C-USA All-Freshman Mercier has played big role for FIU
FIU football coach Butch Davis, whose team is preparing for Friday’s Bahamas Bowl against Toledo, has noticed a routine with freshman defensive end Jason Mercier.
“I don’t think I’ve ever walked off a practice field where Jason didn’t say, ‘Coach, how did I do today? What can I work on?’ ” Davis said. “He is committed to trying to become a great player.”
So far, that commitment is working as Mercier recently made Conference USA’s All-Freshmen team.
Mercier, a 6-3, 260pounder from Atlantic High, has played all 12 games so far this season, recording 29 tackles. That ranks him second among FIU defensive ends, along with his fellow ex-West Palm Beach standout, Noah Curtis of Delray Beach American Heritage.
As a senior at Atlantic, Mercier had 62 tackles, 22 of them for losses.
He also had 11 sacks and six forced fumbles, leading the Eagles to the Class 8A state final.
He was rated a three-star recruit and received 29 scholarship offers from schools such as Pitt, UCF, Iowa, Syracuse and more.
FIU offered in June of 2016 but didn’t secure a commitment until Jan. 25, 2018.
Once Mercier arrived on campus, Davis was pleased.
“He came in physically closer to being able to compete on a Division I level than some of our previous defensive linemen,” Davis said. “He’s big and strong.”
The playing time Mercier has received this season has proven “invaluable,” Davis said.
“He’s gotten a chance to watch himself on film and learn,” Davis said.
“Like all good players, the major difference is how hungry they are to fix the things they don’t do well.”
THIS AND THAT
The FIU men’s basketball team (8-2) is off to the best 10-game start in program history. FIU, which has won 10 consecutive home games dating to last season, will host South Florida (7-2) on Tuesday. FIU leads Conference USA in scoring (96.6) and is third in margin (11.5).
Among FIU’s individual standouts and their league rankings, Brian Beard is first in scoring (22.6), assists (6.9) and steals (3.5); Devon Andrews is second in field-goal percentage (.614); Willy Nunez is fifth in three-pointers per game (3.0) and seventh in percentage (.345); and Osasumwen Osaghae is second in blocks (2.6) and sixth in rebounds (7.9).
FIU punter Stone Wilson, who recently made second-team All-Conference USA, boomed 11 punts of 50 or more yards this season and landed 13 inside the 20. He averaged 44.3 yards per punt, and his longest traveled 63 yards.
Rice’s Jack Fox was the C-USA first-team punter, averaging 45.5 yards per punt. He had 26 punts of 50 or more and landed 31 inside the 20. His longest punt was 76 yards.
The FIU football team’s cross-division opponents in C-USA the next two years will be Texas-El Paso and Louisiana Tech.
FIU quarterback James Morgan, who has a 3.33 GPA, was one of 13 C-USA student-athletes honored last week for outstanding community service.