Pok’s Football Week in Review: IPP Pro Day and FIU Spring Game

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The steady drumbeat of football continued on this week!

On one side of Florida, the FIU Football concluded spring practices with the Navy-White scrimmage on Saturday. It was the culmination of progress and development that the program has shown since the start of the spring; multiple players stood out on both sides of the ball as the focus now shifts toward the summer.

On the opposite side of the state, the NFL’s International Player Program held its Pro Day at IMG Academy. Despite a smaller group of players than usual(due to a few previous standouts signing with NFL teams), the remaining players showed some impressive skill and ability. Whether on offense or defense, there are some intriguing football prospects in the IPP Class of 2025.

It is a benchmark week for the column, as we hit one full month as of this writing! So, in the spirit of hard work and dedication to the craft, let’s make this week’s edition one of the best yet. Grab your snacks and follow along, because it is time for another edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review.

FIU Football Wraps up the Spring with a Battle

Even in the spring, there is nothing like a real, game-like college football atmosphere. And for the FIU Panthers, that was crystal clear on Saturday.

Ahead of the game, the Panthers were split into two separate teams with their inaugural Spring Game Draft. Instead of the typical offense vs. defense format, players were mixed and matched between the Navy and White squads. QB Keyone Jenkins was on the opposite team of Ajay Allen, KJ Owens, and Devonte Lyons. Defenders, such as Deuce Blades and Percy Courtney, were split between the two teams as well. It set up what looked to be a very fun day of football action for FIU.

And a fun day of football it was. In a very lively Pitbull Stadium, both teams had a very competitive matchup for four full quarters.

On offense, the flow of the Panthers’ new offense continued to progress and develop. In a full-speed game scenario, one could see the concepts and play style head coach Willie Simmons is shooting for. There was a constant tempo to every unit of the offense, keeping the defense on its toes. The rushing attack showed off plenty of inside zone concepts, building upon them with RPOs and tunnel screens.

The passing attack peppered the middle of the field and openings in the defense when possible. Whether it was quick, intermediate, or deep passes, you could see how quarterbacks Keyone Jenkins and Clayton Dees will be able to take advantage of the space and movement this offense provides. Due to the offense’s ability to attack the edges of the defense with motion and RPOs, the quarterbacks will have the opportunity to hit open receivers all over the field.

However, there was a big reason the score ended at 7-2. The Panthers’ defense was flying around the field and playing with a high level of energy all day, continuing a common theme from the entire spring.

The defensive line swarmed to the run, constantly created pressure in the passing game, and even batted some passes down. FIU’s linebackers limited explosive plays and provided some nice versatility; some were flying off the edge for sacks, while others made great plays in coverage. The same could be said for the secondary, as they were flying downhill to make tackles and providing stifling coverage on a frequent basis. Overall, the Navy and White teams showed off the talent that the Panthers have on the defensive side of the football.

It is important to remember that there is still so much time until real football kicks off. Between OTAs and training camp, there is still room for the Panthers to develop and grow. The offense will have more plays implemented, allowing the players to grow with the scheme even further. They will have the opportunity to mesh with each other even further, allowing the plays to become second nature.

On defense, the unit will be able to get even more comfortable with further practices. Ideally, the players will be able to have their scheme become second nature, allowing them to fly around even better than the high level they showed off this spring. And between both units, the iron will sharpen iron, allowing FIU to be very prepared for the regular season.

There is still plenty of growth and improvement needed for the Panthers after the Spring, just as there is for any other program. But after watching this item for a month’s worth of practices, this much is clear: FIU has plenty of talent, and they have set a great foundation for them to build off of when they return for summer practices.

The IPP Pro Day Provides Intrigue

After their showing at USF’s Pro Day last week, the players of the International Player Pathway held their Pro Day at IMG Acadamy in Bradenton, Florida. It was a smaller group than the one that took the field in Tampa; TJ Maguranyanga of Zimbabwe (Commanders) and Jordan Petaia of Australia (Chargers) both agreed to NFL deals and are now alumni of the program.

Despite the smaller group, I was very intrigued in different ways by some of the players who worked out on the field on Wednesday. There were some standouts(more on them very shortly), but each position offered something different to note or observe.

On the offensive line, Fiji’s Jeneiro Wakeham had good lateral movement throughout his workout. It felt like he got lighter on his feet as the workout progressed, specifically standing out in the pulling and screen drill. It was during these drills that everything came together; Wakeham displayed nice footwork, technique, movement ability, and power.

