Spring has sprung for head coach Willie Simmons and the FIU football program. Tuesday will mark the first of 14 official spring practices. With the new single transfer portal window, putting a bit more weight into these practices seems like a fair assumption to make. But before going into the X’s and O’s, it’s time to dive into what the Panthers’ offseason looked like.
FIU Football: 2026 Offseason Roundup
Transfer Portal Additions and Departures
Key departures: Alex Perry (WR), Keyone Jenkins (QB), Joe Pesansky (QB), Kejon Owens (RB), Brian Blades II (CB), Jessiah McGrew (S), Daniel Michel (OL), Xion Chapman (DL), Jaheim Buchanon (OL), Mister Clark (CB), and Dallas Payne (TE)
Transfer portal additions: DeAndre Boykins (S), Oscar Colon (OL), Anthony Cunningham (DL), Jamorie Flagg (DL), Da’Vonte Floyd (CB), Ryan Gadson (CB), Greg Gaines III (WR), Daveion Harley (OL), Nathan Jennings (DL), Lawrence Johnson (CB), JJ Kohl (QB), Brayshawn Littlejohn (LB), Zach Marker (QB), Wesley Miller (S), RJ Moss Jr. (DL), James Resar (TE), Manasseh Ripert (OL), Kevin Schaeffer (TE), Elijah Simmons (DL), JaCorey Stewart (LB), and Spencer Webb (OL)
Notable transfer portal additions for FIU
The expectation around FIU was that wide receiver Alex Perry would return to the football program, given the conversations that took place. However, he did end up entering the portal, later committing to and signing with Illinois. To replace his production, FIU brought in Rhode Island transfer Greg Gaines III.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, the redshirt senior hauled in 65 receptions for 1,018 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games played this past season. He was named to the CAA All-Conference Second Team. Expect Gaines to be the Panthers’ top receiver early on in 2026.
It all starts with the quarterback, so FIU went in and brought in a name that they have targeted before in JJ Kohl. The Appalachian State transfer was on the Panthers’ radar last offseason when he entered the portal the first time, but joined the Mountaineers. In eight games, Kohl completed 133 passes for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns. Standing at 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, Kohl should be at an advantage, being able to see well over his offensive line. And, many say that he has some sneaky speed.
Losing three of your five offensive linemen to the transfer portal and graduation was tough for the Panthers. But after Antonio Tripp Jr. entered the portal, they were able to bring him back, and he will slot in as the team’s right guard. Zaire Flournoy, who played in all 13 games this season, will likely be the starting left guard.
Through the transfer portal, Edwin Pata brought in Presbyterian College transfer Oscar Colon, who garnered plenty of interest. He earned All-PFL Honorable Mention honors this past season. Along with Colo, FIU went into the ACC and brought in Quincy, Florida native Daveion Harley, who was previously at Cal. Prior to his time at Cal, Harley was a starter with the Jacksonville State team that won the Conference USA championship. Additionally, the expectation is that FIU will add a couple more offensive linemen through the portal.
With the departure of three tight ends, FIU had to rebuild the room. They went and added JUCO transfer James Resar and Rhode Island transfer Kevin Schaeffer. Resar, a former quarterback, is known for his speed. Last season with Independence Community College, he caught 12 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. As for Schaeffer, expect him to be more of a blocking tight end and help out more in the run game. In 2025, both of his receptions were for touchdowns. He also had 58 yards receiving.
“Now, transitioning to tight end is a real plus for us because he already understands the entire passing game,” said tight ends coach Frank Ponce. “He should have an immediate impact. He’s a veteran guy who has played junior college football; he understands the game, and he’s someone we expect to contribute right away. He definitely possesses the skills, and we’re excited to see him go out and perform for the Panthers.”
On the defensive side of the ball, safeties coach Kenneth Gilstrap went out and brought in some experience with DeAndre Boykins from Oklahoma State and Wesley Miller from South Alabama.
Boykins, who before his time at Oklahoma State was at the University of North Carolina, posted 67 total tackles (48 solo, 19 assisted), 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception in 2022. Boykins has just been unable to replicate that successful season ever since, but he will be competing for the lone starting safety job.
Meanwhile, Miller was an addition that not many expected to see, especially after a back-to-back 59 total tackle seasons. In 2025, he had 59 total tackles (31 solo, 28 assisted) with 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception. When his former South Alabama teammates RJ Moss and Nathan Jennings told Simmons about Miller, they made the move to bring him in.
FIU won’t need to fully rebuild the cornerback room, given a key returner in Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine. But with the departures of Brian Blades II, Victor Evans III, and Mister Clark, the Panthers will have two new corners on the outside, assuming Celestine remains as the nickel.
In the portal, FIU added Lafayette transfer Ryan Gadson, who had 67 total tackles (53 solo, 14 assisted), three tackles for loss, and three interceptions last season. Florida Atlantic transfer Lawrence Johnson should see an increased role compared to the one he had up in Boca Raton, where in eight games, he had 10 total tackles. This may be the room with the most questions, but it does have experience. It will be interesting to see if any freshmen get any run, or if anyone becomes the next Jessiah McGrew of the group, but it is way too early to tell.
Just like the running back room is the deepest room on offense, the linebacker room is the deepest on defense. Returners Percy Courtney Jr. and Josiah Taylor are huge, but so is adding Appalachian State transfer Brayshawn Littlejohn. In 12 games played, he posted 32 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Kansas transfer JaCorey “Pickle” Stewart will be a project, as he did not record any stats in four games of action in his two years at Kansas. He was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Georgia State Championship game by Georgia Public Broadcasting and was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN.
Keegan Davis, Quaylen Hill, and Olasunkonmi Agunloye ran out of eligibility, but returners Kenton Simmons and Dante Anderson both should be the starting edge rushers. Robert Williams and Matthew Pointer are two other names who should get in the rotation.
On the inside, Germaine Carter and Anthony Smith should be the early favorites to win the interior defensive linemen jobs, but South Alabama transfer RJ Moss Jr., who had 24 total tackles and one sack in 12 games, should be a strong option to compete, too. Florida State transfer Jamorie Flagg, who stands at 6-foot-3, 316 pounds, will be an intriguing name to keep an eye out for.
Spring Storylines
As noted at the beginning, spring football should be taken more seriously than in previous years, given that the FIU team that will take the field for the next 14 practices will be the team you see come Week 1 of the season.
The biggest storyline will always be position battles. The offensive line will be one to keep an eye out for, along with the two starting cornerbacks and the lone starting safety job. Another interesting battle will be the group of wide receivers that take the field outside of Gaines and Kyle McNeal. Expect Maguire Anderson to see an increased role on offense and potentially get some more run on special teams. Georgia Tech transfer Juju Lewis is still around, and after suffering two ACL injuries, one on each knee, he will be someone who we just need to see how he returns.
For the first time since 2024, there will be a battle to see who will be the Panthers’ starting quarterback. Kohl, the App State transfer, is the favorite and is expected to be the starting QB. However, Zach Marker won the Delaware starting quarterback job over Nick Minicucci before suffering a torn ACL last season.
How practice will be run and how things may look in year two of the Willie Simmons era are worth keeping an eye on as well. With a new defensive line coach and some support staff changes, the way the program is run will be interesting to follow and may show differences from the outside looking in.
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