| WEEK 1: Bryant University (0-0) at FIU (0-0) |
COMPLETE FIU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES - VS. BRYANT (PDF)
WATCH COACH MACINTYRE'S WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE - WEEK 1 VS. BRYANT
SETTING THE STAGE
PANTHERS TO OPEN NEW ERA UNDER THE LIGHTS THURSDAY
The FIU football program will usher in a new era under head coach
Mike MacIntyre when they play host to Bryant University on Thursday, Sept. 1 in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff from FIU Stadium.
The game will be televised live on ESPN3 with
AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Patrick Murray (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on Miami's WQBA 1140 AM.
MIKE MACINTYRE NAMED SIXTH HEAD COACH OF FIU FOOTBALL
Mike MacIntyre was officially announced as the sixth coach in the history of the FIU football program on Dec. 9, 2021.
The consensus 2016 national coach of the year, MacIntyre was born in the Magic City and resided in the area while his father was an assistant coach for the University of Miami.
"Throughout this process, Coach MacIntyre rose to the top," Carr said. "He has a passion for student-athletes and building genuine relationships with them. He's a builder, with proven success taking two struggling programs and elevating them to national relevance. He is a two-time national coach of the year. He's a brand builder who will promote FIU throughout the South Florida community and the state of Florida. We could not be more excited to bring his energy and passion to campus."
WEEK 1 CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
FIU has named senior
Tyrese Chambers (WR), senior
Davon Strickland (DL), junior
Lexington Joseph (RB) and junior
Donovan Manuel (LB) as captains for week one vs. Bryant.
WHAT'S BACK
The Panthers return a total of nine starters from last season's squad - with an even split with a total of three returning each on offense, defense and special teams.
WHAT'S NEW
The 2022 FIU roster has a fresh look with a total of 48 new student-athletes joining the Panthers' program this season.
Of the 48 new players on the roster:
- 24 are freshman
- 23 are transfers
- 1 is an international transfer
- 23 defensive players
- 22 offensive players
- 3 special teams players
CHAMBERS LOOKING TO FOLLOW BREAKOUT 2021
FIU senior wide receiver
Tyrese Chambers established himself as one of the top deep threats in college football during a record-breaking campaign last season.
He ranked second nationally with an average of 23.9 yards per reception in 2021, while posting the top single season receiving-yard performance in FIU annals (1,074 yards).
The Baltimore, Md., native also recorded the most touchdown catches in a season by a FIU player – with nine.
Chambers' 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.
CHAMBERS NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF LIST
FIU senior wide receiver
Tyrese Chambers was been selected as one of 43 student-athletes named to the 2022 Biletnikoff Preseason Watch List, which recognizes college football's most outstanding FBS receiver regardless of position.
The list was released on Thursday by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award on July 21.
Chambers is the third FIU player to be named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, joining T.Y. Hilton (2011) and Chandler Williams (2006).
CHAMBERS FIXTURE ON PRESEASON LISTS
Wide receiver
Tyrese Chambers was been a fixture on the numerous preseason awards lists that were announced this summer including:
- 2023 Senior Bowl Watch List
- Biletnikoff Award Watch List
- Pro Football Network All-America Team (HM)
- Athlon All-CUSA First Team
- Phil Steele's All-CUSA First Team
- Pro Football Network's Top 100 College Players
- Pro Football Focus All-CUSA First Team
- Conference USA Preseason Watch List
FAIRWEATHER TABBED TO MACKEY WATCH LIST
Sophomore tight end
Rivaldo Fairweather was selected as one of the 54 players named to the 2022 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, which as released in late July.
The John Mackey Award is presented annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. The award recipient is selected from a vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
Fairweather hauled in a total of 16 catches for 247 yards and a score during the 2021 season. The athletic tight end averaged over 15 yards per reception and registered five catches of at least 20 yards.
During the 2020 campaign, Fairweather collected 10 receptions for 165 yards, including a career-long 67-yard catch that went for a touchdown.
Fairweather's selection marks the seventh time that a FIU player has been named to the Mackey Watch List, joining
Sterling Palmer (2019), Jonnu Smith (2014/2015/2016), Ya'Keem Griner (2015) and Samuel Smith (2006).
PASSMORE-BRYANT CONNECTION
FIU sophomore defensive tackle
Jeramy Passmore played high school football for current Bryant head coach Chris Merritt at Columbus High School in Miami.
