Pok’s Football Week in Review: CFB & NFL News and Notes

Even when things seem like they are at their quietest, the football world keeps marching on!

The FIU Panthers have landed multiple recruits in the portal and signed a new member for its 2026 class. There was also an interesting situation involving a Florida Atlantic player who tweeted and deleted a transfer announcement.

Additionally, we have another edition of the “Player of the Day” segment, and a look into some key 2026 recruits for FIU, FAU, and the USF Bulls.  And, that doesn’t even get us into the NFL’s new rule proposals and two members of FIU’s coaching staff getting the opportunity to join NFL staffs for the summer

In short, this week’s edition of the column is focused on the present, but is also taking a big look ahead. So, without further ado, it is time for another edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review!

Player of the Day: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

Just like last week’s edition, this week will focus on another quarterback: South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.

Sellers, after sparingly playing in 2023, took over the starting role for the Gamecocks in 2024. In 12 games, Sellers had 2,520 yards, 18 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He had 16 big-time throws and 19 turnover worthy plays, while also taking 31 sacks. As a runner of the football, Sellers picked up 852 yards and seven touchdowns while also having 11 fumbles. He had 47 missed tackles forced and 561 yards after contact as well.

On the positive side of things, I had plenty to say about Sellers after watching the Clemson, Missouri, and Kentucky games from his 2024 season

• When he is in rhythm, the accuracy and throws are great. Has the arm strength and touch to hit every throw on the field. 
• Sellers can navigate the pocket very well and makes great throws on the run. 
• He has remarkable escapability when faced with pressure. 
• Awesome with the ball in space as a ballcarrier. 

However, there were also a decent number of negatives that popped up when watching Sellers from a pro-level view:

• Inconsistent mechanics that cause his accuracy to fluctuate between good and not good. This results in some turnovers. 
• Some reckless decision making, whether as a thrower or ball-carrier, that leads to bad plays or turnovers
• Late on some of his reads and throws. 
• Has some issues sensing pressure at times, which leads to some big hits.

Sellers has the potential to be a superstar prospect in the 2026 NFL draft. He can make every throw on the field, outrun any defender, and make plays that others could only dream of attempting. However, he has moments and spurts of play that would be deemed unacceptable at the next level. Sellers, whether he is late on a throw, has a bad throwing base, or holds the ball too long, has a tendency to put the ball in harm’s way.

In 2025, Sellers needs to take some steps forward. I would like to see the quarterback limit the turnover-worthy plays, find more consistency in his mechanics, and take a step up with his processing consistency. If he can do this while also showcasing his remarkable big-play ability, I feel very confident in Sellers’s trajectory as he enters the NFL.

College Football Recruiting Roundup

FIU Panthers

As the weeks keep on churning, so does the college football recruiting process. And based on their moves this week, the FIU Panthers are front and center.

In the portal, FIU picked up defensive lineman Xion Chapman and offensive lineman Miguel Cedeno. Chapman, a JUCO product, played for Lackawanna College in 2024. In five games played, Chapman recorded five tackles and three assists. Four of those tackles went for a loss, and he also recorded two sacks.

Champan, who chose FIU over the likes of Penn State and Ole Miss, is a a huge get for the Panthers. Whether for this year or in the future, the defensive tackle has a chance to be a key member of FIU’s defense unit. It is a great get from head coach Willie Simmons and his staff.

FIU also landed offensive lineman Miguel Cedeno, who is a transfer from Rice. A mammoth presence on the offensive line, Cendeno is a very skilled pass blocker who only allowed two pressures as a blocker from 2022-2023. He also offers positional versatility, having played snaps at both guard and tackle. Despite being injured in 2024, Cedeno looks primed to be an instant contributor for the Panthers in 2025.

Additionally, FIU signed long snapper Justin Wood. Before transferring to the Panthers, Wood spent time at both the University of Miami and the University of Houston.

Regarding future recruitment, FIU landed a commitment from safety Jakari Johnson. Johnson, who held offers from Liberty, Pitt, and Western Kentucky, among others, has impressive speed in the defensive backfield. The safety can close gaps between players and himself in an instant. Additionally, Johnson shows a willingness to come up and make tackles in the open field.

In a 2026 class that is starting to take shape, Johnson is another very fun piece for the Panthers. If he makes it to campus next season, he will be in line to be a great fit within the FIU defensive scheme as a rangy, play-making safety.

Florida Atlantic Owls

As for FAU, there was a very…odd development that popped up this past week.

On May 19, offensive tackle Daughtry Richardson tweeted that he was entering the college football transfer portal. Shortly afterwards, though, the Owls’ offensive tackle deleted his tweet and has yet to mention the idea of transferring again on his account.

The working theory, at least due to the rules of college football, is that Richardson cannot transfer at this time. Since it is outside of the spring’s transfer portal window, Richardson would not be able to transfer without sitting out for the 2025 season.

For the Owls themselves, I find it very interesting why another veteran player expected to contribute is attempting to leave the program. It could stem from the team’s activity in the transfer portal, where they have added many players who look to be competing right away for roles. Similar to Jayden Williams, Richardson may have decided it was in his best interest to transfer; however, the timing just did not work out for him.

As we head toward training camp and the regular season, the latest development with Richardson is another reason to keep an eye on the program going forward.

A Look Ahead: Two 2026 Recruits for USF and FIU

As a part of this week’s theme for the column, I want to take an early look at two key recruits from the 2026 recruiting classes for FIU and USF (FAU does not have a 2026 recruit yet, so they are not included in this part of the column).

