FIU football program adds lineman from New Zealand to reinforce its defense
FIU’s football team already has an Australian punter, now the Panthers have added a defensive tackle from New Zealand.
That’s junior-college transfer Clinton Mahoni, an Auckland native who signed with the Panthers on Wednesday. The Aussie punter, by the way, is Daton Montiel.
Mahoni, a 6-3, 280-pounder, had never played football before coming to New Mexico Military Institute two years ago.
“He’s really athletic, and he has a lot of upside,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said. “He also fills a need.”
Mahoni replaces defensive lineman Will Prendergast, who entered the transfer portal in late December after recording just three tackles in 11 games last season.
FIU on Wednesday also announced the signing of three other transfers, all of whom had been previously announced by The Herald: 6-2, 215-pound wide receiver Juju Lewis, who made the move after not playing a down for Georgia Tech over the past two years; 6-5, 285-pound offensive tackle Daniel Ogundipe, who came from Texas-San Antonio; and 6-3, 250-pound defensive end Giovanni Davis (Tennessee-Martin).
Mahoni played in 20 games over the past years, producing 57 tackles, 3½ sacks and one touchdown (on a fumble recovery).
In addition, when the Broncos lost their kicker to injury, Mahoni went 4-for-4 on extra points in one game last season.
Mahoni, who has lost 30 pounds and gotten in better shape since arriving in the U.S., played rugby back home.
“I got hit harder in rugby than in football,” said Mahoni, a 21-year-old who is interested in studying criminal justice. “I got a few bruises on my face and eyes (in rugby).”
Mahoni said he came to the U.S. after one of his friends, Charlie Leota, recommended him to New Mexico Military Institute. Leota was on the school’s roster at the time.
NMMI coach Kurt Taufa’asau, a former defensive tackle who played for the University of Wyoming and got on a couple of NFL practice squads, took a chance on Mahoni, and he’s glad he did.
“Clinton has a high ceiling,” Taufa’asau said. “He’s a great kid with no red flags, and the improvement he’s made since he got here has been night and day.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU will start spring football practices on March 12. The spring game is set for April 13.
▪ MacIntyre, hired by FIU in December of 2021, said Lewis was the first player he scouted after arriving in Miami. Lewis was playing a basketball game when MacIntyre saw him on that occasion.
▪ Ogundipe is from Philadelphia, and he’s friends with FIU’s Naeer Jackson, another native of the City of Brotherly Love. Now, Ogundipe and Jackson are teammates on FIU’s offensive line.
▪ MacIntyre said Davis -- who played at Miami’s Krop High -- has pass-rush skill off the edges.
