Panthers lean on Florida talent for Butch Davis' first class

First-year FIU coach pleased with 'outstanding class'

Butch Davis stayed close to home for his first signing class at FIU.

MIAMI – The first signing class of the Butch Davis era at Florida International had a distinctly Florida feel to it.

Nineteen of the 20 players who signed with FIU on Wednesday hail from the Sunshine State, including 15 signees from South Florida. Eleven of the 15 South Florida signees are from Miami-Dade County.

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"National Signing Day is the lifeblood of your program," Davis said. "Our assistant coaches did a fabulous job in getting this signing class done. They got out in a six-week period of time and built relationships that usually take more than a year."

Davis was lured back to the gridiron this season after previous stops at Miami and North Carolina, where he was fired in July 2011 amid an NCAA investigation. He was hired by FIU in November after the dismissal of Ron Turner.

The Panthers signed four defensive linemen -- the most of any position -- and loaded up on the other side with three offensive linemen. FIU also added three wide receivers, three defensive backs, two linebackers and two athletes. FIU rounded out its class with one running back, one H-back and one quarterback.

Kaylan Wiggins and A.J. Sattinger are the two signees from elsewhere in Florida. Wiggins is a dual-threat quarterback who led Seminole High School to a 12-1 record last season, passing for 2,223 yards and 22 touchdowns while amassing 646 yards and seven more touchdowns on the ground. Sattinger is a transfer from Coastal Carolina, where he played tight end. He is listed as H-back for FIU.

Bryce Singleton is the lone signee from another state. Singleton is a three-star receiver from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

"I'm very pleased with this class," Davis said. "I think it's an outstanding class."


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.