Pok’s College Football Column: FIU, FAU, and USF Spring Ball + More

In this edition of Pok’s College Football column, spring football is off and running. We have all things covered for FIU, USF, and FAU spring football. Additionally, the 2027 recruiting cycle is starting to heat up, which means a new breakdown of where the Bulls, Panthers, and Owls stand. Finally, I wrap things up with some USF and FIU Pro Day notes.

It is a JAM-PACKED edition coming your way, and it’s time to dive into it!

Pok’s College Football Column

FIU Shows Talent on Both Sides of the Ball

Through almost three weeks of spring practice, the talent on the FIU Panthers‘ 2026 roster is already starting to shine through. Offensively, the passing game looks like it could take a major leap in the upcoming season, thanks in large part to the Panthers’ newest quarterback.

JJ Kohl, a transfer from Appalachian State who also spent time at Iowa State, has shown an impressive ability to hit throws at every part of the field. Kohl has hit throws all over the middle of the field and in the short area. However, his most impressive throws have come deep down the field. He has used touch to perfectly place throws, whether it is in the corner of the end zone or in between multiple defenders. He also has had no issues hitting throws in the deep middle of the field, as evidenced by multiple great throws to the likes of Jojo Stone and Eric Nelson. Furthermore, Kohl has displayed great movement ability as both a thrower and a runner.

Spring football is not always an indicator of success in the fall for college programs. Look no further than the starting quarterback for FIU last season. However, Kohl has continued to elevate his game practice after practice. If he keeps up this pace, he will be in store for a very big 2026 season.

JJ Kohl is rolling here in team drills. Had two perfect throws for TDs to Kevin Schaeffer and Greg Gaines III(shown below), in addition to a perfect strike on the move to Maguire Anderson. #FIU #CFB

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-24T15:05:16.528Z

The other quarterback who has stood out this spring is freshman DJ Alexander. Arriving as an early enrollee from Georgia, Alexander has shown impressive arm strength and accuracy through three full weeks of practice. What has been more impressive, though, has been his ability to bounce back from mistakes. Like most underclassmen, Alexander has made some bad throws and faced some struggles. However, he has immediately made a great throw following that mistake. FIU has a great young quarterback in their system, and it’ll be exciting to see him continue to develop.

Back for another #FIU spring practice! Working the 2-on-3 drill, QB DJ Alexander unleashed a great throw to WR Kyle McNeal, who had a really good route as well. #CFB

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-24T14:36:01.666Z

At the wideout position, multiple players are showing that they have the talent to play significant snaps for the Panthers in 2026.

Kyle McNeal, Eric Nelson, and Greg Gaines III have arguably been the three best and most consistent players through this point of camp. McNeal, a player who flashed upper-end ability in 2025, has shown great route-running and playmaking this spring. He is creating space for his quarterbacks to hit throws and is making contested catches down the field, with a TD reception from JJ Kohl over multiple defenders being a standout highlight. Still moving very well with added weight, McNeal is a player to get excited about this year.

Gaines III, a Rhode Island transfer, has steadily improved week after week in the FIU offensive scheme. Despite being a player with a bigger frame, Gaines III has shown impressive burst and movement ability as a wideout. He looks explosive in and out of his breaks and is creating separation down the field. Additionally, the wideout is making contested catches and is showing an understanding of how to read zone coverage all over the field. The initial comparison for Gaines III may be Alex Perry, but the Rhode Island transfer has more burst and speed as a player. He could be a breakout star for the Panthers if he continues this trajectory into the fall.

Nelson, just like last spring, is showing that he has some of the best overall ability in the FIU wideout room. He has won down the field, has shown quick-twitch ability with his route running, and is making contested catches on a consistent basis. Playing with a ridiculously high level of energy, Nelson can be a breakout player for FIU in 2026. If he continues to progress and get the needed targets, there is a good chance that it can happen.

However, the wideout room has more standouts than just those three players.

Jojo Stone has made big plays at multiple levels of the field on a consistent basis. A dynamic player in the quick game, Stone has shown a nice rapport with Kohl deep down the field on multiple occasions. Maguire Anderson has also shown a steady connection with JJ Kohl and has been an extremely smooth route runner. Second-year wideouts Amari Isaac and Tyson Carter have been two of the best wideouts on the field, showing nice development from their first year. Even freshman Malik Penson has run some great routes and made some great plays.

