College Football News Preview 2020: FIU Golden Panthers Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The FIU Golden Panthers Offense
Get the running game into a lather as quickly as possible. If it’s Kaylan Wiggins at quarterback, the rushing production will crank up a few levels.
The addition of Arkansas transfer Maleek Williams to go along with veteran D’Vonte Price will help. No matter what, lots of rushing yards makes FIU a different team.
The Golden Panthers hit the 185-yard mark on the ground four times last season and won all four games. In the first three years under Butch Davis, the program is 16-1 when it hits the mark.
Biggest Key To The FIU Golden Panthers Defense
Find a pass rush. The sack total has gone down – albeit just a wee bit – in each of the last three seasons, and it hasn’t been dangerous enough to scare anyone.
Alexy Jean-Baptiste is a decent option after leading the team with 4.5 sacks, and most of the other pass rushers are back, but the team only came up with 21 sacks with 12 of them coming in four games.
The pass defense should be good enough to overcome a big-time pass rush, but more of one would be nice.
Key FIU Golden Panthers Player To A Successful Season
PK Chase Gabriel, Fr.
At the immediate moment, the FIU placekicking situation is Chase Gabriel, and … Chase Gabriel. Jose Borregales hit 21-of-29 field goals last season, but he drove down to Coral Gables to become a Miami Hurricane.
Gabriel is a good recruit with a huge leg, and he might make a huge, huge difference for a team that should be in several close fights.
Key Game To The FIU Golden Panthers Season
Florida Atlantic, Nov. 14
The game against Marshall on Halloween is a massive deal for FIU if it has any hopes of winning the Conference USA title, but considering the new coaching staff and all the changes happening up the road at Florida Atlantic, it’s time to take back the rivalry.
Lane Kiffin owned Butch Davis over the last three seasons as his Owls whacked around the Golden Panthers all three times by a combined score of 138 to 45. Now it’s Willie Taggart’s turn at bat for FAU, and FIU needs to change the momentum.
– FIU Golden Panthers Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 FIU Fun Stats
– Red Zone Scores: Opponents 45-of-50 (90%) – FIU 42-of-55 (76%)
– Punt Return Average: FIU 20.8 – Opponents -0.4
– Penalties: Opponents 91 for 909 yards – FIU 79 for 751 yards