At fullback, Dante Barrett showed nice blocking aggressiveness and moved with the mentality of a defender. As a defensive lineman, the UK native moved with precise footwork and good change-of-direction skills. He attacked each drill with intensity and maximum effort.

The pass catchers, whether it was the tight ends or the wideouts, showed off nice route running, hands, and coachability. Nathaniel Salmon was quick on his feet on an out/stick route and showed an impressive cut on a drag route. The tight end was also fluid in dropping his hips and running the necessary route. Aaron Sexton was a smooth mover; the Irish native looked like he was gliding at times and showed a nice feel for how to change speeds with his routes. And this does not even include Joachim Trouabal or Laitia Moceidreke.

DB Maceo Beard put on a show by being lightning-quick on his feet and showing off upper-level technique. Defensive lineman Laki Tasi displayed nice power and footwork, while Paschal Ekeji Jr. displayed impressive change of direction ability, quick feet, and solid speed. On the bag drill, Ekeji Jr. not only flew through the drill but did so with impeccable footwork.

Are these players immediate, ready-made NFL contributors? No, they are not.

However, a good chunk of the IPP players have more than enough skill and potential for scouts and coaches to work with. Many of these players are raw and have never stepped foot on a football field before this process; as a result, they have untapped athletic/football abilities that may not have appeared in their testing or drill work.

The coaches working with these players have done a great job on the first step of their journey, which was evident at USF’s Pro Day and during last week’s IPP Pro Day. Now, the next step will soon become how each player takes advantage of any opportunities given to them and develops into an even better version of the player they were in the IPP program.

Football Standouts of the Week

It was another jammed-packed week, and there were a good amount of players that stood out to me over the course of it.

For FIU, I would be missing the mark if I did not start with the defensive side of the ball. Specifically, we need to start with defensive back Victor Evans III. Evans III had a great scrimmage last week at Demps Park, making a leaping pass breakup and a nice interception in the red zone. And instead of slowing down, the defensive back took his play to another level on Saturday.

Evans III provided sticky coverage throughout the entire day; no matter what route was being run against him, the defensive back was all over it. The redshirt sophomore also was a very willing tackler, flying downhill to make plays in the run game on more than a handful of occasions.

However, the best aspect of Evans III’s game was his ball-hawking ability. The cornerback had two interceptions on the day, showcasing impressive ball skills and the ability to make smart breaks on the football. Saturday was the culmination of the cornerback’s impressive development into one of the best defensive players on the Panthers.

In addition to Evans, the Panthers had more than a handful of defensive backs show out on Saturday.

Senior Bobby Salla provided some big hits in the secondary, flying downhill to make tackles with what has become the trademark energy for the Panthers’ defense. He also provided some great coverage, running step for step with Semaj Demps on one play down the field and coming up with a big interception on a 4th down late in the game.

Demetrius Hill had a leaping interception late in the game, continuing what has been a very good spring for him. Fellow defensive back Saddonnie Gay had some great pass breakups and was laying the boom consistently, while Jai Celestine continued to show he is one of the best tacklers in the entire FIU secondary.

At the linebacker position, Percy Courtney continued his standout spring with a huge red zone sack. Flying off the edge as he has consistently done during practices and scrimmages, Courtney showed once again that he is going to be a main contributor to the Panthers’ defense. He has arguably been my favorite defensive player to watch from this unit.

Josiah Taylor also continued his great spring; he made a twisting interception and made multiple good tackles throughout the game. He was also named the team’s most improved linebacker during the halftime Spring Awards ceremony.

Plenty of defensive linemen stood out during the game, too. Florida State transfer Dante Anderson had an impressive sack where he rushed off the edge and notched a batted pass, continuing his standout spring. Germaine Carter and Todd Brewton each got after the quarterback as well, with Brewton having one of his two sacks result in a safety. When it comes to Brewton, the defensive end showed off nice speed to be able to chase down the quarterback on multiple occasions.

Fellow defensive lineman Keegan Davis was a force all game for the Navy team. Whether it was batting down passes, containing the run, or providing a solid pass rush, it is easy to see why the coaching staff has consistently praised him throughout the spring.

Even with the defense shining throughout the day, the offense still showed why they have the talent to be very good in 2025.

This starts with the running back position, and specifically the top three players on the depth chart. Kejon Owens ripped off multiple chunk gains throughout the game, continuing a theme that has persisted during the spring. He was decisive with the ball in his hands, showcased good vision in following his blocks, and displayed the necessary speed to beat defenders to the edge. In conjunction with his powerful yet smooth running style, Owens showed a big willingness to block; his chip on a defensive lineman allowed quarterback Clayton Dees to make a big pass down the field for the Navy team.