From an overall perspective, the wideout room has looked like the most talented group on the team. It will be very intriguing to see who the eventual “starters” are for the Panthers, but make no mistake, FIU’s room is in a great spot heading toward the 2026 season.

JJ Kohl continues to impress this spring. The QB has been on-time and accurate to all different levels of the field. Also, Maguire Anderson has shown plus route running ability throughout the practices. #FIU #CFB

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-24T14:43:11.729Z

Good morning from FIU! Starting off with some drill work, we have a nice strike from JJ Kohl to Amari Isaac over the middle.

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-16T14:38:51.387Z

Outside of the wideouts, running backs Anthony Carrie and Devonte Lyons have shown their upside up to this point in camp.

Carrie, who added weight this offseason, looks much stronger as a player in the run game while also still having the explosiveness to rip off big plays. Lyons, just as he flashed last spring, has displayed great vision and great burst/speed as a runner. Both running backs are set to be vital pieces of FIU’s 2026 campaign, and they are already showing why they can capitalize on their potential.

On the defensive side of the ball, a good chunk of players have shown their skill sets through three weeks.

Returning safety Shamir Sterlin, who also has bulked up since last season, has flown around the field making plays in the run and pass games. Cornerback Lawrence Johnson has made multiple plays in coverage, as has freshman cornerback Karaijus Hayes. Josiah Taylor has provided some big hits and big plays in coverage at the linebacker position. And countless other names, ranging from RJ Moss Jr in the trenches to JaCorey Stewart at linebacker to De’Vontae Floyd in the secondary, have flashed some impressive skill.

DB Lawrence Johnson with a great read and PBU on the throw. Has been a great spring for him so far. #FIU #CFB

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T15:07:18.088Z

There is so much time until the 2026 regular season arrives, and there is a fast-approaching spring game on April 11. But taking everything into account, the Panthers have shown a lot to be excited about through three weeks of practice.

USF Displays a Fun Group on Offense

Under the shadow of a rising on-campus stadium, the University of South Florida is also building on the field during spring practice. And through two weeks of practice, I have enjoyed what I have seen from the offensive group, at least from a sheer talent perspective.

At the quarterback position, Luke Kromenhoek has flashed a good arm, good accuracy, and good mechanics throughout drill work. Liberty transfer Jayden Bradford has shown a really good arm as well, as has LSU transfer Michael Van Buren. The wideout position has also been fun to follow. Joshua Porter has flashed great route running, while Arhmad Branch and Cameron Seldon have shown big-play ability. Bryson Rodgers, the Ohio State transfer, has stood out in a major way to offensive coordinator Tim Beck.

“I love what he’s been doing. Number one, he understands the system. But his route running, you can see he’s been under Coach (Brian) Hartline. You can see that. He is sharp, and he gets it.  On a play today, they had outside leverage on an out route to him, and the quarterback bypassed it. Most quarterbacks would, because it is outside leverage. But Bryson shook him so bad that he got open. So it’s like, if it’s Bryson, maybe he can wiggle that guy, even on leverage.

He’s been catching the ball. He’s a leader, and he has been growing in that role. He understands what it takes to win, and we feed him that. We tell him to get his group to play to the standard that we have set. We say to make sure that he demands it of himself, and then he will get those players to play that way, too. ”

Even with these flashes, though, the biggest focus for the Bulls is growing practice after practice, especially considering all of the team’s new players and coaches. Head Coach Brian Hartline, during his initial spring press conference, echoed that sentiment when I asked about his approach to these 15 practices.

“15 practices, we are not going to waste a day. We will give a little bit of consideration to the opportunity to truly execute. That will be in there; we will give them an opportunity. But it will be a challenge. We have a set of installs that we want to get through offensively and defensively. Situationally, we want to make sure we get some things taught. But between the combination of learning, challenging, and competing, we will maximize these 15 days.

Expectation-wise, it is really about the day-to-day. That is all I am really going with. I have my own set list of things I want to make sure we touch on, just so these guys are not hearing it for the first time in the summer … I want them to master their routine, so they can maximize everything they are capable of.”

It would be foolish to assume that anything will be set in stone for the Bulls, whether it is on offense or defense, after the spring. But as the spring football game approaches, USF’s remaining practices will help to establish the critical foundation needed for a great summer and fall for the college program.

