MIAMI – FIU football head coach
Mike MacIntyre got a jump start on the 2022 Signing Class with four commitments so far during the early signing period.
The incoming Panthers include offensive lineman John Bock II (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons HS), running back Antonio Patterson (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS), wide receiver Jalen Bracey (Jackson, Miss./Mississippi Gulf Coast College/Murrah HS) and defensive lineman Will Prendergast (Prosper, Texas/Blinn College/Prosper HS).
The early signing period runs through Friday, Dec. 17, with National Signing Day following on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.
Stay tuned to FIUAthletics.com and FIU Athletics social media channels for future updates.
John Bock II (OL) – Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons HS
Bock (6-3, 305) is a tough and physical interior offensive lineman that has helped lead Cardinal Gibbons High School to a 10-2 record a berth in the Florida 4A State Championship Game on Thursday vs. Cocoa.
Bock is a proven mauler in the run game that has shown the ability to consistently finish off defenders at both the first and second levels. He was physically dominant as a pass protector during his prep career.
He played at both guard and center with Cardinal Gibbons and is still developing having grown over four inches in the last two years.
Bock was considered by many to be one of the top overall offensive linemen in the South Florida region in 2021. He was also a key contributor on Cardinal Gibbons' state championship winning squad as a junior.
Antonio Patterson (RB) – Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS
Patterson (6-0, 195) posted 1,387 all-purpose yards and scored 19 touchdowns in leading Oakland High School to a perfect 15-0 record and a state championship in 2021.
As a junior, he ripped off 1,440 all-purpose yards – including 1,242 on the ground and 18 touchdowns. The Patriots also finished with an unblemished 15-0 mark in 2020 and captured the first of back-to-back Tennessee 6A state championships.
Patterson runs with a high motor and consistently has shown the ability to beat defenders on the edge. He is both strong and possesses a burst, which helped him earn the region's running back of the year award and all-region status.
An all-around athlete, Patterson also played free safety for the Patriots and forced three turnovers in 2021.
Jalen Bracey (WR) – Jackson, Miss./Mississippi Gulf Coast/Murrah HS
Bracey (5-10, 185) joins FIU with two seasons of eligibility remaining after being a three-year starter for Mississippi Gulf Coast College where he amassed 1,678 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
A quick and agile receiver, Bracey finished the 2021 campaign ranked third in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference with 42 receptions and second in touchdown catches with eight. He was a two-time All-South First Team honoree.
Bracey also excelled in the classroom as he earned mention to the MACJC All-Academic Team and was a NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Award recipient.
During his prep career at Murrah High School in Jackson, Miss., Bracey averaged 16.9 yards per catch over his final two seasons and recorded 34 catches for a total of 555 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 294 rushing yards on 40 carries – for an average of 7.4 yards per attempt.
Will Prendergast (DL) – Prosper, Texas/Blinn College/Prosper HS
Prendergast (6-2, 280) arrives at FIU as a sophomore after playing one season at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, where he was a menace for opposing offenses with 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks over eight games in 2021.
A tough and physical interior defensive lineman with a high motor and nose for the football, Prendergast earned first-team all-district honors and all-state honors during his prep career at Prosper High School in Texas. He was also an academic all-district choice during his prep career.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following
@FIU.Football on Instagram and
@FIUFootball on Twitter and
Facebook.
General athletic news can also be found at
@FIUSports on Facebook and
@FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
