National Signing Day 2018: Top 10 diamonds in the rough
Every other player on our list is a high school signee, but it’s worth pointing out a pair of defensive tackles Butch Davis signed at FIU in December.
The Panthers took a big step forward in Davis’ first season with the program. Davis inherited a 4-8 team with one of the most experienced rosters in the nation in 2017 and helped turn around a program that posted a winning record since 2011. FIU flipped the script, going 8-5 overall and playing in the Gasparilla Bowl.
FIU found success despite posting mediocre-to-bad stats defensively. The Panthers ranked No. 11 in Conference USA in yards allowed per play (6.06), which ranked 91st nationally. The Panthers ranked No. 93 in Defensive S&P+ (30.8) and struggling both the run and the pass. FIU ranked 105th in Defensive S&P+ against the run (88.8) and 124th against the pass. And, making a turnaround even tougher, Davis and the coaching staff must replace the top five tacklers from last year.
However, the defensive line should be a bright spot. Every player on the two-deep is expected to return, and the Panthers have injected the unit with talent, including a pair of junior college signees who should compete for immediate playing time.
JUCO transfers often fly under the radar on National Signing Day, especially those that opt to sign with Group of Five schools, but recruitniks have probably heard of Teair Tart-Spencer, who was ranked No. 6 in the 247Sports Composite among junior college transfers. The Panthers beat out an impressive list of schools – including Alabama, Ohio State and Mississippi State – for the 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive tackle.
But that’s not all. FIU also landed Tayland Humphrey, a massive 6-foot-5, 350-pound defensive tackle ranked No. 7 overall among JUCO prospects. Humphrey also had interest from college football bluebloods, such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Florida State.