What We Learned About FIU At 2025 CUSA Media Day

After another CUSA Media Day, we’ve heard from all 12 teams in Conference USA. That includes FIU Football, as we heard from head coach Willie Simmons about expectations for 2025.

In what will be his first year leading the squad, Coach Simmons made the rounds for FIU at the Home of the PGA America in Frisco, Texas, where the CUSA Media Day is hosted annually. This year features two newcomers to CUSA – Delaware and Missouri State – along with two teams leaving for other conferences – UTEP and Louisiana Tech.

You heard it here first 💯#CUSAKickoff25 pic.twitter.com/bRN5llQOFM

— FIU Football (@FIUFootball) July 22, 2025

All in all, Simmons gave us some solid soundbites about what to expect from the Panthers.

The Program Is ALL IN on Keyone Jenkins

Not surprisingly, Keyone Jenkins is expected to have the keys to the offense in 2025. After recently being named the 2025 CUSA Preseason Offensive Player Of The Year, the expectations are high for Lyghtz.

Simmons remarked on how Jenkins has improved as a passer from his freshman season to now. He’s cut his interceptions down tremendously, among other achievements. Now, he has a new system to work with, alongside a whole host of new weapons and coaches. Still, Simmons trusts Keyone with the job… even if he is a lefty.

“He’s been starting ever since his freshman year,” said Simmons. “Taken his lumps, learned a lot, cut his interceptions down in half from his freshman year to his sophomore year, completion percentage went up. All the metrics that you evaluate a quarterback by have improved from year one to year two. That’s what you want to see.”

One of his first moves as the head coach of FIU was to retain Jenkins, who had entered his name into the transfer portal. According to Simmons, this was one of the biggest gets for him recruiting-wise.

Building A Team Is Nothing New For Willie

Willie’s experience of building programs in the FCS level with Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M is paying dividends for how he’s building FIU. Despite the differences in NIL, recruiting, and other factors between FCS and FBS, Simmons remarked how it’s not that much different. After all, 85 scholarships need to be given out regardless of division.

“Being at low-resource institutions, you learn the value of efficiency, of being able to maximize time,” said Simmons. “We don’t have unlimited resources, and so we have to make the most of what we do have. And so that’s everyone pulling their weight.”

“That’s everyone being willing to do extra work, being unselfish, and I think that’s a quality that breeds success in any organization, but especially when you’re at a place that doesn’t necessarily have all the bells and whistles.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is Simmons’ desire to attack the transfer portal head-on. FIU is trying to recruit the portal based on need. One difference is that Simmons is coaching in the biggest hotbed of high school football talent in the country.

Keep An Eye On The O-line and Secondary

As we get closer to Fall Practices, I asked Coach Simmons about the position that’ll have the most exciting battles for starting positions come Week One versus Bethune-Cookman.

His answer? The offensive line. Absolutely nothing can be guaranteed about the group, and that’s a good thing. They have veterans, but they also have newcomers who are bringing talent with them.

“I think on the offensive line there’ll be some heated battles,” said Simmons. “We had some guys come out of spring as starters, but we brought in four new linemen in the spring portal. We’re looking forward to seeing those guys compete and get after it. And again, Keyone is the engine, but we’ll go as far as the offensive line takes us.”

I was able to ask @FIUFootball head coach @HCWillieSimmons about the positions with the most exciting battles for a starting spot. 🏈

Hear what he had to say at today's CUSA Media Day!#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/hYiTuR3Oyj

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) July 23, 2025

That should be an interesting position to keep an eye on, but there’s another player Simmons has high hopes for. That would be Brian Blades II, a redshirt senior defensive back. He’s coming back for one stint at FIU, which is a big impact for the identity of the defense itself.

“Keeping him was just as big as keeping Keyone,” said Simmons. “People don’t talk about it as much because of the nature of the quarterback position, but Brian had just as many suitors, if not more, in the two transfer portal windows as anyone on our football team. And he decided to stay at FIU for his senior season. It means a lot for our defense. He’s one of the leaders on the back end. Very talented, works extremely hard, and has that pedigree.”

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