2021 FIU Panthers football team

The 2021 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University (FIU) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers played their home games at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Florida, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by fifth-year head coach Butch Davis.

2021 FIU Panthers football
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Record1–11 (0–8 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAndrew Breiner (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorEverett Withers (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumRiccardo Silva Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Western Kentucky xy   7 1     9 5  
Marshall   5 3     7 6  
Old Dominion   5 3     6 7  
Middle Tennessee   4 4     7 6  
Florida Atlantic   3 5     5 7  
Charlotte   3 5     5 7  
FIU   0 8     1 11  
West Division
UTSA xy$   7 1     12 2  
UAB   6 2     9 4  
North Texas   5 3     6 7  
UTEP   4 4     7 6  
Rice   3 5     4 8  
Southern Miss   2 6     3 9  
Louisiana Tech   2 6     3 9  
Championship: UTSA 49, Western Kentucky 41
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

The season was marred by drama and controversy, with athletic director Pete Garcia clearing his desk out in the middle of the night, with no prior announcement or news conference. A few days later, it was announced that head coach Butch Davis would not be returning following the season. Davis alleged that university administrators had cut the football program's budget by $500,000 each year for the past two years and that coaches were not allowed to recruit on the road. University administrators have not commented on Davis's allegations.[1]

Preseason

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C-USA media days

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The Panthers were predicted to finish in sixth place in the East Division in the Conference USA preseason poll.[2]

Media poll (East Division)
Predicted finish Team
1 Marshall
2 Florida Atlantic
3 Western Kentucky
4 Charlotte
5 Middle Tennessee
6 FIU
7 Old Dominion

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2 8:00 p.m. LIU* ESPN3 W 48–10 0
September 11 7:00 p.m. Texas State*
  • Riccardo Silva Stadium
  • Miami, FL
ESPN+ L 17–23 OT 0
September 18 7:00 p.m. at Texas Tech* ESPN+ L 21–54 50,118
September 25 12:00 p.m. at Central Michigan* ESPN+ L 27–31 18,382
October 2 3:30 p.m. at Florida Atlantic Stadium L 21–58 24,726
October 8 7:00 p.m. Charlotte
  • Riccardo Silva Stadium
  • Miami, FL
CBSSN L 33–45 0
October 23 7:00 p.m. Western Kentucky 
  • Riccardo Silva Stadium
  • Miami, FL
ESPN+ L 19–34 0
October 30 3:30 p.m. at Marshall Stadium L 0–38 18,466
November 6 7:00 p.m. Old Dominion
  • Riccardo Silva Stadium
  • Miami, FL
ESPN3 L 24–47 0
November 13 3:30 p.m. at Middle Tennessee ESPN3 L 10–50 10,606
November 20 7:00 p.m. North Texas
  • Riccardo Silva Stadium
  • Miami, FL
ESPN3 L 7–49 0
November 27 3:00 p.m. at Southern Miss ESPN+ L 17–37 20,041
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[3]

