MIAMI – The FIU football program added a total of 23 student-athletes on the opening day of the NCAA Early Signing Period on Wednesday, FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre announced.
 
The Panthers' class includes a total of 13 incoming freshmen and 10 transfers.
 
FIU signed a total of 11 new players on the offensive side of the ball, including five offensive linemen, one running back, four wide receivers and one quarterback.
 
Defensively, the Panthers inked a total of 12 student-athletes, including five defensive backs, three defensive linemen and four linebackers.
 
The 2024 early signing class includes players from a total of five states, including 18 student-athletes from the state of Florida.
 
Other states represented include California, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.
 
 
2024 FIU SIGNING CLASS
Travion Barnes
LB – 6'1 – 220
Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Georgia Military College/Apopka HS)
 
2023 (at Georgia Military): Saw action in five games while totaling 23 tackles, including 16 solo…added three sacks and 6.5 TFLs for a total loss of 27 yards…recovered one fumble.
 
2022 (at Georgia Military): Appeared in 11 games and tabbed 124 tackles, including 91 solo stops…registered four sacks and 12.5 TFLs for a total loss of 70 yards…forced three fumbles and recovered two…posted two interceptions and broke up five passes.
 
Prep: Attended Apoka High School where he totaled 283 tackles and seven sacks…had four interceptions and forced a pair of fumbles…returned one of his interceptions for 75 yards…recovered three fumbles.
 
 
Nazeviah Burris
WR – 5'11 – 185
Byrnes, S.C. (Stetson/Byrnes HS)
 
2023 (at Stetson): Snagged 21 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown over four games of action for the Hatters…averaged 14.7 yards per reception.  Redshirt season.
 
2022 (at Stetson): Saw action in all 10 games…second leading receiver on the team with 618 yards, averaging 13.43 yards per catch and scoring 3 touchdowns…Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention choice…also named to Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll.
 
2021 Spring (at Stetson): Was one of the Hatters' top receiving threats…saw action in the final eight games of the year, starting the final seven…made collegiate debut at Princeton on Sept. 24 with one catch for 11 yards…Exploded the following week with seven receptions for 127 yards and a program-record four touchdowns against Davidson on Oct. 9…followed up with seven receptions, for 48 yards, the following week at Marist…finished the season with 28 receptions for 364 yards and those four touchdowns…earned second team All-Pioneer Football League honors.
 
Prep: Played for coach Reggie Shaw at James F. Byrnes High in Duncan, S.C….helped his team to an 11-1 record as a senior, earning a No. 15 ranking in the state…had 32 receptions for 447 yards and four touchdowns as a junior…also tabbed 89 yards on kickoff returns and 311 yards on punt returns…posted 14 receptions in just four games during his shortened senior season, gaining 168 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns…recorded 378 kickoff return yards in those four games…credited with one tackle and recorded a pair of interceptions…also played for coach Layne Fowler on the basketball team…selected to play in the 2020 Carolina Shrine Bowl…named as Homecoming King and Prom King…an All-Region selection.
 
Personal: Full name is Nazeviah Nana Jahmi Burris…born on November 26, 2002, in Union, SC…son of James Fincher and Sharieka Burris…has one brother, Octavious Davis, and two sisters, Skylar Fincher and Ariel Burris.
 
 
Germaine Carter
DL – 6'1 – 275
Miami, Fla. (Miami Norland)
 
Prep: Ended prep career at Miami Norland where he helped lead the squad to the State Championship Game as a senior…recorded 52 tackles, including 32 solo stops as a senior…also tabbed eight sacks and 19 TFLs…opened prep career at Miami Carol City High…during junior season he amassed 76 stops, including 55 solo…he recorded 25 TFLs and 19 sacks…also forced three fumbles and recovered a pair.
 
 
Jaleel Davis (R-Jr.)
OL – 6'6 – 315
Hamlet, N.C. (N.C. State/Richmond Senior)
 
2023 (at N.C. State): Did not see game action.
 
2022 (at N.C. State): Saw action in one game - three snaps vs. Charleston Southern.
 
2021 (at N.C. State): Redshirt season
 
Prep: Played offensive tackle at Richmond Senior High School for coach Bryan Till..started at left tackle as a junior…helped lead his team to a 13-1 record and a repeat as conference champions at 7-0…advanced to the NC 4AA state semifinals…sophomore season was first as as a starter on the front five…helped lead team to an 11-2 record and a conference championship at 7-0….advanced to the NC 4AA state quarterfinals…earned all-state and all-conference honors as a junior and all-conference honors as a sophomore….ranked as the No. 59 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 21 player in the state (second-highest among offensive linemen) by Rivals.com. Also ranked as the No. 68 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 43 player in North Carolina by 247Sports.com.
 