We have talked about plenty of recruits through the different editions of the column for the Bulls and Panthers, many of whom are set to make a big impact when they arrive on campus. As a result, this section will discuss some prospects that have not been talked about in this column, or at least not in an extensive manner.  So with that being said, let us dive into it!

Rhys Brush, QB, USF Commit

Locklan Hewlett is not the only talented young quarterback set to arrive in Tampa in the near future.

A Florida native who attends Armwood High School, Rhys Brush has all of the necessary tools to thrive at the college football level. Whether with arm strength or touch, Brush puts the ball in an excellent position for his wideouts consistently. The quarterback’s best throws were when he split safeties and/or beat the cornerbacks down the field with the deep ball, which happened often. Brush’s numbers back this up, as he threw for 2,256 yards and 36 touchdowns in the 2024 season.

On top of his accuracy and arm strength, Brush has elite movement. Utilizing his baseball background, the quarterback consistently outruns defenders, showcases natural pocket mobility, and has great field sense when carrying the football in the open field.

The rising senior, to build upon his 2024 season, had a great performance at the Elite 11 camp in Tampa, Florida. With all aspects of his game rising to a very high level, USF may have an absolute steal at QB in its 2026 class. And if they can get him onto campus, their quarterback situation could be set for a very good amount of time.

Qwantavius Wiggins, RB, USF Commit

Sticking with the offensive side of the ball, Qwantavius Wiggins is another player on the rise at a key position.

A rising senior at Langston Hughes High School, the running back posted 985 yards and 12 touchdowns on 112 carries, while also contributing 125 receiving yards. Wiggins has great ball-carrier vision and one-cut ability; the running back seemingly never hesitates to attack the hole and get yards upfield.

However, Wiggins’s calling card is his blazing speed. The running back has highlight plays littered all over his tape. He constantly finds a lane and makes the defense look like they are in the mud. If Wiggins gets an ounce of daylight, there is a good chance he is off to the races.

USF is not alone in its pursuit of the Georgia native. Pittsburgh, Minnesota, UNLV, and Oregon State are among the other schools to have offered the running back up to this point in time. But if USF can get Wiggins on campus, they could have a very key piece of their football team for multiple years to come.

Malik Penson, WR, FIU Commit

Shifting over to the Panthers, Malik Penson is currently the highest-rated recruit for the program’s 2026 class. And as it turns out, that is for very good reason.

As a wideout, Penson provides a fun combination of skills. His speed allows him to beat the defense over the top with ease, giving his quarterback easy throws. After the catch, Penson is shifty and uses a variety of moves to make defenders miss. Whether it is jukes or hesitation moves, he always seems to find an angle against opposing defenders.

Additionally, Penson has great adjustability on balls thrown to him. Whether it is a contested catch situation or a back-shoulder throw, the wideout has an advanced feel for how to maneuver his body at the position.

Add in some ridiculous runs for touchdowns as a wildcat quarterback and some contributions as a returner on special teams, and the Panthers could have a true weapon on their hands once Penson arrives on campus. The numbers do not lie either; Penson had 48 receptions for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024.

FIU has done a great job adding talent since Willie Simmons was hired as head coach of the program. If Penson gets to campus, this will only be a continuation of that trend.

Justin Compere, RB, FIU Commit

To round out our prospect portion of the article, we have another fun commitment on the offensive side of the ball for FIU.

Justin Compere, who played at Immokalee before transferring to Carol City, is a powerful runner who can do it all at the running back position. He wastes no time attacking the hole and making positive things happen for his offense.

Once he gets the ball, Compere invites contact by flying downhill toward defenders. Through one-cut moves, impressive contact balance, or simply running through defenders, Compere seems to always generate positives for the offense.

Perhaps more impressively, though, is the multifaceted aspect of Compere’s game. Despite having a more bruising approach, Compere showed smooth hands and multiple good reps of pass protection. He seems to have an advanced feel for the game at a very young age and has no issues doing whatever is asked of him.

FIU may have to fend off some other tough schools to get the running back on campus, as USF, FAU, and Tulane all have offers out to Compere. But if the Panthers get the running back to hold his commitment until signing day, he looks to be a player who could contribute the day he steps onto the field at Pitbull Stadium.

Grab Bag: My Other Notes from the Week

As always, here are my other football notes from this week!

• FIU saw two of their coaches get selected for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship: Cornerbacks Coach Anthony Gaitor and Offensive Line Coach Edwin Pata. This is huge for not only two very good coaches, but also the FIU football program as a whole. If I have not said it here before, I will say it here now: I truly think Willie Simmons has the program moving in the right direction. The on-field results will tell the full story, but it is very hard not to see that the Panthers are going about things in a very positive manner.

 

• The NFL voted on new rule proposals and changes. While the Detroit Lions’ playoff seeding proposal never made it to a vote, the proposal to ban the “Tush Push” did. And in a good move from the rest of the NFL, the proposal failed. It also seems that the brass of the Philadelphia Eagles had a very… interesting day. But to sum up my thoughts on it: get in the weight room and start getting stronger, buddy.

• To wrap things up, RIP to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. The man was a lightning rod, but he was truly one of a kind when it comes to the NFL and sports owners as a whole.

And that wraps things up here for me this week. I am going to try to enjoy basketball games, not try to rage out on my video games, and probably try to do some self-improvement activities this week. As always, thank you for reading! Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend, and I will catch you next time!