Day One Of Fall Camps For FIU Headlined By The Defense

MIAMI, FL – A sign that Week One of the FIU Football season is soon, day one of Fall Camps went off for the Panthers. Under the exceptionally hot sun, FIU was back to tackling, running routes, and finding out who could be the starters for the regular season.

The start of Fall Camps tends to favor the defenses. They can come out swinging in drills, batting down passes, and making plays in the secondary. While the offense is still learning routes and play signals, the message for the defense is a bit clearer: stop the offense.

The battles between offense and defense were fierce, but the only thing more fierce than that was the battles between some players and the sun. There was no shortage of players having to step off the field due to cramps or a need for H2O. The Florida sun hits especially hard for the transfers who aren’t used to this type of heat just yet.

The Final Look Starting To Take Shape

We’ve seen more and more of a potential starting roster for FIU. There’s still plenty of time until August 29th, but there are some guaranteed locks.

One such position is quarterback, which is refreshing from the uncertainty of seasons past. Keyone Jenkins has embraced a leadership role in his third year at QB for FIU, helping those around him become greater players alongside himself.

I had the opportunity to ask a few questions to Panthers quarterback Keyone Jenkins (@LyghtzO) following @FIUFootball Fall Camps today. 🏈

Be sure to take a listen! ⤵️#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/5ZpYVCcvQ0

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) July 30, 2025

“Guys are starting to fall in line,” said Keyone. “They don’t take too much to lead. I’m going to lead by example. Once they see me doing the right thing on and off the field, that’s when they fall in line. But to be a great leader, you have to do that, always.”

Lyghtz will look to lead an offense with a mix of familiarity and new faces. Just about every position on offense will have transfers competing for starting spots with players who have been on the field at FIU before. Offensive coordinator Nick Coleman is keeping the message simple – accumulate completions while he commands the offense.

“30 days. 30 nights. I’ll be with him all day like he’s my girl or something.”

A Reunion In The Sunshine State

One player that’ll look to mesh with the rest of the linebacker group is Johnny Chaney Jr, a senior talent from Apopka. He’s back in his home state after spending a season with Colorado. Before that, he was already familiar with Willie Simmons during their time at Florida A&M.

When you combine all those facts, it seems like a perfect match to have him here at FIU. The media seems to agree, as he’s been named to the All-CUSA Preseason Fourth Team for both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. To Chaney, this is motivation to help him achieve an even greater goal.

Earlier today, I had the pleasure of speaking one-on-one with Panthers linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr. (@Chaney28Jr) at @FIUFootball Fall Camps. 🏈

Take a listen! ⤵️#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/6qUgyO5QXZ

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) July 30, 2025

“It’s a blessing, but it’s never about getting complacent,” said Chaney. “I’m just one percent getting better day. I want to be the Defensive Player of the Year in this conference. Nothing less, nothing short. We set the bar high, and we grind every day to make sure we accomplish that.”

The linebacker room already has a dangerous one-two punch with Dwight Nunoo and Percy Courtney Jr. If Chaney continues to impress, he can earn himself a starting spot in no time.

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