MIAMI (Dec. 18, 2019) – Head Coach Butch Davis and FIU football announced the addition of 15 student-athletes to the 2019 early signing class on Wednesday, solidifying the future of the program and completing phase one of the recruiting process for the Panthers.
“The lifeblood of any football program is recruiting and our staff has done a phenomenal job,” Davis said. “I want to congratulate our coaches, support staff, trainers, nutritionists and academic people for their efforts to help build this. When recruits and their parents come on official visits, they leave unbelievably impressed with FIU because of what they do.”
The class features 11 players from the state of Florida, as the Panthers made it a priority to target their homestate. FIU received an additional four commitments from outside of the Sunshine State, with signees from Georgia, New Jersey, Mississippi and Texas. Another theme of the class was that of signees having played in multiple sports throughout their high school career, a trait that Coach Davis loves to see from potential recruits.
Assistant Head Coach Allen Mogridge was very pleased with Wednesday’s signing day, as the Panthers signed five offensive lineman. Maljon Joor (Jackson, Mississippi) and Kameren Williams (Humble, Texas) have junior college experience, while the trio of Miles Frazier (Camden, New Jersey), Jose Mirabal (Homestead, Florida) and Jahmari Sylvester (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) round out the incoming freshman linemen.
“Every recruiting class always has an area of importance and this year that was the offensive line,” Davis said. “We had four guys graduate last year who played an enormous amount of time for us and we needed to bring in players who would compete for starting jobs and help us build depth.”
The Panthers went all-Florida for the skill positions, as FIU signed quarterback Haden Carlson (Lutz, Florida), running back Kejon Owens (Miami, Florida), wide receiver Teddy Richardson (Miami, Florida), wide receiver Xavier McGriff (Jacksonville, Florida) and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
On defense, the Panthers also signed an all-Florida group with the addition of defensive lineman Shykieim Gloster (Opa-locka, Florida), defensive lineman Bobby Washington (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), linebacker Tamarick Best (Pahokee, Florida) and Andrew Volmar (Plantation, Florida).
The lone specialist of the group hails from Georgia, with the signing of kicker Chase Gabriel (Brunswick, Georgia). The kicker is extremely accurate and booted three field goals over 50 yards in the most recent state playoffs for Glynn Academy.
Signing day for FIU was especially unique this year, as the team is currently in Montgomery as they prepare for the Camellia Bowl. FIU faces Arkansas State on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. ET.
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2020 Early Signing Class (By Position)
Haden Carlson (6-3, 192, QB | Lutz, Florida (Steinbrenner HS))
Kejon Owens (5-10, 185, RB | Miami, Florida (Miami Central HS))
Teddy Richardson (5-11, 185, WR | Miami, Florida (Booker T. Washington HS))
Xavier McGriff (6-2, 180, WR | Jacksonville, Florida (Baldwin HS))
Rivaldo Fairweather (6-4, 233, TE | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Boyd Anderson HS))
Miles Frazier (6-5, 304, OL | Camden, New Jersey (Milford Academy Prep))
Maljon Joor (6-3, 318, OL | Jackson, Mississippi (Callaway HS/Mississippi Gulf Coast CC))
Jose Mirabal (6-5, 285, OL | Homestead, Florida (South Dade HS))
Jahmari Sylvester (6-5, 317, OL | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas HS))
Kameren Williams (6-4, 290, OL | Humble, Texas (Summer Creek HS/Trinity Valley CC))
Shykieim Gloster (6-4, 220, DL | Opa-locka, Florida (Monsignor Pace HS))
Bobby Washington (5-11, 290, DL | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas HS))
Tamarick Best (6-1, 225, LB | Pahokee, Florida (Pahokee HS))
Andrew Volmar (6-1, 170, DB | Plantation, Florida (American Heritage))
Chase Gabriel (5-11, 180, K | Brunswick, Georgia (Glynn Academy))
