FIU coach Willie Simmons announced last week that Appalachian State transfer JJ Kohl will start the Panthers’ Week 1 game against South Florida next month. Once the junior signal-caller officially takes the field, he will become the tallest quarterback in FBS this season, and in program history, standing at 6-foot-7.
“Since JJ arrived on campus, he’s done everything we’ve asked, been a leader, done a really good job of dissecting the playbook and understanding what we want to do offensively, even with the new packages that we put in,” Simmons said. “He’s a student of the game, and he’s done a really good job of positioning himself to lead this offense.”
In 2025, Kohl appeared in eight games for the Mountaineers, completing 133 passes for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns against two interceptions. Before joining Appalachian State, he played in the Big 12 for Iowa State. As a four-star high school recruit out of Ankeny, Iowa, he only appeared in one game during the 2024 season for the Cyclones.
Kohl finished last season by completing 26 of 39 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 30-29 loss to Arkansas State in the regular-season finale. He did not participate in Appalachian State’s bowl loss to Georgia Southern, instead entering the transfer portal on Dec. 15.
The Panthers’ quarterback room is completely new outside of Zachary Waters, a redshirt junior who has played in just one game during his time with the program. Keyone Jenkins, who started the majority of the games for Simmons in Year 1, is now at UCF. And former backup quarterback Joe Pesansky is on Simmons’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant.
Through the transfer portal, FIU has also brought in Delaware transfer Zach Marker, a senior from Norwalk, Iowa, who will serve as the backup after leaving the Blue Hens. The Panthers also have freshman quarterback DJ Alexander joining the program out of Douglasville, Georgia.
FIU will meet a new-look Bulls team at Raymond James Stadium next month. South Florida is coached by former Ohio State wide receiver and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, who is in his first season in Tampa. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 5.
