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As the FIU Panthers make their way to Montgomery for the Camellia Bowl, the week will be marked by bowl practices and the first day that recruits can sign their letter of intent. Wednesday's early signing day ushered in the first batch of players for the 2020 recruiting class.
FIU had 15 players announce their commitment today, which is in line with the projections of between 14-18 players that the staff anticipated would make their decisions in time for the December signing period.
The early class consists of five offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two wide receivers, with a quarterback, running back and tight end filling out the group.
Head coach Butch Davis noted the need across the offensive line.
“Every recruiting class always has an area of importance and this year that was the offensive line,” Davis said. “We had four guys graduate last year who played an enormous amount of time for us and we needed to bring in players who would compete for starting jobs and help us build depth.”
Expect between 3-5 spots to be held open for JUCO, graduate transfers, or late transfers from other programs when the January signing period approaches.
Additionally, McArthur safety Jerrold Pough is anticipated to be signing during the January period.
The Panthers class currently consists of the 15 signed today, but expect a couple of names to be added to the class in the coming weeks.
As of right now, the 2020 class is ranked third in Conference USA according to 247 sports.
Of the 15, nine are from the three-county area that make up South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, Dade), which is expected to be of particular emphasis for this year’s class.
Here are the players who signed on Wednesday and their film.
Jose Mirabal
Guard/Tackle, 6-4, 285
South Dade HS (Homestead, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Kejon Owens
Running Back, 5-9, 175
Central HS (Miami, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Xavier McGriff
Wide Receiver, 6-2, 185
Baldwin HS (Jacksonville, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Haden Carlson
Quarterback, 6-3, 195
Steinbrenner HS (Tampa, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Jahmari Sylvester
Guard, 6-4, 300
St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Theodore “Teddy” Richardson
Wide Receiver 5-11, 185
Booker T. Washington HS (Miami, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Tamarick Best
Defensive End, 6-1, 225
Pahokee HS (Pahokee, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Andrew Volmar
Safety, 6-2, 170
American Heritage HS (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Shykieim Gloster
Defensive End, 6-3, 215
Monsignor Pace HS (Opa Locka, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Bobby Washington
Defensive Tackle, 5-10, 305
St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Rivaldo Fairweather
Tight End, 6-5, 210
Boyd Anderson HS (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Miles Fraizer
Tackle, 6-7, 300
Woodrow Wilson HS (Camden, NJ)
247 Ranking: 2-star
Maljon Joor
Tackle, 6-5, 325
Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. (Jackson, MS)
247 Ranking: 3-star
Kameren Williams
Tackle, 6-5, 285
Trinity Valley C.C. (Athens, TX)
247 Ranking: N/A