Latest news with #PreseasonOffensivePlayeroftheYear
Miami Herald
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Jenkins entering season with heightened expectations for himself, FIU
Keyone Jenkins is quick to sling a football. He's quick with a quip, too. On Wednesday morning, following FIU's first practice of the fall, Jenkins was asked about the Panthers' new offensive coordinator, Nick Coleman. 'He's a little bit country, but he's a cool dude,' Jenkins began. 'Fall camp – 30 days and 30 nights. I'm going to be with him all day like he's my girl or something.' While some in the media contingent were doubled over in laughter after hearing Jenkins say that, it's important to note that FIU's quarterback is more than just a jokester. The third-year junior has been a starter since the second game of his freshman season. Beyond that, he has been named Conference USA's 2025 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. That's a huge honor, especially since it was voted on by the league's coaches. Jenkins was asked if he felt pressure to live up to preseason hype. 'Ain't no pressure,' Jenkins said. 'You only feel pressure when you don't know what you're doing — I'm quoting Peyton Manning. 'I appreciate C-USA for what they see in me. That's motivation for me. My main goal is to get a C USA championship and be the Offensive Player of the Year, and not just in the preseason.' Winning the Conference USA title would be a first for FIU. The Panthers have endured six straight losing seasons, going 9-36 in the league during that span. Coach Mike MacIntyre was dismissed following last season. He was at FIU three years, and the Panthers went 4-8 each season. Following last season, Jenkins placed his name in the transfer portal, but new coach Willie Simmons convinced him to stay … even though it apparently required a trip to a fancy restaurant. 'The first order of business after I got hired was keeping our quarterback,' Simmons said. 'There was a pretty nice dinner that I had with [Jenkins] and his dad. 'I dug into my pockets with the steak his dad ordered, but it was well worth it.' Added Jenkins when asked about the steakhouse: 'It was somewhere on the beach. I can't tell you the name. I probably can't pronounce it but … great food, and I appreciate [Simmons].' The feeling is mutual. Simmons said he appreciates the improvements Jenkins has made from one year to the next: Freshman season: 58.4 completion percentage; 3.3 touchdown rate; 3.2 interception rate; 7.3 yards per attempt. Sophomore season: 61.8 completion percentage; 7.2 touchdown rate; 2.6 interception rate; 8.4 yards per attempt. 'All his metrics improved,' Simmons said. 'His ceiling is even higher than he realizes.' Jenkins said his immediate goal is to deepen his knowledge of the offensive system Coleman has been implementing. 'Spring was great,' Jenkins said. 'But it wasn't as great as I wanted it to be.' That hunger to improve bodes well for FIU. Jenkins is also continuing to grow as a leader. He's an upperclassman now, and he said of his teammates: 'Guys are falling in line. To be a great leader, you have to have followers.' There's still a long way to go before FIU's season opener against visiting Bethune-Cookman on August 29. But Simmons said he feels great about his quarterback. 'This offense will be built around [Jenkins'] skill set,' Simmons said. 'Everyone knows the value of a good quarterback. 'Being able to retain [Jenkins] and build around him was critical for our success. My biggest recruiting win in all my years was being able to keep Keyone.' And that's no joke.
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
MEAC Preseason Poll Shows Razor-Thin Race for 2025 Title
NORFOLK, Va. - The heat of summer is still rising, and fall football is just around the corner. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) stoked the flames of anticipation by unveiling its 2025 preseason football honors live on ESPN+ during the annual MEAC Football Media Day. If there's one thing sure, HBCU football is ready to reclaim the spotlight. Defending champions South Carolina State were picked to repeat. The Bulldogs earned 63 points and five first-place votes in the coaches and SIDs poll. But don't expect them to cruise. North Carolina Central - coming off a strong campaign of its own - was right on their heels with 61 points and four first-place nods. Morgan State, Norfolk State, Howard, and Delaware State rounded out the predicted order of finish. With each school earning at least one first-place vote, it's a testament to how wide open this year's MEAC title race could be. However, when it comes to individual honors, Morgan State stole the show. Morgan State sophomore running back Jason Collins Jr. was named the 2025 MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The Washington, D.C., native torched defenses in 2024 with 634 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and showed he wasn't just a one-dimensional back, adding 17 catches for 143 receiving yards. His signature moment? A 152-yard performance against Delaware State, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown run that left defenders in the dust. He finished fifth in the MEAC in rushing and was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the FCS's top freshman. Now, he's set to build on that start in 2025. On the other side, Morgan's veteran linebacker Erick Hunter earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. After missing most of 2024, he returned with authority in the final two games, including a disruptive outing against Howard. Already ninth on Morgan's all-time tackles list (196), Hunter's résumé speaks volumes. He was the 2023 BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year, an FCS All-American, and a Buck Buchanan Award finalist. His leadership could be the x-factor in a Morgan State title run. North Carolina Central led all programs with eight student-athletes named to the All-MEAC First Team. The Eagles are evenly balanced across offense and defense. That includes quarterback Walker Harris, tight end Luke Bracey, and offensive lineman Noah McKinney, each expected to anchor a high-octane Eagles offense. Morgan State wasn't far behind with six first-teamers. Defensive lineman Dashawn Fields, a sophomore looking to make a major leap, and return specialist Malique Leatherbury, who also earned second-team wide receiver honors. Other standouts include Norfolk State wideout Kam'Ryn Thomas, Howard's defensive lineman duo of Noah Miles and Ishaun Abdul-Ali, and Delaware State's relentless pass rusher Marquise Brunson. Circle your calendars: the MEAC season officially begins on Saturday, August 23, when North Carolina Central faces Southern University in the 2025 MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC - prime time for a prime HBCU football showcase. With talent stacked across every roster, a wide-open race for the title, and young stars ready to ascend, the MEAC's 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and compelling in HBCU football. South Carolina State (5) – 63 ptsNorth Carolina Central (4) – 61 ptsMorgan State – 39 ptsNorfolk State (1) – 36 ptsHoward (1) – 33 ptsDelaware State (1) – 20 pts The post MEAC Preseason Poll Shows Razor-Thin Race for 2025 Title appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
