Florida International Panthers 2026 Season Preview

The headline change is under center. Keyone Jenkins left for UCF and Joe Pesansky exhausted his eligibility, so Simmons went to the portal for JJ Kohl, a transfer from Appalachian State who won the starting job in the spring. At 6-7 and 250 pounds, Kohl is an imposing presence in the pocket, and he is coming off an efficient 2025: he completed 61.6 percent of his 216 attempts for 1,465 yards with 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions while starting six of his eight appearances. He began his career at Iowa State but saw little action there before the move to App State. The upside is obvious; the concern is depth, as there is little proven experience behind him.

The Panthers lost their leading receiver, Alex Perry (56 catches, 840 yards), to Illinois, but they return their next-most-productive target in Kyle McNeal (31 receptions, 310 yards), along with Maguire Anderson and Jojo Stone. The marquee addition is Greg Gaines III, who caught 65 passes for more than 1,000 yards at FCS Rhode Island and gives Kohl a proven perimeter weapon. At tight end, sophomore Jackson Verdugo (10 catches, two starts) flashed as a redshirt-eligible option, with senior Kevin Schaeffer also in the mix.

C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Kejon Owens is gone to the pro ranks after a 1,300-yard season, a major loss. FIU turns to Anthony Carrie, a Georgia Tech transfer who piled up 469 yards and five touchdowns as the No. 2 back a year ago. Evaluators around the league praise his physical, athletic running style, and he moves up the depth chart as the projected lead man. Sterling Joseph, who preserved a redshirt while rushing for 123 yards, and Devonte Lyons add depth.

This is the roster's biggest question. The Panthers were gutted up front, and the group will be rebuilt largely with returnees stepping into bigger roles and newcomers filling the rest. Antonio Tripp Jr., who arrived last year from neighboring Miami, is the most experienced holdover, with Zaire Flournoy also back inside and Daveion Harley in the middle at center. Senior Miguel Cedeno, who started the final three games in 2025, factors into the tackle picture. How quickly this unit gels will define the offense's ceiling.

The front is a genuine strength thanks to Kenton Simmons, a second-team All-CUSA edge who posted eight tackles for loss and six sacks and stands as the lone returning starter along the line. Dante Anderson complements him off the other edge after a three-sack season in which he also forced a team-high three fumbles. Germaine Carter (19 tackles, 1.5 sacks) anchors the interior, joined by a group of transfers, including RJ Moss Jr. from South Alabama, well-traveled Anthony Cunningham and Elijah Simmons, that gives the coaches real depth to rotate.

In the team's 4-2-5 alignment, the linebacker corps is led by Josiah Taylor, the leading returning tackler after racking up 76 stops with 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Percy Courtney Jr. returns on the weakside after finishing third on the team with seven tackles for loss. Appalachian State transfer Brayshawn Littlejohn (32 tackles, 4.5 for loss) brings more production, and sophomore Kani Smith is a name to watch.

The secondary is the defense's calling card, described around the conference as long, athletic and difficult to throw against. Shamir Sterlin is a rising star after a Freshman All-CUSA campaign in which he made 65 tackles and picked off two passes as a redshirt freshman. Senior safety Demetrius Hill brings veteran stability, and Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine returns at corner. The group added transfers DeAndre Boykins from Oklahoma State at nickel and Lawrence Johnson from Florida Atlantic on the boundary, alongside Da'Vontae Floyd. The unit does have to replace first-team All-C-USA defensive back Mister Clark, who left for Purdue.

With kicker Noah Grant and punter Trey Wilhoit both gone, sophomore Robert Czeremcha is in line to shoulder the placekicking and could handle punting as well, having converted four of five field goal tries across the past two seasons. Miami transfer Stone Springman is also in the mix at punter. The return game is a weapon: Maguire Anderson took a punt back 97 yards for a score against UTSA in the bowl game, and he and Devonte Lyons headline the return men.