MIAMI – Redshirt sophomore Jordan Guerad headlined a group of seven members of the FIU football team which were honored with selection to either the All-Conference USA and All-Freshman Teams, which were announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
 
Each of the teams were voted upon by the league's nine head coaches.
 
Guerad was the Panthers' lone first team choice, while senior linebacker Donovan Manuel, redshirt junior wide receiver Kris Mitchell and redshirt sophomore Dean Patterson, who was selected at punt returner, were named to the second team.
 
The Panthers also had a trio of selections to the All-Freshman CUSA squad including quarterback Keyone Jenkins, defensive lineman Steven Shannon and linebacker Toddrick Brewton.
 
Guerad earned first team All-CUSA honors following a season which saw him start all 12 games for the Panthers on the defensive line.  He recorded 38 tackles (21 solo) and his 7.0 tackles for loss ranked 16th among CUSA leaders.  The Valrico, Fla., native also tabbed a pair of sacks, forced a fumble and had two QB hurries.
 
He recorded multiple tackles in all 12 games this season, including a season-high five on three occasions.  Guerad was named to the 2023 Conference USA Preseason Watch List, 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-CUSA Teams and 2023 Athlon Preseason All-CUSA Teams.
 
Manuel, who was a 2022 CUSA Honorable Mention choice, was named to the All-CUSA Second Team after having one of the top defensive seasons by a FIU player.  The unquestioned leader of the Panther defense ranked among CUSA and FBS leaders and shot up the program's single-season leaderboards in a number of categories.
 
He closed out his career as the program's single-season leader in forced fumbles with five.  Manuel's 121 total tackles in 2023 finished as the second-highest single-season total in program annals and ranked as the second-highest total in CUSA and 13th nationally.  His 68 solo stops ranked third in CUSA and 11th nationally.
 
In addition, Manuel racked up 15.5 tackles for loss, which is the fifth-best single season total at FIU, led all of CUSA and was the 18th best total among all FBS players. 
 
Manuel recorded double-figure stops in six of 12 games overall and tabbed nine or more tackles in 10 of 12 games overall.
 
He was named to the 2023 Conference USA Preseason Watch List, 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-CUSA Team (First) and 2023 Athlon Preseason All-CUSA Team (First).
 
Mitchell was honored with second team status after shattering the FIU single-season record for most receiving yards with his total of 1,118 – which moved him past Tyrese Chambers (1,074/2021) for the top spot in FIU annals.
 
That total ranked as the top mark in CUSA and 13th among all FBS players – his average of 93.2 receiving yards per contest also ranked as the best in CUSA and 13th nationally. He averaged 17.47 yards per catch, fifth best in CUSA and 40th in FBS.
 
Mitchell posted a total of four games with over 100 receiving yards, including a 201-yard effort in a win over Maine, which tied for the top single-game mark in program annals.
 
In addition, Mitchell's seven touchdown receptions this season are tied for the fourth-highest total in FIU single season annals and sit as fifth-best mark in CUSA.
 
Mitchell was named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award and was previously selected to the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-CUSA Team and Athlon Preseason All-CUSA Teams.
 
Patterson was selected to the All-CUSA second team as a punt return specialist after leading CUSA with an average of 10.2 yards per return.  He took back a total of 13 kicks for 132 yards in 2023, while also seeing time as one of the Panthers' primary wide receivers – which saw him catch 28 passes for a total of 423 yards and a touchdown.
 
Jenkins highlighted a trio of FIU selections to the CUSA All-Freshman squad following a solid rookie campaign under center, which saw him pass for a total of 2,414 yards and 11 touchdowns.
 
He also ran for a total of six scores – which was the most ever in a single season by an FIU signal caller.  Jenkins threw for over 200 yards in eight games and has tossed at least one touchdown in six games.
 
Jenkins showed a knack for the big play all season with an average of 12.44 per completion, which ranked third among CUSA leaders and 44th on the national leaderboard.
 
Shannon also was named to the All-Freshman unit after appearing in 11 games for the Panthers on the defensive line where we tallied 14 stops, including 2.0 TFLs.
 
