FIU’s Keyone Jenkins has some commonalities with NFL quarterback Justin Herbert

Here’s what the 2016 Oregon Ducks and the 2023 FIU Panthers have in common:

David Yost coaching a true freshman starting quarterback for both squads – Justin Herbert at Oregon and Keyone Jenkins for FIU.

We’ll allow for a few seconds for your jaws to un-drop due to the combination of those two names (one, two, three) …

All jokes aside, Yost who was Oregon’s quarterback coach/passing game coordinator back then and is now FIU’s offensive coordinator, said Herbert and Jenkins are the only true freshmen ever to start for him at quarterback.

Any comparison to Herbert figures to be exciting for FIU because the former Oregon Duck is now an NFL superstar with the Chargers. Herbert in 2020 was a first-round pick and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, setting league rookie-season passing records for completions, touchdowns and yards per game.

“From the time he showed up, you knew he was good – really good,” Yost told The Herald when asked about Herbert. “You could tell it was just a matter of time until he became the guy.”

Jenkins is also the guy – he is 3-0 as a starter as an 18-year-old true freshman. He has lit a fire for the FIU football program, which is 3-1 entering a Conference USA showdown with visiting Liberty looming on Saturday.

Given that, here are a few fun facts when comparing and contrasting Herbert and Jenkins:

▪ Both signed with their hometown colleges: Herbert is from Eugene, and Jenkins is from Miami.

▪ Both were three-star recruits. But Jenkins, who won three straight state titles, played a national-type schedule and had an offer from Auburn, was arguably the bigger prep star. Aside from Oregon, Herbert had just mid-major offers – Nevada, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Portland State.

▪ Side note: Herbert, 25, was in the same Ducks freshman class as current Miami Hurricanes tight end Cam McCormick.

▪ Herbert is right-handed and tall, listed at 6-5 and 215 out of high school and 6-6, 235 pounds now. Jenkins, a lefty, is much smaller at 5-11 and 190 pounds.

▪ Jenkins became the starter in just FIU’s second game. Oregon waited until its sixth game of 2016 to start Herbert.

▪ Jenkins won his first two starts. Herbert lost his first two starts.

▪ In his first two starts, Herbert had eight touchdown passes and two interceptions, leading the Ducks to 70 points. Jenkins had three TD passes and three interceptions, leading FIU to 60 points.

Similar to Herbert, Yost said he immediately knew there was “something special” about Jenkins.

“It was just, ‘When will Keyone be able to do that play after play after play?’” Yost said. “Keyone showed great in the spring and continued in fall until he hit a lull.”

After FIU decided to start the more experienced Grayson James for the 2023 season opener, Jenkins got back on track in practice.

“Keyone didn’t let him not being the No. 1 guy slow him down one bit,” Yost said. “Then, given the opportunity, he grabbed it.”

That opportunity came after James was held to just four passing yards in a season-opening loss at Louisiana Tech.

In his first start, Jenkins, with 292 passing yards, led FIU to a 14-12 win over Maine. Jenkins was even better in his second start, passing for 291 yards in a 46-39 win over, arguably, a tougher North Texas squad.

Yost said Jenkins is helped by FIU’s system, which spreads its targets out, making it easier for the quarterback to read defenses – zone, man, blitz or a combination.

Because of this system, Jenkins has felt free to change plays at the line of scrimmage as needed.

“He’s got a lot of freedom and control,” Yost said, “and we want that from him. He’s got a great football IQ.”

That knowledge was built over a span of five years during which he was the starting quarterback for three different high schools.

Jenkins is also focused. He doesn’t watch much NFL or college football. The last Super Bowl he watched was eight years ago.

Instead, he spends a good deal of time watching film of his offense or FIU’s upcoming opponent.

Jenkins is so devoted that he would often run meetings for his high school team at Miami Central.

“The offensive coordinator at Central does a great job,” Yost said. “But because he doesn’t work in the building, Keyone is running the video early in meetings, teaching the younger guys the system.

“Keyone is committed to his craft.”