Florida International University’s football program has reason to celebrate as fifteen of its student‑athletes earned spots on the Phil Steele Preseason All‑Conference USA Teams, a testament to the squad’s depth and experience heading into the new season.
Preseason Honors Highlight Depth
The honorees are distributed across the first through fourth teams, with six players earning first‑team accolades, three on the second team, four on the third team and two on the fourth team.
Among the first‑team selections are James Resar, Antonio Tripp Jr., Kenton Simmons, Josiah Taylor, Maguire Anderson and Justin Wood, each bringing a blend of prior production and projected impact.
Resar, who transferred from Iowa, is expected to anchor the tight end position, while Tripp Jr. returns as a veteran leader along the offensive line after appearing in twelve games last year.
Simmons, a defensive front stalwart, earned All‑CUSA Second Team honors in 2025 after starting every game, and Taylor, now a junior, finished second on the team with 76 tackles.
Special teams standout Maguire Anderson returns after a 149‑yard punt return season that culminated in a 97‑yard touchdown against UTSA in the First Responders Bowl, and long snapper Justin Wood also comes back after featuring in all 13 games.
Looking Ahead
The second‑team list includes Zaire Flournoy, Lawrence Johnson and Shamir Sterlin, with Flournoy slated to anchor the offensive line as a redshirt senior and Johnson arriving from Florida Atlantic after ten tackles at FAU.
Third‑team members Anthony Carrie, JoJo Stone, Greg Gaines and Dante Anderson each bring distinct strengths, from Carrie’s 469 rushing yards and five touchdowns to Stone’s 272 receiving yards and Gaines’s 1,018 receiving yards at Rhode Island.
Veteran presence continues on the fourth team with Germaine Carter and Percy Courtney, who combined for 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a sack respectively while adding forced fumbles and tackles for loss.
Coaches and analysts alike view the preseason recognitions as a strong indicator that FIU’s roster is primed for a competitive campaign, especially as the team blends returning veterans with impactful newcomers.
The upcoming schedule will test this depth, but the program’s momentum suggests that the Panthers could make a significant push in Conference USA play.