MIAMI – A total of 10 members of the FIU football team have been honored with selection to the 2023 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Team, which was announced on Thursday.
Leading the way for the Panthers is senior linebacker
Donovan Manuel, who was named to the first-team All-CUSA defense after racking up 97.0 tackles last season – which ranked as the eighth-highest total among Conference USA leaders. He also ranked fourth among league leaders with an average of 8.1 stops per contest.
In addition, Manuel's 8.5 tackles for loss led FIU in 2022 and ranked as the 15
th-highest total in Conference USA.
Representing the Panthers on the second team is junior tight end
Josiah Miamen, sophomore defensive lineman
Jordan Guerad, senior linebacker
Shaun Peterson Jr. and junior punter
Daton Montiel.
Miamen hauled on 27 receptions for 242 yards and a touchdown last season, while Guerad tallied 34.0 tackles, including three sacks and 5.5 tackles for a total loss of 34 yards. The 5.5 TFL's tied for the 25th-most in C-USA and the 34 yards lost ranked as the 14th-highest total on the conference.
Peterson Jr. enjoyed a breakout season after transitioning from running back to linebacker. The senior posted 28 tackles, including six sack and eight total tackles for loss. His six sacks ranked tied for the 10th-highest single-season total in FIU history and 10th among C-USA leaders in 2022.
Peterson Jr.'s season was highlighted by two game-changing defensive plays in wins over Bryant and Charlotte – both which saw him record a strip sack and recover the ensuing fumble to set up the Panthers for a score on the following drive.
Montiel averaged a total of 42.1 yards per punt as a sophomore in 2022 and had a total of 13 boots of over 50 yards, including a season-best 64-yarder at New Mexico State. He placed 17 kicks inside the 20-yard line and forced 37 fair catches.
Rounding out FIU's Athlon Sports 2023 Conference USA All-Preseason selections are junior wide receiver
Kris Mitchell (third-team offense), sophomore offensive lineman
John Bock II (fourth-team offense), junior defensive lineman
Jeramy Passmore (fourth-team defense), junior linebacker
Avery Huff (fourth-team defense) and junior place kicker
Chase Gabriel (fourth-team specialists).
ATHLON SPORTS 2023 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA
First-Team Defense
LB
Donovan Manuel
Second-Team Offense
TE
Josiah Miamen
Second-Team Defense
DL
Jordan Guerad
LB
Shaun Peterson Jr.
Second-Team Specialists
P
Daton Montiel
Third-Team Offense
WR
Kris Mitchell
Fourth-Team Offense
OL
John Bock II
Fourth-Team Defense
DL
Jeramy Passmore
LB
Avery Huff
Fourth-Team Specialists
K
Chase Gabriel
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open summer camp in late July as they begin preparations for the 2023 season opener at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, August 26 in Ruston.
2023 FIU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Aug. 26 |
at Louisiana Tech* (Saturday) |
| Sept. 2 |
MAINE (Saturday) |
| Sept. 9 |
NORTH TEXAS (Saturday) |
| Sept. 16 |
at Connecticut (Saturday) |
| Sept. 23 |
LIBERTY* (Saturday) (Homecoming) |
| Oct. 4 |
at New Mexico State* (Wednesday) |
| Oct. 11 |
UTEP* (Wednesday) |
| Oct. 18 |
at Sam Houston State* (Wednesday) |
| Oct. 25 |
JACKSONVILLE STATE* (Wednesday) |
| Nov. 11 |
at Middle Tennessee* (Saturday) |
| Nov. 18 |
at Arkansas (Saturday) |
| Nov. 25 |
WESTERN KENTUCKY* (Saturday) |
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* CONFERENCE USA GAME
Please note that all games are subject to date changes and some dates may move in the future in order to accommodate national television selections. A schedule of televised games will be released at a later date.
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
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.