Miami transfer Ajay Allen looked as smooth as ever, gliding with the ball in his hands and showing the athletic ability that makes him so dangerous. FIU showed a glimpse of how they might utilize the all-around running back on Saturday, as they gave him multiple tunnel screens to allow him to make things happen in space.

Devonte Lyons may have had the best day of any of the running backs, which is saying something significant. Lyons showed impressive shiftiness, contact balance, and speed. On the only touchdown drive of the game, he ripped off a run where he broke multiple tackles and raced into the red zone. And on his touchdown run, he displayed the visions nd running style that has made him a force this spring.

At the wideout position, Alex Perry and Eric Nelson Jr. were the best two on the field for the Panthers. Perry was peppered with targets by quarterback Clayton Dess, and he consistently came through for the offense. Whether it was on quick passes or routes deeper down the field, Perry created separation and showed impressive contested catch ability. He is shaping up to be a key contributor for FIU on offense.

As for Nelson Jr., the young wideout continued to get open and catch passes. His route-running skills have continued to be upper-level, and his understanding of space/defensive positioning continues to improve. This does not even bring his speed into the equation, which Nelson Jr. has already displayed consistently this spring. Saturday was a continuation of the sophomore’s emergence, and it will be very interesting to see how he continues to develop in the summer.

Other wideouts had their moments on Saturday, too. Semaj Demps continued to show his quick twitch ability and ball-carrying ability, as well as a continuing rapport with QB Keyone Jenkins. Despite a drop and some inconsistencies, Kyle McNeal showed great body control and shiftiness. Donovan Giles had a key drop on a great throw from Jenkins just outside the red zone, but also showed off his ability with a few great catches throughout the day.

The quarterbacks were nowhere near perfect on Saturday, but the top two guys in the room showed the great ability they bring to the table. Jenkins showed great escapability, pocket presence, and touch on his throws. He made his mistakes throughout the day, but the highs were very exciting for the rising junior. Dees showed his trademark speed and displayed nice arm strength with some strikes in tight middle-of-the-field windows. With plenty of time to develop and learn more nuances of the scheme, I am excited to see what both Jenkins and Dees look like come the late summer/early fall.

As for the IPP players, we finally have testing numbers! As a result, I will be taking my standout players from both this past week’s Pro Day and the testing from the USF Pro Day.

For the testing, the main standouts are Leander Wiegand, Jordan Petaia, and Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa. When listed as an offensive guard, Wiegand has a 9.22 RAS. His 38 reps on the bench press and 32-inch vertical jump are elite for the position, while his 3-cone time of 7.67 and 10-yard split of 1.84 are solid for guard.

For Mwansa, the DE/LB dropped his 40-yard dash time to 4.48 at the IMG-based Pro Day. Both that time and his 1.53 10-yard split would be elite for a defensive end and very solid for a linebacker. Add in his 3-cone time of 7.14, a 38.5 vertical jump, and impressive marks in the bench press and broad jump, and you have a player that a team will most likely try to find a home for on defense.

Here are some other notable notes from the testing metrics for the IPP players:

  • Now-Chargers TE Jordan Petaia had elite numbers in the 40-yard dash(4.53), vertical jump (40.5), and broad jump(10’4).
  • At 6-feet-6-inches and 261 pounds, tight end Nathaniel Salmon ran an impressive 4.7 40-yard dash and a 1.96 20-yard split(10.0 for RAS). He also had a very solid broad jump of 9’4 feet.
  • Both wideouts Aaron Sexton and Joachim Trouabal ran their 40-yard dashes in 4.43 and 4.42 seconds, respectively.
  • Maceo Beard did not have an elite 40-yard dash time, but he did have an elite 20-yard split of 1.94 seconds. He also had a very solid 25 reps on the bench press.
  • Paschal Ekeji. Jr. had an impressive 4.65 40-yard dash and a 1.63 10-yard split. He also recorded solid vertical and broad jumps of 33.5 inches and 9’90 feet, showing the necessary explosiveness he will need at his current frame.
  • Newly signed Commanders DE TJ Maguranyanga had elite marks in the 40-yard dash (4.71), vertical jump (36 inches), and broad jump (10’5 feet).

As for the on-field work, my primary standouts were Paschal Ekeji Jr., Maceo Beard, Laki Tasi, Jeneiro Wakeham, Aaron Sexton, and Joachim Trouabal

As I mentioned in my full recap from the event(which you can find here), Ekeji Jr. showed off nice speed and movement ability all throughout the edge rusher drills. However, there was another reason he stood out, and that was his ability in the linebacker drills. Here is my recap of that portion from last week’s article:

“However, what stood out the most was how he battled through the drills. Ekeji Jr. did not waste any time after the EDGE drills to get to work. It would have been easy to take a rest for an extended period, and also very acceptable. Pro Day testing is very important for a player’s prospective NFL future, and especially one in the IPP program trying to prove themself.