Personnel

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2021 FIU Panthers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 Tyrese Chambers So
WR 1 Shemar Thornton Sr
WR 2 Bryce Singleton   Jr
RB 3 Shaun Peterson Jr.   So
QB 4 Haden Carlson Fr
WR 6 Nate Jefferson   Fr
QB 7 Kaylan Wiggins   Jr
RB 8 Lexington Josepg So
WR 9 Artez Hooker Fr
QB 10 Grayson James Fr
QB 11 Isaiah Velez   Fr
QB 12 Max Bortenschlager   Sr
TE 13 Rivaldo Fairweather Fr
TE 14 Joe Hocker   Fr
WR 15 Teddy Richardson Fr
WR 16 Randall St. Felix   Jr
WR 17 Caleb Lynum   So
WR 18 Jay Barry Jr. Fr
TE 19 Daniel Pilgrim Fr
RB 20 Kejon Owens Fr
RB 21 E. J. Wilson Jr. Fr
RB 24 D'Vonte Price Sr
RB 32 Maleek Williams   Jr
WR 34 Ross Fornut Fr
RB 38 Hosea Robinson Fr
OL 51 Dontae Keys   Sr
OL 54 Kristoff Pollas Fr
OL 58 Api Mane   Sr
OL 59 Wyatt Lawson Fr
OL 63 Noah Quier   Fr
OL 65 Julius Pierce   Fr
OL 66 Jahmari Sylvester Fr
OL 67 Jake Aguirre Fr
OL 68 Sebastian Laraque Fr
OL 69 Ming Tjon Fr
OL 70 Miles Frazier Fr
OL 72 Sione Finau So
OL 74 Rey Bennett So
OL 77 Lyndell Hudson Jr.   So
OL 78 Shamar Hobdy-Lee   Fr
OL 79 Logan Gunderson   Jr
WR 80 Kris Mitchell   Fr
WR 81 Dean Patterson   Fr
WR 82 Jordan Underwood   So
WR 83 Carson Kaleo   Jr
TE 84 David O'Meara Jr
TE 85 Jackson McDonald   Fr
TE 87 Kamareon Williams So
TE 88 Sterling Palmer Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 0 Dorian Hall   Jr
LB 2 Eric Mitchell   Sr
DB 3 Richard Dames Sr
DB 4 Rishard Dames   Jr
DL 5 Kevin Oliver Sr
DB 7 Josh Valentine-Turner   Jr
LB 9 Jamal Gates Sr
LB 10 Daniel Jackson Sr
LB 11 Josh Powell Sr
DB 15 Pierce Withers   Jr
DB 18 Demarcus Robinson   Sr
DB 19 Deuce Dunbar Fr
DB 22 Benny McCray   Jr
DB 23 Andrew Volmar Fr
DB 27 Henry Gray Fr
DB 29 Jamal Potts Fr
DB 30 Joe Perkins Fr
LB 33 Nasir Carter   Fr
LB 34 Chance Coleman Fr
LB 36 Ah'Mahri McCray Fr
DB 39 Brian Blades Fr
DB 40 Demetrius Hill Fr
DB 41 D'Mor Jean-Baptiste Fr
LB 42 Reggie Peterson Fr
DB 43 Jabril Muhammad   Fr
LB 44 A. J. Mathis Fr
LB 45 Rocky Jacques-Louis Jr
DB 47 Gio Richardson   Fr
LB 48 Gaethan Bernadel Fr
DL 49 Shykieim Pace Fr
LB 52 Donovan Georges   So
DL 53 Tevin Jones   Jr
LB 55 Baba Conate   Jr
LB 56 Tamarick Best Fr
DL 57 Nick Donahue Fr
DL 60 Clayton Senior III Fr
LB 61 Joey Maya   Fr
DL 75 Rashad Colson   Jr
DL 86 Keegan Davis Fr
DL 89 Ty Danzy   Fr
DL 90 Travonte O'Neal Fr
DL 91 Jeramy Passmore   Fr
DL 92 Jason Mercier Jr
DL 93 Jordan Guerad Fr
DL 95 Jeremy Moore   So
DL 96 David Reynolds So
DL 98 Savion Collins Fr
DL 99 Davon Strickland   So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 1 Tommy Heatherly Sr
P, K 25 Daton Montiel   Fr
LS 31 Tommy Zozus   Jr
K 32 Matthew Enriquez Fr
K 35 Lucas Matias So
K 37 Chase Gabriel Fr
LS 85 Jackson McDonald   Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

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LIU Sharks at FIU Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sharks 0 10 0010
Panthers 21 7 101048

at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: September 2
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Rain, 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Jon Noil
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): A. J. Ricketts and Cam Lynch
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

Texas State

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Pregame line Over/under
FIU –2.0 56
Texas State Bobcats at FIU Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Bobcats 7 3 07623
Panthers 0 7 100017

at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: September 11
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: E 7 MPH
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Marshall Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): A. J. Ricketts and Cam Lynch
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

At Texas Tech

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FIU Panthers at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 7 7021
Red Raiders 7 28 91054

at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas

  • Date: September 18
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT/6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,118
  • Referee: Tim Hedgepeth
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely and Brandon Jacobs
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

At Central Michigan

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Pregame line Over/under
CMU –12.0 55.5
FIU Panthers at Central Michigan Chippewas – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 14 13027
Chippewas 0 10 02131

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 18,382
  • Referee: Jon Noli
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Jim Barber and Randy Buffington
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

At Florida Atlantic

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FIU Panthers at Florida Atlantic Owls – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 14 0021
Owls 7 27 101458

at FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida

Game information

Charlotte

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Charlotte 49ers at FIU Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 7 10 141445
Panthers 3 3 72033

at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida

Game information

Western Kentucky

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Pregame line Over/under
WKU –16.5 78[4]
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at FIU Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Hilltoppers 0 17 71034
Panthers 6 6 0719

at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Patrick Foy
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): A. J. Ricketts and Cam Lynch
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

At Marshall

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FIU Panthers at Marshall Thundering Herd – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Thundering Herd 3 21 7738

at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, West Virginia

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 18,466
  • Referee: Rodney Burnette
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Noah Coslov and Max Starks
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

Old Dominion

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Old Dominion Monarchs at FIU Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Monarchs 24 0 61747
Panthers 10 0 7724

at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Jonathan Noil
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): A. J. Ricketts and Patrick Murray
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

At Middle Tennessee

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FIU Panthers at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 0 0710
Blue Raiders 7 27 9750

at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 10,606
  • Referee: Kevin Randall
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Jake Rose and Jeremy Kellum
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

North Texas

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North Texas Mean Green at FIU Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 7 28 14049
Panthers 0 0 707

at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Rain, 50 °F (10 °C)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Kevin Vicknair
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): A. J. Ricketts and Patrick Murray
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

At Southern Miss

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FIU Panthers at Southern Miss Golden Eagles – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 7 3017
Golden Eagles 21 0 31337

at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 61 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 20,041
  • Referee: Patrick Foy
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Baker and Dustin Almond
  • Box score, Recap
Game information

References

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  1. ^ Villa, Walter (November 25, 2021). "There is at least one thing - potentially - that is positive out of FIU's season". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "C-USA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish For 2021". Conference USA. July 19, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "2021 FIU Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "WKU Hilltoppers vs FIU Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 23, 2021.