FIU Football 2024 Analysis – The Defensive Backs

MIAMI, FL – With football approaching for the FIU Panthers, anticipation for the upcoming season requires a deep dive into all aspects of the team, ensuring the best view of what 2024 could look like for the 305.

We now shift to the last line, the defensive backs. This article includes a look at what the starting groups may look like for this squad, some of the recruits and signings that the team has reeled in, and some Preseason All-CUSA sightings.

Let’s get to it.

To The Masses, We Go!

The defensive back room at FIU is extensive, as they’ve done a solid job at keeping most of their players from last season back on the squad. Most of the names you remember from last season will be back.

Two exceptions to this are Adrian Cole, who has transferred to Arkansas State, and D’verik Daniel, who has graduated.

Both being reliable players, the Panthers will have to figure out who will be the best replacements for them, but they do have a wide list of candidates.

Let’s start with the most likely starter. Hezekiah Masses will be entering his junior year with the Panthers amid a lot of excitement, as he’s been added to Phil Steele’s 2024 All-CUSA Preseason Second Team among other lists.

In 11 games last season for the 305, Masses recorded 42 tackles, five deflected passes, and a pick-six. Interestingly, he’s also the highest-rated Panther in EA Sports College Football 25, with an 84 overall.

Who Will Get The Week 1 Nod?

Also listed in Phil Steele’s 2024 All-CUSA Preseason Second Team is Jojo Evans, a redshirt junior who will be playing in his second season with FIU after transferring from Kent State.

Evans was a reserve for FIU and didn’t see any action on the field, but looks to make a name for himself in this group after a breakout season in 2022 with the Golden Flashes in which he compiled 83 tackles.

A starter from last season looking to keep the trail rolling is Brian Blades II, a redshirt junior from Fort Lauderdale.

Blades more than doubled his games played in 2023 compared to the prior two years and racked up 36 total tackles, six pass deflections, and a blocked kick in FIU’s OT winner against Sam Houston State.

Another starter for the Panthers last season was CJ Christian, who tallied eight starts and 11 games played. 55 tackles in a season are solid, but Christian was the interception specialist with three picks – tied for fifth in all of CUSA.

His first interception was against the North Texas Mean Green, (The first of three straight picks in that game) with the other two being against Liberty and NM State, two of the most solid offenses last season in the conference.

The final starter from 2023 that I can mention is Jamal Potts, who lined up in all 12 games. The senior from Delray Beach made an impression in the season opener against Louisiana Tech with 10 tackles and two forced fumbles.

In the latter of back-to-back seasons in which he started every game, Potts collected 63 tackles, including six for a loss of yards. He’s proven to be one of the more reliable defensive backs FIU has and should have another solid season in 2024.

The Defense Moves Fast

There’s always room for competition. The upcoming Fall Practices should prove to be a good benchmark on which defensive backs will likely see playing time some the start of the season.

One case is Antonio Patterson, who has had an interesting career up to this point. He played the safety AND running back positions in prep, was recruited as a running back these past two seasons, and has now had his position changed to defensive back for 2024.

Patterson was fine as a running back, but the move to defensive back was based on his best chances to get playing time on the field, as the running back room is already loaded as it is.

One player that would like to see his workload increased is Landon Hale, who is entering his sophomore season. Hale was not a starter in 2023 but did play in 10 games regardless, recording seven total tackles, with three coming against Liberty.

Bobby Salla Jr. made one start last season for the Panthers and otherwise appeared in all 12 games as a reserve after transferring from Temple. In three straight games last season against Jax State, MTSU, and Arkansas, he recorded four tackles in every single one of them.

J.T. Anderson has a similar situation. He saw action in 11 games in 2013 for the Panthers after transferring from Bryant, but never as a starter. He did see some time on the field on special teams, so we’ll see if his workload on defense specifically increases.