MIAMI — FIU football’s Keyone Jenkins and C’Quan Jnopierre were named the 2025 Preseason Conference USA (CUSA) Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year, respectively, as announced on Monday afternoon by the league office.
Jenkins, entering his third season as the Panthers’ starting quarterback, was selected as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, as voted on by CUSA’s head coaches. Jnopierre, who earned Second Team All-CUSA honors in 2024 as a kick returner, was tabbed the Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
Both are the first-ever FIU football players to earn Preseason Offensive and Special Teams superlative accolades during the Panthers’ time in CUSA, which dates back to 2013. FIU’s Sage Lewis (2019) and Richard Leonard (2015) were both previously tabbed as Preseason CUSA Defensive Player of the Year.
Jenkins, a Second Team All-CUSA Preseason honoree from both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Group of Five following an outstanding sophomore campaign. The junior signal-caller passed for 2,557 yards last season and threw 22 touchdowns, second in CUSA, with just eight interceptions. He has amassed 33 passing touchdowns and 41 total touchdowns in his two years in ‘The 305’. ‘Lyghtz Out’ ranked first in CUSA and 19th-nationally in passing efficiency and sits within the top-six in FIU’s career charts in nearly every major quarterback-related category.
Jnopierre, a kick returner, burst onto the scene in 2024, earning Second Team All-CUSA honors. Throughout the season, he served as the catalyst for the Panther special teams unit, setting up FIU up with advantageous field position many times. He averaged 28.3 yards per return, the third-most in the nation, with a long of 55 yards last season. Jnopierre earned 2025 Preseason First Team status from both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
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