CLEVELAND (Dec. 17, 2015) – Five Panthers were named to this year's Phil Steele All-Conference USA Team, the publication announced on Thursday. Seniors Michael Wakefield, Richard Leonard and sophomore Anthony Wint earned first-team honors, while junior Michael Montero and senior Denzell Perine received second-team recognition.  
Wakefield, a first-team selection on the defensive line, appeared in 12 games, starting in 11 for the Panthers. The Valdosta, Ga., native finished the year with 43 total tackles (24 solo) with 15.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His 15.0 tackles for loss were the fourth-most among all C-USA players and ranks No. 36 nationally, while his 7.5 sacks were the fourth-most in C-USA, ranking 42 in the nation. His 15.0 tackles for loss are tied for the fifth-most in FIU history in a single season. His single-season total of 7.5 sacks are also tied for fourth-most in school history. Wakefield also forced four fumbles good for No. 8 in the nation. He was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8) after tying the school record for sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (5.5) versus Charlotte (Nov. 7). A game captain in six games this season, Wakefield was named to the preseason Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.
 
Leonard, a first-team selection at cornerback and punt returner as well as a third-team honoree as a kick returner, appeared and started all 12 games for the Panthers. The Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, recorded a single-season best 62 total tackles (42 solo) this season good for second on the team. Leonard recorded eight pass breakups (tied for the team lead) and one interception for nine passes defended. Leonard recorded 627 kick return yards on 29 attempts and 160 punt return yards on just 15 attempts. His average of 21.6 yards-per-return on kickoffs ranks No. 9 in the conference, while his 10.7 yards-per-punt return leads the league and ranks No. 24 nationally. His 627 yards on kick return yards and 160 yards on punt returns this season both rank No. 7 all-time at FIU. With this year's returns, Leonard ranks No. 2 all-time in punt returns (37), punt return yardage (577), kick returns (86) and kick return yardage (2,158) for his career. A nine-time game captain, Leonard was named to the Preseason Jim Thorpe Award Watch List.
 
Wint, a first-team selection at linebacker, appeared and started in all 12 games for the Panthers. The Homestead, Fla., native led FIU with 88 tackles (41 solo), ranking No. 16 in C-USA in total tackles. Wint also notched 5.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. His two fumble recoveries rank No. 24 in the nation. He set single-season career best in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, pass breakups and fumble recoveries in 2015, while recording 10-or-more tackles five times, including a career-high 13 at Indiana (Sept. 12). He recorded his first-collegiate interception versus NC Central (Sept. 19) and notched a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss at LA Tech.
 
Perine, a second-team selection on the defensive line, appeared and started in all 12 games. The Mobile, Ala., native recorded 42 tackles (24 solo) on the year, and was No. 2 on the team in both tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (4.5). Perine ranks No. 13 in sacks and No. 14 in tackles for loss in C-USA. He also forced two fumbles, while recording two quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. His three pass breakups were a single-season best. Perine notched a tackle for loss in nine games and had four-or-more tackles in seven games. He tied career-high in tackles (8) versus Middle Tennessee (Oct. 17) and notched a season-high 2.0 sacks versus N.C. Central (Sept. 19). A game captain versus WKU, Perine was a Preseason Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.
 
Montero, a second-team selection on the offensive line, appeared and started at center in all 12 games. The Miami native led an offensive line that gained 4,173 yards (fifth-most in school history), including 2,854 through the air (second-most in school history). Montero helped FIU record a school-record 22 TD passes and 15 rushing TDs (sixth-most in school history). He also helped FIU produced 518 yards total offense (seventh-most in school history) with 150 yards on the ground and 368 yards through the air versus UTEP. Guiding FIU to over 400 yards of offense six times, Montero aided FIU in scoring multiple TDs on offense in 10 of the team's 12 games. The junior center was a three-time game captain.  
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.