Defense Shines For Panthers In 2025 FIU Football Spring Game

MIAMI, FL – If you’re a fan of defense, the 2025 FIU Football Spring Game was all you could have asked for. Team Navy (Led by Clayton Dees) took down Team Navy (Led by Keyone Jenkins) by a score of 7-2.

The Spring Game presented insight on how some positions could look when Week 1 of the season rolls around. Without a doubt, the defense from both squads was the most impressive part of the showcase. In front of both FIU students and Alumni, head coach Willie Simmons thought this game was a success.

“I’m excited about all the fans that came out, I saw a great crowd,” said Simmons. “Today was a success. Our goal is to come out, compete, stay healthy, and let the guys showcase what they’re about. I’m glad to see them get out there having fun.”

Defense Wins Championships

Now, keep in mind that quarterbacks weren’t tackled. Instead, it was treated like two-hand touch football. Some sacks were questionable if they would have been sacks in a real game. Still, the trenches were dominated by the defensive line.

A sack was how Team White got their only points of the game. Pinned near the goal line, Dees was “taken down” by linebacker Toddrick Brewton in the end zone. This resulted in a safety, giving Team White a 2-0 lead, which would be the only points in this game for a while. The other sack of the day for them was by defensive lineman Nick Watson.

Team White allowed three sacks, with two former Seminoles getting in on the action. Both Dante Anderson and Lamont Green hail from Florida State and took down Keyone Jenkins and Chayden Peery. Germaine Carter and Percy Courtney Jr also recorded sacks in this game.

Even more impressive was the Panthers’ secondary, as there were five interceptions thrown. Two of them were caught by Victor Evans III, arguably the MVP of the whole contest.

“I’ve grown a lot,” said Evans. “I’ll say a lot of it is because of Coach Gaitor and everyone in the cornerback room. I know I can’t just come in here and slack off because I know somebody behind me can come and take my spot.”

Fighting For A Starting Spot

Another player that raised eyebrows joins FIU from the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors – wide receiver Alex Perry. He was a threat on third down, with two of his five receptions coming when the offense needed him the most. The native of Port Charlotte appreciates being back in the Sunshine State and is looking to wrap up a starting spot for the regular season.

“Learning a new playbook, it was kind of hard for me,” said Perry. “Throughout the spring and reps with my quarterback and the coaches, it slowed down for me a lot, and I was able to show what I could do during the Spring.”

One aspect of Team Navy’s roster that people had high hopes for was the running game. With Devonte Lyons, Ajay Allen, and Kejon Owens, even Coach Simmons was confused about Team White not selecting any of FIU’s top runners.

Ultimately, it was Lyons who scored the only touchdown of the game – a basic three-yard rush in the third quarter that would end up being the game winner.

Must Have Been The Wind

Something that MIGHT be a cause for concern is FIU’s special teams. All of the Panthers’ kickers went a combined 0-4 on field goals, with Noah Grant and Robert Czeremcha going 0-2.

Coach Simmons remarked that this was the first time that these kickers had played at Pitbull Stadium. That, along with the decent wind and the fact that it’s still Spring, were the big reasons for the kicker’s struggles.

We’ll see how they, along with the rest of the roster, develop in the months ahead. Now, the team will welcome in new transfers and commits to the program while preparing for their first game of the season – the home opener at Pitbull Stadium against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Friday, August 29th. (Time TBA)