The mindset he displayed is one that teams will value at the professional level.”

When it comes to Beard, I have not hidden how much I have been impressed with his movement ability and technique on the football field.

From the way he flipped his hips, caught the ball, and moved on his feet, Beard looked like he belonged. In the truest sense, he looked like someone who had played a large amount of football. And this is the case, as Beard was a star in the European League of Football and won the league’s DPOY.

However, this ability did not appear during his testing; his explosiveness and agility registered on a very low level when compared to others in his position. As a result, I think it is very possible that Beard is a better mover on the field than he is during testing, and it will be up to teams to determine that for themselves.

The same could be said for defensive tackle Laki Tasi and offensive lineman Jeneiro Wakeham. In terms of testing, neither player did not do particularly well in any area when compared to others at their positions. However, both Tasi and Wakeham native looked very solid during the on-field drills. I had this to say about Tasi from my full recap of the event:

“As for Laki Tasi, the Australian product popped a different way than the other two players.

Despite being a bigger player on the defensive line, Tasi showcased solid change of direction skills early on. This continued with the bag drill; I loved how light Tasi looked on his feet and how fluid he moved for a player his size. He did not stumble or move out of control; instead, he attacked the drill in a very similar way to his smaller counterparts.

During the wave drill, I loved the easy power Tasi displayed when hitting the bags. Firing the pass-rush moves with an open hand, Tasi sent the bags rocking back and forth while on the move. The impressive hand power and strength were evident immediately, which ties in nicely with his lateral movement ability.”

As for Wakeham, I said, “Wakeham is nowhere near a finished product; there are plenty of techniques and movements that he needs to learn and refine. But with his size and athletic ability that has flashed in his workouts, the Fiji native is someone a team could take a shot on and reap a considerable reward.”

Both players are massive human beings, as Tasi is 6-feet-6-inches while Wakeham is a whopping 6-feet-9-inches. They are very raw movers and players who evidently are not great athletic testers. Football is not won or lost with testing, though; it is won and lost on the field.

Tasi and Wakeham showed enough flashes as movers to generate some form of attention. The defensive tackle could easily be projected as a two-gapping run clogger, while Wakeham is a developmental project for the right team and could reap a huge reward. They are also both former rugby players, meaning they have the pre-requisite athletic ability to play competitive sports.

Tasi and Wakeham are not even close to being immediate starters and contributors. But the IPP program is about development and turning raw players into productive pros. With their natural size and gifts, these two players could easily produce and be success stories in the right situation.

Finally, we have wideouts Aaron Sexton and Joachim Trouabal. I could easily put tight ends Laitia Moceidreke and Nathaniel Salmon in this category, too; I was impressed by their route running and overall pass-catching ability that translated over from their testing. They both had very good days and narrowly missed this section.

However, Sexton and Trouabal just popped off the page a little bit more for me and earned the nod in this category. Their route running was crisp, their movements were fluid, and they played to their impressive testing speed. Most importantly, they took to the coaching well.

Scouts from the Buccaneers and Patriots instructed the wideouts on how to run specific routes and try something different; both players listened and executed the routes at a higher level immediately. As they head toward the professional level, that is a trait as valuable as any that they possess.

As I pondered in my earlier article, it is reasonable to aks the question about how both Sexton and Trouabal would translate to the NFL game as a whole. Are their releases at the line of scrimmage ready? How will they fit into an offensive scheme? Can their athletic ability translate to a professional level?

Regardless of this though, it is clear that both players were standouts at their Pro Days at both IMG and USF, whether it was testing or on-field work.

Quotes of the Week

WR Eric Nelson Jr. on his development with the offense this spring: “From the beginning, I have been trying to showcase what I have been doing all my life. My talents, my skills, my size to go up and get the ball, and my ability to get open in space…I am just taking it day by day. Just taking the coaching from Coach Coleman, Simmons, and JB. They are going to get me better; I am still young, and I am trying to learn all the little things about football. ”

RB Jordan Clemons on his football journey with FIU: “It’s been good. I have had a lot of ups and downs; I did not really get a chance to play my first two years. But I kept my head down, stayed level-headed, put in the extra work, and just grinded. I’m just waiting for my chance so I can show my ability to the world.”

