Analyzing The 2025 Spring Transfers For FIU Football

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The Panthers are already looking different after what we witnessed in the Spring Game back in early April. That’s thanks to the transfer portal, which has seen players such as Eddie Walls III, Claude Larkins, and Ajay Allen head out. It’s also brought about Spring transfers to FIU Football, who will look to earn playing time on the field this upcoming season.

While they’ll have less time to impress the coaching staff in practices compared to the earlier transfers and signings, there are still many spots that need to be filled before their first game of the season against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Friday, August 29th. Below is a list of who’s committed to the Panthers, to be updated with official commitments yet to be announced.

JOE PESANSKY – QUARTERBACK – HOLY CROSS

We’re starting this list off with an addition to the QB room. Joe Pesansky joins FIU with a year of eligibility remaining. A native of Tampa, he’s been a member of Holy Cross for the last four seasons. At one point, Pesansky was the backup to Matthew Sluka. He transferred to UNLV and, infamously, left the program during this past season over an NIL dispute.

While Holy Cross is at the FCS level, Pesansky had a solid past season with the Crusaders. He started in all 12 games, recording 2,399 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He can be mobile when the pocket collapses, rushing for 173 yards and another touchdown.

FIU currently has a crowded QB room. We know that Keyone Jenkins will more than likely be the starter, but the backup spot is still up in the air. Between Pesansky and others such as Clayton Dees, Chayden Peery, and Zachary Waters, it should prove to be an entertaining QB battle. You’ll always need a reliable backup if something happens to the starter.

TAR’VARISH DAWSON – WIDE RECEIVER – JACKSONVILLE STATE

FIU’s wide receiver room will look very different this season, as it was heavily hit by the transfer portal. The Panthers have been looking to fill in the pieces and are doing so with Tar’Varish Dawson. Another native of the Sunshine State (Lehigh Acres), Dawson received an initial offer from FIU out of high school but committed to Auburn. He was only able to play in five games at Auburn in two seasons.

Dawson entered the transfer portal and found a spot in Colorado, coached by Deion Sanders. He only played a season there, catching 14 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he was ultimately dismissed from the team and had to enter the transfer portal once again.

His final landing spot before FIU was Jacksonville State. Still, his site on the field was limited. Despite playing in four games, he only recorded a single reception for 16 yards. And no, he didn’t play against FIU in their contest last season.

Dawson can immediately compete for a starting spot with the Panthers. The wide receiver room is still up in the air, and while Alex Perry turned heads in the Spring Game, you still need a WR2 and WR3.

VILIAMI MAKAHUNUNIU – OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – OKLAHOMA BAPTIST COMMUNITY COLLEGE

It’s always a good feeling when you bulk up the tranches. That’s what FIU is doing with the addition of Viliami Makahununiu. Coming in at 6’3 and weighing a convenient 305 pounds, Makahununiu joins the Panthers from the JUCO level. While he started his career at Oklahoma State, he didn’t see enough time on the field, moving down to Oklahoma Baptist. 

With the Bison, Makahununiu was efficient, seeing action in all 11 games. In their game against Arkansas-Monticello, the team earned the most amount of rushing yards of the season with 210. That performance was with Makahununiu starting in the game. 

While nothing is set for how the offensive line could look come Week One, keep an eye out for Makahununiu. While protecting the QB will be the priority, his ability to assist with the running game could pay dividends for the FIU offense. 

JUSTIN CAYENNE – TIGHT END – UPENN

The tight end room for FIU is already full of newcomers, so why not one more? That’s where Justin Cayenne comes in, bringing his talent and smarts from the Ivy League at UPenn to the Panthers of the 305. Just like Pesnansky, he arrives at FIU with a year of eligibility remaining.

His time with the Quakers was solid but still limited stat-wise. In three seasons, he racked up 23 catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns. 2024 was his most efficient season, playing in all 10 games for UPenn while starting in four of them. In reality, Cayenne served more as an additional lineman, facing pressure on the QB and helping in the trenches with the running game.

That certainly fits with how tight ends at FIU have been utilized in seasons past. Still, Cayenne has potential as an offensive playmaker. As mentioned earlier, he joins Dallas Payne, Jackson Verdugo, and Sean Burke as newcomers to the tight end room.

ORMOND WALLACE – SAFETY – HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Another pickup from the JUCO level, Ormond Wallace, brings talent to the FIU secondary, which can certainly use more depth. They had lost both Jojo Evans and CJ Christian to the transfer portal.

Wallace chose to start in the JUCO level despite receiving offers from both Arkansas and Georgia Tech. With the Blue Dragons, he put up great numbers in two seasons, with 39 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. 22 of those 39 tackles came in last season alone.

This was another position that saw plenty of replacements, including Websley Etienne and Demetrius Hill. Wallace will compete with them alongside key returners such as Shamir Sterlin and Bobby Salla Jr for a starting spot.

ANTHONY CARRIE – RUNNING BACK – GEORGIA TECH

It didn’t take long for FIU to find an answer to losing Ajay Allen, who committed to Tulsa. Anthony Carrie looks to make a splash with FIU long-term, as he has three years of eligibility.

Just like Dawson, Carrie was a four-star recruit. He had a whopping 44 offers, including FIU under the old coaching staff. His high school numbers were off the charts – 3,818 yards (Two seasons with over 1K yards) and 55 touchdowns in four seasons at Carrollwood Day.

In his only season with Georgia Tech, the 6’0″, 195-pound native of Tampa rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown in seven games of action. He doubled as a receiver at times, with four receptions for 16 yards. His skill set compares well to what Allen would have provided – speed and elusiveness.

The FIU running back room has a dangerous three-headed monster of Carrie, Kejon Owens, and Devonte Lyons. They have depth as well, with the likes of TJ Snowden, Samaj Dempa, Jordan Clemons, and more, with the ability to wear down a defense as the game progresses.

JOJO STONE – WIDE RECEIVER – LOUISVILLE

Just like that, another weapon has been added to FIU’s offense. Jojo Stone becomes a Panther with a whopping four years of eligibility. He spent a year with Louisville, but redshirted his sole season with the Cardinals. 

A three-star prospect from Georgia, speed is the name of the game for Stone. In high school, he also doubled as a track star, posting an 11.32 in the 100-meter dash at the Atlanta Games Invitational as an 11th grader. It’s also worth noting that he doubled as a running back from time to time at Langston Hughes.

Stone joins Tar’Varish Dawson as one of the two wide receivers who have joined the Panthers this Spring through the transfer portal. It’s tough to predict if Stone has a chance to see action on the field immediately since his tape at the collegiate level is nonexistent. Still, solid practices leading up to Week One could at least help his case in coming in as the game progresses against Bethune-Cookman. 

ZAIRE FLOURNOY – OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – UAB

Another piece to bolster the offensive line, Zaire Flournoy, is another transfer from UAB to join the Panthers. Between both players and coaches, FIU has seen an extensive number of former Blazers join the squad. 

Flournoy will join FIU as a redshirt senior who’s still looking for extensive playing time on the field. This past season was his most involved with UAB, playing in six games and making one start in the season opener against Alcorn State. Unfortunately, this was coming off 2023 when he suffered a torn achilles in the spring and missed the entire season.

When he was on the field, he was part of a dangerous UAB offense. He clocked in 185 total snaps and helped the Blazers average 261.6 passing yards and 130.9 rushing yards per game. 

 

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