Our early season preview rolls into week four, when Liberty will host the FIU Panthers.
Aside from a late-season upset of Miami, FIU’s 2019 wasn’t much to write home about. The Panthers weren’t horrible, but they weren’t necessarily special either.
FIU opened their 2019 season with back-to-back losses against Tulane and Western Kentucky. The Panthers defeated FCS New Hampshire in week three and lost to Louisiana Tech in week four before two blowout wins over UMass and Charlotte. From there, the Panthers defeated UTEP, got blown out by Middle Tennessee, defeated ODU, lost to Lane Kiffin and FAU, defeated the Miami Hurricanes, and lost by a field goal against Marshall to end the regular season. Arkansas State defeated FIU in the Camellia Bowl, which put FIU’s record at 6-7 to end 2019.
FIU will ask a number of former role players to fill starting positions in 2019, beginning with quarterback. In the absence of 2019 starter and current New York Jet James Morgan, dual-threat junior Kaylan Wiggins is the favorite to assume the starting role. In limited playing time last season, Wiggins completed 15 of 27 passes for 172 yards. Wiggins also rushed for 323 yards and three touchdowns in 2019.
Speaking of rushing, rising senior D’Vonte Price is favored to lead the Panthers’ backfield after 2019 backs Anthony Jones and Napoleon Maxwell signed with NFL teams. Price only rushed 50 times last year and will be leaned on in a very young running back room.
The Panthers will benefit from the return of 2017 all-C-USA freshman wideout Bryce Singleton. A season-long injury forced Singleton to redshirt 2019, but the rising junior will return to FIU’s 2020 lineup. FIU also returns senior wideout Shemar Thorton (668 yards, five touchdowns) from 2019; but will count on returnees and recruits to emerge in the absence of graduated seniors Austin Maloney and Tony Gaiter IV: who finished second and third on the team in receiving last year, respectively.
FIU ranked 69th in total defense last season, just above 80th-ranked Liberty. FIU’s defensive backs were a team strength in 2019, and the unit will remain strong in 2020. Twin brothers Rishard and Richard Dames will anchor the unit. The twins tallied 59 and 56 tackles, respectively, last season; and Rishard led the team with four interceptions. FIU also returns linebacker Jamal Gates, who had 85 tackles in 2019.
All-in-all, FIU is not the worst team on Liberty’s schedule, but they aren’t the most difficult opponent either. Liberty is the better team overall, and the Flames will win this and head into Bowling Green with a record of 2-2.
Projected Liberty record: 2-2
