Gibbons; C/G: Knajee Saffold, 6-5, 325, Port St. Lucie/Treasure Coast; OT: Ja’Kavio Nonar, 6-7, 285, Maryland (transfer); OT: Jaleel Davis, 6-6, 315, North Carolina State (transfer); OT: Ben Shellenback, 6-5, 295, Tusculum (transfer); DT: Cole Gustafson, 6-5, 310, American River CC (transfer); DL: Robert Williams, 6-3, 265, Columbus; DL: Germaine Carter, 6-1, 275, Norland; LB: Josiah Taylor, 6-0, 210, Sebring; LB: Dwight Nunoo, 6-0, 230, Dodge City (transfer); LB: Travion Barnes, 6-1, 220, Georgia Military (transfer); LB: Eddie Walls, 6-5, 250, Bethune-Cookman (transfer); CB: Raheim Sexil, 6-1, 185, Riverview Sumner; CB: Shamir Sterlin, 6-1, 185, Treasure Coast; S: Sadonnie Gay, 6-1, 185, Miami Northwestern; S: Ashton Levells, 6-1, 170, Butler C.C. (transfer); S: Jaden Williams, 6-2, 190, Plantation.