FAU Sets a Different Tone

Compared to last season, the Florida Atlantic Owls have set a much different tone when it comes to the spring. No matter what position it is, FAU looks to be intentional during drill work. A key example of this is the wideout position.

The main focus has been on footwork and technique. The coaching staff is drilling every aspect of playing the position, ranging from how to attack catching a screen to releases on fade routes.

Another example of this is the running back group. The coaching staff is emphasizing how the players are reading their blocks, attacking lanes in the run game, and how to handle pass blocking. Defensively, there has been heavy emphasis on tackling form and coverage footwork, among other key areas.

Why has this been the case? According to Zach Kittley, the team is avoiding looking ahead and is simply focused on getting better.

“We are going to get better this spring, I have no doubt. We have hungry football players who are here for the right reasons. I am continuing to get them to fall in love with the process. That is the biggest point of the spring: stay healthy and continue to get guys to buy into our culture and our process. We have to get them to buy in. And when it comes to the fall, we will get there when we get there. And we will see what it looks like then.”

In a similar vein, FAU defensive coordinator Brett Dewhurst spoke about how he has improved from his first season.

“You fail forward, right? Schematic-wise, what are we doing? What are we doing well? Are we doing too much? What is our personnel like in recruiting … our year-round plan? What do we need to go practice? At the end of the day, we are trying to do simple better. Who can do what? With new pieces coming in, I want to know what do they do well, put them in those positions, and not make guys think …We want to know what the players can execute, play fast, play violently, and also be able to adapt to everything.

Offenses now, instead of all tempo, have more shifts, motions, and huddling. You have to feel good about that play-call menu that the players know how to react to and adjust to everything. It cannot be too much, but it cannot be too vanilla where you get beaters all day long. Our biggest things are doing simple better, stopping the run, forcing turnovers, and getting off the field on third down.”

This new mentality has not limited expectations, though. Wide receivers coach DJ McCarthy said the offense is shooting to have “6,000 passing yards” in 2026. He also heaped plenty of praise on a potential budding star in Branden Hoch. Specifically, McCarthy said the “sky is the limit” for the Florida native. Ends/Rush coach Brandon Lacy said his room this year is “much better” than last year and is working to instill the “Predator” mentality into his players.

“We want to be the apex predator. That is the mentality. You get a sack or a takeaway, you get to throw the Predator mask on. Why? Because you are the apex guy … It is the mantra that we are trying to be.”

In a conference with so much turnover, FAU is in a great spot to compete in 2026. The Owls need to lay a great foundation in the spring to achieve that, though, and it seems that the team’s coaching staff understands that. How FAU fares over the remainder of the spring will be very important to follow.

College Football Recruiting Updates

With the 2026 college class on campus or arriving in the summer, all eyes have shifted to the 2027 football recruiting class. To varying extents, FAU, FIU, and USF have made progress in building out their respective classes on the high school level.

FIU Panthers

For FIU, the Panthers landed a commit in defensive back Martez Jones. A Georgia native, Jones has offers from Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Georgia State, and Kennesaw State. The rangy defensive back is the third player in the Panthers’ 2027 class, joining quarterback Zac Katz and defensive back Amari Oquendo.

The Panthers also landed another very talented cornerback in Florida native Tacori Allen. In 2025, Allen posted 16 PBUs, 30 tackles, four TFLs, three INTs, and a sack. He also had seven touchdowns and over 800 yards from scrimmage on offense. Holding offers from schools like SMU, WVU, and Iowa State, this is a great pickup for the Panthers to bolster their 2027 class.

Additionally, the Panthers have set an official visit for a local prospect in the talented Nathaniel Miller. Playing offensive tackle for McArthur, Miller also has offers from Auburn, Louisville, Boston College, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Western Kentucky. If the Panthers can land the talented local product when he arrives on June 5, it would be a massive addition to the class.

Florida Atlantic Owls

For FAU, the Owls are set to host a talented offensive lineman and quarterback in Boca Raton in the month of June. Offensive lineman Will Clausen will be at FAU from June 19-21, while Camden Hughes will be in Boca from June 5-7.

Clausen, an Iowa native, has garnered interest from Iowa State, Minnesota, and Baylor. He also has offers from Oklahoma State, USF, Miami (OH), and more. Possessing the frame to play tackle at the next level, Clausen’s stock has risen due to impressive strength and great movement skills. He has a plethora of reps of burying players in the ground on run plays and has good footwork as a pass blocker. If the Owls can land him, it would be a great start to their 2027 class.