Brewton was the final All-CUSA Freshman honoree after seeing action in nine games for FIU as a reserve linebacker.  He tabbed eight tackles in 2023.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE USA HONOREES
First Team All-Conference
Offense
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Malik Jackson, Jax State
WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
WR Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP
WR Malchi Corley, WKU
TE Holden Willis, MTSU
OL X'Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty
OL Andrew Meyer, UTEP
OL Keylan Rutledge, MTSU
OL Shiyazh Pete, NM State
OL Elijah Klein, UTEP
 
Defense
DE Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
DT Jordan Guerad, FIU
DT Sterling Webb, NM State
DE Chris Hardie, Jax State
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB Tyren Dupree, Liberty
LB Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
DB Willie Roberts, LA Tech
DB Kobe Singleton, Liberty
DB Brylan Green, Liberty
DB Da'Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
 
Special Teams
K Ethan Albertson, NM State
P Blake Ochsendorf, LA Tech
KR Aaron Bedgood, Liberty
PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
LS Brody Butler, MTSU
 
Second Team All-Conference
Offense
QB Diego Pavia, NM State
RB Deion Hankins, UTEP
RB Star Thomas, NM State
WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
WR CJ Daniels, Liberty
WR Elijah Metcalf, MTSU
TE Sean Brown, Jax State
OL Jonathan Graham, Liberty
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Treylen Brown, Jax State
OL Clay Webb, Jax State
OL Canaan Yarro, NM State
 
Defense
DE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
DT Hosea Wheeler, WKU
DT Jay Hardy, Liberty
DE Quindarius Dunnigan, MTSU
LB Donovan Manuel, FIU
LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
LB Keyshaun Elliot, NM State
DB Kendrick Simpkins, WKU
DB Teldrick Ross, MTSU
DB Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
DB Derek Carter, Jax State
 
Special Teams
K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, LA Tech
PR Dean Patterson, FIU
LS Charlie Eberle, NM State
 
Honorable Mention
Offense
QB Austin Reed, WKU
RB Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
RB Billy Lucas, Liberty
WR Perry Carter, Jax State
WR Cyrus Allen, LA Tech
WR Noah Smith, Sam Houston
TE Eli Stowers, NM State
OL Carson Bruno, LA Tech
OL Xavior Gray, Liberty
OL Justin Mayers, UTEP
OL Will O'Steen, Jax State
OL Vincent Murphy, WKU
 
Defense
DE J-Rock Swain, Jax State
DT Jeff Marks, Jax State
DT Izaiah Reed, NM State
DE CJ Bazile, Jr., Liberty
LB Quae Drake, Jax State
LB Jeslord Boatang, LA Tech
LB James Neal, UTEP
DB Anthony Johnson, Jr., WKU
DB Tra Fluellen, MTSU
DB Kobe Hylton, UTEP
DB Jordan Vincent, NM State
 
Special Teams
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
P Jack Dawson, Jax State
KR Easton Messer, WKU
PR Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
LS Trey Naughton, WKU
 
All-Freshman Team
Offense
QB Keyone Jenkins, FIU
WR Easton Messer, WKU
WR K.D. Hutchinson, WKU
WR Moussa Barry, WKU
TE Noah Meyers, WKU
OL Xavier Bausley, Jax State
OL Mateo Guevara, MTSU
OL Evan Wibberley, WKU
OL Orion Irving, Sam Houston
OL Rhett Larson, Sam Houston
 
Defense
DE TJ Bush, Liberty
DT Steven Shannon, FIU
DE Deonte McCray, WKU
LB Toddrick Brewton, FIU
LB Koron Hayward, WKU
LB Reginald Allen, Jr., WKU
DB Michael Richard, LA Tech
DB Alex Ford, WKU
DB Nazir Ward, WKU
DB Chantson Prox, Sam Houston
 
Special Teams
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
KR Easton Messer, WKU
PR K.D. Hutchinson, WKU
LS Trey Naughton, WKU
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the 2024 season on the road at Big Ten member Indiana on Saturday, August 31.
 
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
 
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