 
Clayton Dees
QB – 6'2 – 180
Palmetto, Fla. (Palmetto HS)
 
Prep:  Played high school ball at Palmetto High School in Miami-Dade…passed for 3,528 yards in his career with 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions…completed 230-of-430 passes overall…rushed for a total of 566 yards and seven touchdowns over final two prep seasons…tossed 14 touchdowns while totaling 1,824 yards through the air as a senior…went for 1.704 yards and 13 touchdowns during junior campaign…was also heavily recruited in baseball.
 
 
Sadonnie Gay
DB – 6'1 – 185
Miami, Fla. (Miami Northwestern)
Prep: Played high school football at Miami Northwestern…totaled 22 tackles in prep career…added three interceptions…forced a pair of fumbles.
 
 
Cole Gustafson (Jr.)
DL – 6'5 – 310
Rocklin, Calif. (American River CC/Rocklin HS)
 
2023 (at American River): Tabbed 32 tackles, including 10 solo…added three sacks and seven total TFLs for a loss of 31 yards…broke up a pair of passes at the line.
 
2022 (at American River): Saw action in two games…made a pair of tackles.
 
Prep: Played high school football at Rockin High (Calif.)…mainstay of offensive line with a total of 10 pancake blocks in final two prep seasons.
 
 
Ashton Levells
DB – 6'1 – 170
DeSoto, Texas (Butler CC/UT Permian Basin/DeSoto HS)
 
2023 (at Butler): Saw action in six games…recorded 24 tackles, including 19 solo stops…added an interception…posted two TFLs and defended three passes.
 
2022 (at UT Permian Basin): Saw action in 11 games…made 19 tackles, including 17 solo…recorded a pair of interceptions and broke up five passes.
 
2021 (at UT Permian Basin): Redshirt season.
 
Prep: Played high school football at DeSoto High (Texas)…named Texas Sports Writers Association All-State 6A Honorable Mention and All-District 11-6A Second Team Defensive Back.
 
 
Devonte Lyons
RB – 5'10 – 185
St. Augustine, Fla. (St. Augustine HS)
 
Prep: Had a standout career at St. Augustine High…rushed for 1,558 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior while leading the Yellow Jackets to the Florida State 3S Championship Game…St. Augustine finished 13-1 overall…he averaged 6.7 yards a rush as a senior…for his career he rushed for 3,857 yards and 57 touchdowns, including a pair of 1,000-yard seasons…he closed his prep career with 57 total rushing touchdowns and 18 games with over 100 yards…had a long run of 95 yards as a senior…averaged 7.3 yards per carry for his career…added 34 receptions for 303 yards and two scores as a prep.
 
 
Eric Nelson
WR – 6'1 – 165
Miramar, Fla. (Miramar HS)
 
Prep: Played high school football at Miramar High where he had a breakout season as a senior that saw him total 1,123 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 65 receptions…averaged 17.3 yards per reception and had a long catch of 85 yards…broke out in the state playoffs with over 230 yards and a pair of scores vs. Belen…posted 219 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
 
 
Ja'Kavio Nonar
OL – 6'7 – 285
Belle Glade, Fla. (Maryland/Glades Central HS)
 
2023 (at Maryland): Did not see game action.
 
2022 (at Maryland): Did not see game action…redshirt season.
 
Prep: 2020 Sun Sentinel Second Team All-County...named to ESPN 106.3's Top 63 list, which recognizes the top seniors in Florida's Palm Beach, Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties...first team All-State...started for a Glades Central team that went 5-1 and played for a South Florida tri-county championship in 2020...also played basketball.
 
Personal: Son of Jesse and Deliliah Nonar ... Has three older siblings: Jasmine Nonar, Je'cynthia Nonar and Jessarious Wallace.
 
 
Dwight Nunoo
LB – 6'0 – 230
Grand Prairie, Texas (Dodge City/South Grand Prairie HS)
 
2023 (at Dodge City): Rang up a team-best 75 tackles, including 30 solo stops…tabbed one sack and 3.5 TFL's…forced a fumble and recovered another…recorded two interceptions and a pair of pass breakups.
 
2022 (at Dodge City): During freshman campaign totaled 36 tackles and 1.5 TFLs over seven games of action.
 
 
Jon Rodriguez
OL – 6'5 – 280
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons HS)
 
Prep: Anchor for the offensive line during his career at Cardinal Gibbons…also competed in track as a prep…also recruited by Indiana and Bowling Green among others.
 
 
Knajee Saffold
OL – 6'5 – 325
Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Treasure Coast HS)
 
Prep: Started all 12 games as a leader on the offensive front as a senior at Treasure Coast High…is expected to be a physical presence up front for the Panthers.
 
 
Raheim Sexil
DB – 6'1 – 185
Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee HS)
 
Prep: Finished career at Manatee High with 55 tackles, including 27 solo stops…tabbed four interceptions…during senior campaign he recorded 18 tackles and defended 10 passes while adding an interception.
 