Hughes, a fun quarterback prospect from Texas, holds offers from North Texas, UTSA, UTEP, Lamar, and McNeese. He has already shown an ability to operate a spread-based offense. has great mobility, and can hit throws to every level of the field.

FAU also added official visits for the following players:

• WR Aubrey Johnson: June 5-7
• DE Olayiwola Taiwo: June 12-14
• OL Ethan Boyd: June 19-21
• OL AJ Coleman: June 5-7
• WR James Bethea: June 12-14

USF Bulls

Shifting over to USF, the recruiting cycle is building up in a big way.

Like FAU and FIU, plenty of potential football recruits on both sides of the ball have been attending college spring practices. And among those players who have visited or are set to visit, there are some big names. According to Rivals and 24/7, here are some of the announced unofficial and official visits (NOTE: More visits will likely be “announced” on the websites and social media in the coming days and weeks.).

Unofficial Visits

• March 26: QB James Perrone (USF Commit)
• March 31: WR Brylan Oduor, SAF Jalen Welsh, QB Kevin Verpaele
• April 18: CB Cameron Goodwin Jr.
• April 19: QB/ATH Franklin Richardson

Official Visits

• May 29: WR Austin Busso, CB Carl Jones Jr., DL Jayden Agberodiola, LB Jeremy Mango, CB Larry Morgan III, OL Lawson Bentley
• June 5: WR Jayden Elder, DL Adrian Williams, LB Zion Paul
• June 12: OT Bray’don Davis, RB Omari St. Fort
• June 18: ATH Jordan Cason
• June 19: DB John Gay, DB Jacquari Parks

Out of this group, Odur, Busso, and Elder are extremely talented wideouts. Gay is a Chaminade product who is in store for a big 2026, while Cason and Richardson are very fun ATH prospects in the 2027 class. St. Fort and Morgan III are personal favorites in this year’s running back and defensive back classes. Davis, Bentley, Williams, and Agberodiola possess big upside in the trenches. Additionally, Parks, Mango, Paul, Welsh, Goodwin Jr., and Jones Jr. have the talent to be very fun players on the defensive side of the ball.

At quarterback, Perrone is an extremely dynamic passer who can also contribute as a runner. A standout for Miami Southridge, he is set to be the signal caller for a Florida high school powerhouse in St. Thomas Aquinas. With programs like Wake Forest and Virginia Tech after him, it would be a big coup for USF to keep Perrone on board. Richardson, a South Carolina native, has offers from ECU, Duke, and South Carolina. Verpaele, a USF legacy, is a current Pitt commit who has also garnered interest from the Florida Gators. With his father, Danny, on staff, he could be a name to watch going forward in this cycle.

College Football Pro Day Notes

• R Mason Thomas had a very good day during his testing at FIU’s Pro Day. That included a 34-inch vertical jump, around 10 feet in the broad jump, and in the 7.10-range in the 3-cone drill. He also dominated his on-field workout, both as an edge rusher and as a linebacker.
• RB Kejon Owens did not run a blazing time in the 40-yard dash, but it was not a bad time either. His drill work was also very solid, both as a runner and as a pass catcher. He is a player who should get an opportunity to compete to make a team as an early-down option.
• For FIU, the drill work portion by defensive lineman Su Agunloye, defensive lineman Keegan Davis, defensive back Bobby Salla, quarterback Joe Pesansky, and offensive lineman Julius Pierce was impressive. Agunloye displayed impressive power, while Davis showed nice speed and athleticism. Salla was one of the best movers of the entire day, while Pesansky showed nice accuracy all over the field. Pierce, along with smooth drill work, got under 5.00 in the 40-yard dash.
• USF’s star of the show was defensive back De’Shawn Rucker. Running a 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, he also notched a 37-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10-feet-8-inches. Add in 18 reps on the bench and borderline spotless performance in the on-field drill work, and Rucker could not have really had a better day. He is a fun sleeper for the 2026 class.
• LBs Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler moved very well during drill work at the Pro Day. They are two players who should be added to a linebacker room at the next level. Offensive lineman Zane Herring showed nice footwork and solid burst during his on-field drill work, as did running back Sam Franklin.