MIAMI – FIU football standouts Tyrese Chambers (WR), Rivaldo Fairweather (TE) and Davon Strickland (DL) highlight a total of seven players selected to the 2022 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Teams, which were announced this week.
 
Chambers, Fairweather and Strickland all earned first-team status from Athlon Sports.  Lyndell Hudson Jr. (OL) and Lexington Joseph (RB) were honored with selection to the third-team offense, while Donovan Manuel (LB) and Gaethan Bernadel (LB) were named to the fourth-team defensive unit.
 
In addition, Joseph earned mention as a kick returner on Athlon Sports' All-C-USA fourth team squad.
 
Chambers is back following a breakthrough 2021 campaign which saw him establish himself as one of the top wide receivers and deep threats in the nation.  The Baltimore, Md., native ranked second nationally with an average of 23.9 yards per reception and also posted the top single season receiving-yard performance in FIU annals with his total of 1,074 yards. 
 
Chambers also hauled in the most touchdown catches in a season by a FIU player – with nine in 2021.  His 91-yard TD catch at Southern Mississippi on Nov. 27 marked FIU's longest play from scrimmage in program history.  He recorded a total of 10 catches of at least 40 yards in 2021.
 
Fairweather is poised for a solid 2022 following a freshman season that saw him haul in 16 receptions for a total of 247 yards and a touchdown.  He averaged 15.4 yards per catch last season.
 
Strickland ranked third among Panthers last season with 53 tackles.  He paced FIU defensively with three sacks and six tackles for loss. 
 
Joseph is the Panthers' top returning rusher after posting 277 yards on 57 carries with a touchdown as a sophomore in 2021.  He averaged 4.8 yards per touch.
 
Hudson is expected to be a mainstay on the FIU offensive line after making 12 starts during his sophomore season, which was one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program annals.
 
Bernadel is back for his sophomore campaign after ranking fifth on the squad with 44 tackles last season.  He also notched a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss.
 
Manuel is entering his first season with the FIU program after playing his first two collegiate seasons at East Tennessee State where he tabbed 124 tackles, including 67 solo stops and 9.5 tackles for loss (three sacks) en route to earning HERO Sports All-American Sophomore Team mention and a spot on the All-SoCon First Team squad as selected by the league's coaches. 
 
He appeared and started in all 12 games for ETSU as a redshirt-freshman and was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team.  Manuel posted 64 tackles along with 5.5 TFLs and a sack during his redshirt freshman season in 2019.
 
Selections for the 2022 Athlon Sports All-Conference USA Team were based on how players will perform in 2022.
 
Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2022 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
 
Also, team strength does not play a role in selections. These are the best individual players at each position in the league for '22.
 
HOME OPENER VS. BRYANT – THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
The 2022 season and home opener for the Panthers vs. Bryant University is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. ET.  The game will air live on ESPN3.
 
 
2022 Athlon Sports All-Conference USA Team
FIU Selections
First-Team Offense
WR Tyrese Chambers
TE Rivaldo Fairweather
 
First-Team Defense
DL Davon Strickland
 
Third-Team Offense
RB Lexington Joseph
OL Lyndell Hudson Jr.
 
Fourth-Team Defense
LB Donovan Manuel
LB Gaethan Bernadel
 
Fourth-Team Specialists
KR Lexington Joseph
 
Conference USA Football 2022 All-Conference Team
First-Team Offense
QB Frank Harris, UTSA
RB DeWayne McBride, UAB
RB Ronald Awatt, UTEP
AP Jermaine Brown Jr., UAB
WR Zakhari Franklin, UTSA
WR Tyrese Chambers, FIU
TE Rivaldo Fairweather, FIU
C Ahofitu Maka, UTSA
OL Quantavious Leslie, WKU
OL Manase Mose, North Texas
OL Sidney Wells, UAB
OL Matthew Trehern, UAB

First-Team Defense
DL Jordan Ferguson, Middle Tennessee
DL Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
DL Keenan Stewart, UTEP
DL Evan Anderson, FAU
DL Davon Strickland, FIU
LB Tyler Grubbs, Louisiana Tech
LB KD Davis, North Texas
LB Noah Wilder, UAB
CB Corey Mayfield, UTSA
CB Starling Thomas V, UAB
S Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
S Teja Young, FAU
 
First-Team Specialists
K Brayden Narveson, WKU
P Lucas Dean, UTSA
KR Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte
PR Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee
 
Second-Team Offense
QB Chris Reynolds, Charlotte
RB Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte
RB Ari Broussard, Rice
AP Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech
WR Victor Tucker, Charlotte
WR Grant DuBose, Charlotte
TE Oscar Cardenas, UTSA
C Nick Weber, FAU
OL Elijah Klein, UTEP
OL Joshua Mote, Louisiana Tech
OL Makai Hart, UTSA
OL Rusty Staats, WKU
 
Second-Team Defense
DL Markees Watts, Charlotte
DL Ikenna Enechukwu, Rice
DL Deshon Hall, Louisiana Tech
DL Darius Shipp, WKU
DL De'Braylon Carroll, Rice
LB Breon Hayward, UTEP
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB Trevor Harmanson, UTSA
CB Deshawn Gaddie, North Texas
CB Kahlef Hailassie, WKU
S Grayson Cash, UAB
S BeeJay Williamson, Louisiana Tech
 
2022 FIU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
 

Thurs., Sept. 1	BRYANT	7 p.m.	ESPN3
Sat., Sept. 10	at Texas State	7 p.m.	ESPN+
Sat., Sept. 24	at Western Kentucky*	3:30 p.m.	CBSSN
Sat., Oct. 1	at New Mexico State	TBA	TBA
Sat., Oct. 8	UCONN (Homecoming)	7 p.m.	ESPN Networks
Fri., Oct. 14	UTSA*	8 p.m.	CBSSN
Sat., Oct. 22	at Charlotte*	3:30 p.m.	ESPN Networks
Fri., Oct. 28	LOUISIANA TECH*	8 p.m.	CBSSN
Sat., Nov. 5	at North Texas*	4 p.m.	ESPN Networks
Sat., Nov. 12	FAU*	7 p.m.	Stadium
Sat., Nov. 19	at UTEP*	4 p.m.	ESPN Networks
Sat., Nov. 26	MIDDLE TENNESSEE*	6 p.m.	ESPN Networks

 
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
All Times are Eastern 
All dates and times are subject to change
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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