DC Jovan Dewitt on the growth of the defense’s communication from the start of the spring to the end of it: “I think you can tell that they are just enjoying it a lot. They are having fun, and when you are having fun it is a lot easier to work hard. You want to work hard and you want to focus. We have actually practiced longer than they have the past couple of years, but when you talk to the kids it does not feel that way. I’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm to get back into it and do those things. The communication part has been really good.

We are younger than we were a year ago, for sure. But just because we are younger does not mean we are dumber. Those kids have done a really good job of understanding that their role has changed. They’ve adopted the philosophy that they have to take more of a leadership position than they have done in the past. That has been really good for us.”

OC Nick Coleman on the progress of the running back room throughout the spring: “My favorite play of the scrimmage last week was when some of our down-the-line guys were in. They break a huge run, and you see the entire running back position group on film sprint down the sideline with him. That’s what those guys have done, and they have done a great job of building that.

Guys have to understand that in this offense, with the tempo and speed we want to play at, we can’t have one starting pitcher. At running back, we have to have a bullpen. It’s really like that at all skill positions. Within that, we have to make sure they understand their role is ‘next man in.’ Let’s celebrate each other’s success, be able to do that, and then all have success when that happens. They have done a great job with that. They are all talented; we call all of them starting running backs. Depending on what we have going on, we treat it like fastbreak basketball. They can just sub in and sub out. That’s the great thing with what we have built.”

OC Nick Coleman on QB Keyone Jenkins’s development: “Keyone is highly talented at throwing the football. He has a rare ability to throw guys open when they are covered and to throw away from leverage. That is something you can drill, but it is hard to teach. His development, if you talk about where he started and where he is at, about what we are trying to do from an offensive standpoint, has super-skyrocketed through the charts. But he is still learning; my favorite thing about Lyghtzs is his want to learn. He wants to know beyond what he already knows.

We talked about getting him ready for different situations, whether it is a play on third down next year or you are on the board and it is the NFL Combine. Here is your interview, and how are you going to handle this? I put him up with the same questions. We are always trying to grow him and grow his knowledge of football… the best part about him is that he comes in with the same energy every day and has that want to that you cannot teach.”

HC Willie Simmons on what he wants to see heading into the summer: “I think that the biggest thing a team grows in the summer is leadership. As coaches, we are allowed to do more than we ever have with OTAs. In the past, coaches could not have much on-field interaction with the players. But it is still really a time where the players get to lead. They get to run their own 7-on-7s and get to do things while we are out on vacation. So, I really want to see who steps up as a leader once we get back in late July. Somebody other than Lyghtz has to be a leader. Somebody other than Keegan Davis on the defensive side has to be a leader. Our ability to be a good football team this year is going to depend on how guys are able to lead. This summer is going to be very critical for that. They will all be here, so I look forward to seeing who steps up and takes the initiative to say it’s my time to lead.”

WR Alex Perry on being utilized in different ways throughout the spring: “I love being utilized in different ways, just because at Hawaii I was primarily an outside guy. We would not really switch sides of the field a lot. So it is fun being put in the slot to run certain routes, or going back to the outside, or going anywhere I can make a play. So I am definitely having fun with that.”

DB Victor Evans on his mentality and play style: “There is a narrative on cornerbacks. They say that we do not like to tackle, so they come to the perimeter with screens and runs. I just want to show them that I am willing to come up and tackle. All of the cornerbacks are willing to come up and tackle.”

The Week Ahead

With FIU done for the spring, my eyes are shifting to a few new places. Here is what I am watching in the coming week:

  • Florida Atlantic Football: The spring game for the Owls is this upcoming Friday, and I am fascinated to see how the team looks and moves on the field. On offense, how does priority transfer Caden Veltkamp look at the helm of the offense? How are the RB and WR rotations being set up, and how is the OL coming together? On defense, who is stepping up at the linebacker position? How are returners at DL and DB taking charge? Seeing drill work is one thing. Seeing how the Owls look in a competitive environment on Friday will be a great way to gauge the team’s foundation heading into the spring transfer portal and the summer.
  • IPP Program: Will any teams take a flier on any of the remaining international players eligible for free agency? Will there be rumblings about possible draft selections or UDFA signings? This is a story I will be monitoring for the next couple of weeks.

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Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2023 with a Communications Degree, a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, and a minor in Broadcasting. Received an M.A. in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2024. Wrote for Jets Insider for two years, previously hosted a Knicks podcast for Let's Talk Knicks, and contributed to Inside the Iggles. Currently a writer for Jets X-Factor. Avid movie watcher, gym goer, music listener, and MMA fan.

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