Know your Enemy: FIU's Jonnu Smith

Jonnu Smith

Height/Weight - 6'3"  230 Sophomore Tight End

2014 Stats - 11 catches.  147 receiving yards. 1 Touchdown.

Pitt Player that needs to "step up" - Anthony Gonzalez

I won't beat around the bush, FIU is not a very good football team. The Panthers are 1-1, and they have a loss to FCS Bethune-Cookman already. In fact, this was the second straight year Bethune-Cookman has defeated FIU on their home field. There are only 125 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and it is pretty clear FIU is towards the bottom of that list. The Panthers are ranked 111 in total offense,  but they do have a weapon that the Panthers need to be wary of in this one. Jonnu Smith is a sophomore tight end, and he already has made an impact as FIU's top play-maker on offense.

Smith stands at a solid 6'3" and will be a tough match-up for anyone. Smith caught 39 passes for 389 last season as a freshman, and they gained him recognition on the Conference USA all freshman team. Smith was a lightly recruited two-star from the state Florida, and like many players from that state, they typically prove stars do not matter. Smith is an athletic tight end, and will likely be lined up out wide on some occasions, and he will have to be accounted for on all plays. Smith is coming off a monster game last week against Wagner in which he caught 9 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Pitt has been very good on defense so far this season. After pitching a shutout against Delaware, the Panthers played a solid game against Boston College. The outside linebackers have been playing very well, but Smith's versatilty could test Anthony Gonzalez and Todd Thomas. I look for Gonzalez to be tasked with seeing some pass coverage this week, and he will have to be on his A-game against this pretty good tight end.

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