MIAMI (Aug. 4, 2016) – As the 2016 FIU Fall football camp gets underway, FIUSports.com will spotlight the team's newcomers with a number of fun and interesting questions.
 
Each day, we will talk to multiple first-year Panthers. Today's third and final spotlight will feature tight end A.J. Branisel, a 6-foot-4, 237-pound junior from South Euclid, Ohio.
 
If you weren't playing football, what would you be doing?
I'd be a sous Chef.
Who do you model your game after/who is your favorite pro-athlete?
I like Jason Whitten, but I model my game after Gronk (Rob Gronkowski) because he's a beast.
 
In a movie about your life, what movie star would play you?
Johnny Depp
 
What's the number one song or most recent song on your playlist?
He told FIUSports.com that the song he lists isn't suitable for young listeners but wanted everyone to know that the fanny pack is fashionable again.
 
What's your favorite football movie?
I like the Gridiron Gang
 
What's your favorite cartoon growing up?
CatDog
 
Do you have any special hidden talents?
I can flip my eyelids
 
What is your favorite app/what app do you use the most?
Clash Royale
 

Pokémon Go? Yes or No?
Absolutely not!
 
Be sure to check back with FIUSports.com each day for the latest Newcomer Spotlight, as well as, the latest on this year's fall camp.  
 
Previous Newcomer Spotlights
Hunter Arbit (8/3)
Dominic Caldwell (8/3)
Aaron Brown (8/4)
Zach Armour (8/4)
 
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The 2016 FIU football season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Panthers host the Indiana Hoosiers.

FIU's 2016 schedule is highlighted with games against Miami Beach Bowl and 2015 C-USA champion WKU, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl champion Louisiana Tech, St. Petersburg Bowl champion Marshall, Popeyes Bahama Bowl participant Middle Tennessee, and New Era Pinstripe Bowl participant Indiana. In addition, the Panthers will face Maryland, Massachusetts, UCF, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Charlotte and Old Dominion. 
 
For FIU football ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.

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2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1          INDIANA [ESPNU]; 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9          MARYLAND [CBSSN]; 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 17         at UMass; 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24         UCF [beIN]; 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 1            FLORIDA ATLANTIC* [beIN]; 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 8            at UTEP; 8:00 p.m.
Oct. 15          at Charlotte; 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 22          LOUISIANA TECH* (Homecoming); 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 29          MIDDLE TENNESSEE*; 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 5           at WKU* [beIN]; 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 19          MARSHALL* [ASN]; 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 26          at Old Dominion*
 
* denotes Conference USA Games
 Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.