 
Ben Shellenback
OL – 6'5 – 295
Melbourne, Fla. (Tusculum/Melbourne HS)
 
2023 (at Tusculum): Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division Team.
 
2022 (at Tusculum): All-South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division Second Team... Appeared in 10 games with nine starts.
 
2021 (at Tusculum): Played in all 11 games on the offensive line with eight starts at tackle.
 
2020 (at Tusculum): Credited with playing time on the offensive line against Newberry (Mar. 6) and Limestone (Apr. 3).
 
2019 (at Tusculum): Redshirt... Saw action against West Alabama (Sep. 14) and Limestone (Sep. 21).
 
Prep: Graduated from Melbourne (Fla.) HS... Lettered in football four times... Coached by Scott Grish (football) and Eddy Edwards... All-Cape Coast Conference (2017, 2018)... 2019 All-Star Game... Two-time Offensive Lineman of the Year (2018, 2019)... 2018 Central Florida All-Star... 2017 & 2018 Melbourne Best Offensive Lineman... Team went 5-5 and advanced to State Playoffs.
 
Personal: Full name is Benjamin Shellenbeck... Born Dec. 19, 2000 in Palm Bay, Fla... Son of Jim and Kim Shellenbeck... His grandfather, James Shellenback, played professional baseball (1966-1977) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins... Twin brother, Will, is also a member of the TU football team... Graduated from Tusculum in May 2022 while majoring in sports science.
 
 
Nicholas Smith Jr.
WR – 6'0 – 170
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Stranahan HS)
 
Prep: Played high school football at Stranahan High in Fort Lauderdale…hauled in 20 passes for 423 yards and three touchdowns as a senior…averaged 21.2 yards per reception.
 
 
Shamir Sterlin
DB – 6'1 – 185
Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Treasure Coast HS)
 
Prep: Mainstay in the defensive backfield during his prep career at Treasure Coast High…tabbed a total of 155 tackles, including 93 solo stops over three seasons…added five interceptions, 14 passes defended and two fumble recoveries…as a senior he posted 73 total stops along with three interceptions, 10 passes defended and four TFLs.
 

Josiah Taylor
LB – 6'0 – 210
Sebring, Fla. (Sebring HS)
 
Prep: Played high school football at Sebring High…saw action in over 40 games as a four-year varsity player…totaled 414 total tackles, including 290 solo stops…posted 35 TFLs and 3.5 sacks…had over 120 tackles in both his junior and senior campaigns…added three interceptions and defended seven passes…recovered six fumbles and forced two…also blocked a punt.
 
 
 Eddie Walls III
LB – 6'4 – 250
Fort Myers, Fla. (Bethune-Cookman/South Fort Myers HS)
 
2023 (at Bethune-Cookman): Started all 11 games…posted 45 tackles, including 17 solo…led squad with 14.5 TFLs that lost a total of 48 yards…had four sacks…blocked a kick and had five quarterback hurries…recovered a fumble.
 
2022 (at Bethune-Cookman): Saw action in eight games…made 32 tackles and 12 solo…recorded 4.5 TFLs for a total loss of 29 yards, including three sacks…blocked a kick…had a pair of quarterback hurries and broke up a pass.
 
2021 (at Bethune-Cookman): Redshirt season…saw action in three games…made four tackles.
 
Prep: Played high school football at South Fort Myers High…played both ways as a senior…caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown…averaged 9.4 yards per reception…tabbed 90 tackles as a senior along with 10 TFLs…added six sacks…blocked a field goal and forced a fumble...also wrestled as a prep.
 
 
Desna Washington
WR – 6'5 – 220
Belle Glade, Fla. (New Mexico/Glades Central HS)
 
2023 (at New Mexico): Caught 29 passes for 336 and three touchdowns…averaged 11.6 yards per reception for the Lobos.
 
Prior to New Mexico: Lettered for three seasons at Iowa Central…in 30 games he caught 107 passes for 2,027 yards and 24 touchdowns, with a long of 69 yards …posted 54 receptions for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns in his third season at Iowa Central.
 
Prep: Lettered in football at Glades Central High School.
 
 
Jaden Williams
DB – 6'2 – 190
Plantation, Fla. (Plantation HS)
 
Prep: Played both ways as a prep at Plantation High…had 17 total stops on defense along with three interceptions…also defended five passes for the Colonels…snagged a total of 23 receptions for 493 yards and four touchdowns.
 
 
Robert Williams
DL – 6'3 – 265
Miami, Fla. (Christopher Columbus HS)
 
Prep: Played at Christopher Columbus where he helped lead the Explorers to back-to-back FHSAA State Championships in 2022 and 2023…registered 29 tackles, six TFL's – including three sacks and one interception during senior campaign…for his career he amassed 41 total stops, eight TFLs and four sacks.
 
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the 2024 season on the road at Big Ten member Indiana on Saturday, August 31.
 
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