Merritt served as the head coach for 18 years at Columbus before being named the head coach at Bryant prior to the 2019 season.
Passmore, who helped lead the program to the 2018 state championship game, was elected to the 2018 All-USA Florida team and the Miami-Dade All-Star Game. He was also a first-team All-Dade selection under Merritt.
MORE BRYANT - SOUTH FLORIDA TIES
The Bryant football roster features a total of eight players from the South Florida area (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties).
SCOUTING BRYANT
The Panthers and Bryant will be meeting for the first time when the programs square in the season opener on Thursday night at FIU Stadium.
Bryant University is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and competes at the FCS level.
The Bulldogs are coached by Chris Merritt, who is 13-14 in his previous three seasons at the helm of the Bryant program.
Bryant is playing its first season as a member of the Big South Conference after competing in the Northeast Conference since 2012.
The Bulldogs posted a 7-4 record in 2021, including victories in four of their last five games overall.
Bryant averaged 30.0 points per game last season and 379.1 yards of offense per game, including 151.5 rushing yards per contest.
Sophomore quarterback Zevi Eckhaus returns for the Bulldogs after starting all 11 games last season. He completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,392 yards and 21 touchdowns - against just three interceptions.
Fellow sophomore Fabrice Mukendi is also back after leading the Bulldogs in rushing last season with 652 yards on 111 carries (5.9 avg). He scored nine touchdowns.
Bryant also returns its top two pass catchers in senior David Zorilla and junior Anthony Frederick. Zorilla hauled in a team-high 47 catches for 623 yards and a pair of scores, while Frederick snagged 32 catches for 516 yards and eight touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Ryan Saddler anchors the defense after leading the Bulldogs in tackles last season with 91.
FIU VS. THE BIG SOUTH
The Panthers are 0-2 all-time vs. current members of the Big South Conference entering Thursday's meeting with Bryant.
Both of those losses came against Gardner Webb during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road for the start of a three-game roadswing - their longest of the season.
The Panthers open the stretch with a game at Texas State University on Saturday, Sept. 10 in a 7 p.m. ET start.
FIU will follow their bye week with road clashes at Western Kentucky (C-USA opener) on Saturday, Sept. 24 and a trip to Las Crusces, N.M., to battle New Mexico State on Saturday, Oct. 1.
ROSS FOURNET AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP
FIU head coach
Mike MacIntyre surprised the Panthers, in particular freshman wide receiver
Ross Fournet, during the teams' workout on August 27 when he announced that the former walk-on would now be on full scholarship.
Coach MacIntyre simply stated "that winners rise to the top" and then announced to the squad that Fournet was now on full scholarship.
PRESEASON AWARDS RUNDOWN
The Panthers received a number of honors during the preseason from national pundits - below is a composite list:
Athlon Preseason All-CUSA Team
Tyrese Chambers (WR) - First Team
Rivaldo Fairweather (TE) - First Team
Davon Strickland (DL) - First Team
Lexington Joseph (RB) - Third Team
Lyndell Hudson Jr. (OL) - Third Team
Donovan Manuel (LB) - Fourth Team
Gaethan Bernadel (LB) - Fourth Team
Lexington Joseph (KR) - Fourth Team
Phil Steele's Preseason All-CUSA Team
Tyrese Chambers (WR) - First Team
Davon Strickland (DL) - First Team
Lexington Joseph (KR) - Second Team
Donovan Manuel (LB) - Third Team
Josiah Miamen (TE) - Third Team
Lyndell Hudson Jr. (OL) - Third Team
Conference USA Preseason Watch List
Tyrese Chambers (WR)
Davon Strickland (DL)
Rivaldo Fairweather (TE)
Lyndell Hudson Jr. (OL)
Lexington Joseph (KR)
Pro Football Focus Preseason All-CUSA Team
Tyrese Chambers (WR) - First Team
Rivaldo Fairweather (TE) - First Team
Davon Strickland (DL) - Third Team
Lyndell Hudson Jr. (OL) - Third Team
Lexington Joseph (KR) - Honorable Mention
Biletnikoff Preseason Watch List
Tyrese Chambers (WR)
John Mackey Preseason Watch List
Rivaldo Fairweather (TE)
Senior Bowl Watch List
Tyrese Chambers (WR)
Pro Football Network All-America Team
Tyrese Chambers (WR)
Pro Football Network Top 100 College Players
Tyrese Chambers (WR) - No. 86
