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Photo by Michael
Upright
FIU
head football coach Don Strock meets
with members of the local media day
following Wednesday's press conference
to announce the Golden Panthers recruiting
class of 2006. |
Florida International
University head coach Don Strock
announced at a press conference this afternoon
that his Golden Panthers football team had
signed 23 student-athletes to national letters
of intent with plans to attend the university
next fall.
It wasn’t the largest signing class
in the brief four-year history of this I-A,
Sun Belt Conference program, but overall,
it was the most talented.
“I’m very happy with the quality
of this recruiting class,” said Strock.
“We have to replace 25 seniors from
last year’s team so it will be important
to fill gaps. We signed quality players at
every position. We didn’t just have
to settle for what was available.
"We needed to acquire depth, particularly
in areas like our offensive line, and a lot
of these young men will come in and compete
for playing time immediately.”
All 23 players are from the State of Florida,
including nine from Miami-Dade and Broward
Counties, but Strock and his assistant coaches
were able to attract talent from as far away
as Orlando, Jacksonville and, for the first
time, the Florida Panhandle.
The group includes seven all-state performers
in Lakeland (5A) linebacker Scott Bryant, Niceville (5A) quarterback/kicker
John Paul Fraites, running
back Devon Freeman and wide
receiver John Houston Whiddon,
Miami Monsignor Pace (3A) offensive lineman
Javon Hill, Blountstown (2B)
running back Chance Attaway and
Cottondale (1B) wide receiver Jeremy Dickens.
Strock’s biggest catches locally were
a pair of preps listed among Miami-Dade’s
Top 25 Recruits—Pace’s Hill, who
ESPN.com ranked as the No. 34 offensive tackle
nationally, and North Miami Beach linebacker
Michael Dominguez, who finished
as one of the county’s leading tacklers.
The Golden Panthers football program will
enter its fifth season of competition in 2006
as a full-fledged and bowl-eligible member
of the Sun Belt. Not only that, but Strock
earlier announced a 2006 non-conference schedule
that will include the likes of the Universities
of Miami, Alabama, Maryland and South Florida,
on the road, and Bowling Green at home.
“I think the schedule helped us with
a lot of these recruits because if they couldn’t
play for those programs, they wanted to play
against them. But there are a lot of other
positive things moving forward with our program
and the recruits we were able to attract are
excited to be a part of it.”
FLORIDA
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
2006 Golden Panthers Football Signees
Chris
Adingupu (top)
Defensive Back • 6-0 • 185 •
Miami Gardens, Fla.
Carol City High School
A two-year letter winner for head coach Walt
Frazier…outstanding track performer
in the high jump with a district and regional
championship to his credit…runs a 4.6,
40-yard dash…selected FIU over interest
shown by Louisville, Kansas State, UCF and
Florida A&M…son of James and Susan
Johnson.
Joe Alajajian (top)
Offensive Lineman • 6-3 • 285
• Naples, Fla.
Naples High School
The first signee whose National Letter of
Intent arrived at 7:21 am…an all-around
athlete who played four years of football,
two years of track and a season of football
for Naples…voted to be a member of the
Team Committee for head coach Bill Kramer…runs
a 5.1, 40-yard dash…selected FIU over
interest by Eastern Kentucky, Western Illinois,
Eastern Illinois and Georgia Southern…son
of Gerald and Kathy Alajajian.
Chance Attaway (top)
Running Back • 5-10 • 198 •
Clarksville, Fla.
Blountstown High School
Helped the Tigers reach the Class 2B state
semifinals for head coach Bobby Jones…
recorded 18 touchdowns as a senior while also
playing on defense as the starting safety…named
first-team all-state at running back, was
a first-team All-Big Bend honoree and was
the district’s Player of the year in
2005…as a junior, ran for over 1,500
yards and 26 touchdowns…earned numerous
honors as an underclassman, including team’s
Best Running Back in ninth grade, and FACA
all-district recognition and the Super Tiger
Award on Offense in the 10th grade…played
three seasons of baseball and was the team’s
stolen base leader in 10th grade…as
a junior, finished fifth in the state in weightlifting’s
199-weight class and was state runner-up in
team weightlifting…selected FIU over
interest shown by Florida State, Florida and
Florida Atlantic…son of Charles and
Marleen Attaway.
Scott Bryant (top)
Linebacker • 5-11 • 205 •
Lakeland, Fla.
Lakeland High School
Established himself as one of the top defensive
players in the county at Kathleen High School
before transferring to Lakeland as a senior…led
Lakeland with 191 total tackles, including
88 solo stops, 41 tackles for loss, five sacks
and 18 quarterback hurries…in his best
game against Winter Haven had 22 tackles with
two sacks and recorded 16 tackles against
Kathleen…in the state championship game,
led Lakeland with seven solo tackles and a
sack…voted the Lakeland Ledger’s
Co-Defensive Player of the Year…first-team
Class 5A all-state linebacker.
Chris Cook (top)
Kicker/Punter • 6-3 • 200 •
Palm Bay, Fla.
Palm Bay High School
A three-year football and four-year soccer
star at Palm Bay who was voted Class 5A all-state
first-team punter and District 11 first-team
punter and kicker for head coach Dan Burke…named
by Gator Bait magazine as one of the top five
punters in Florida…led conference with
a 46.9-yard punt average…Florida Today
Player of the Week and recipient of District
11’s Leadership Award…member of
the All-ESPN team and was an ESPN Player of
the Game…played in several high school
all-star games…son of Ron and Theresa
Cook.
Jeremy Dickens (top)
Wide Receiver • 5-11 • 180 •
Marianna, Fla.
Cottondale High School
Multi-talented student-athlete who competed
in scholastic football, basketball, baseball
and track…honorable mention all-state
and All-Big Bend selection for head coach
Mike Melvin…named team MVP, captain,
winner of the team Leadership Award and was
Redzone Player of the Year…runs a 4.5,
40-yard dash…picked FIU over interest
shown by Troy and Florida A&M…son
of Robert and Equallia Dickens.
Elliott Dix (top)
Wide Receiver • 6-0 • 190 •
Orlando, Fla.
Evans High School
Speedy wide receiver who runs a 4.6, 40-yard
dash…Evans’ team captain and honorable
mention All-Orange County selection for head
coach Maxwell Purcell…also ran track
for four years…good blood lines—lists
Horace Copeland and Bo Jackson are cousins…selected
FIU over interest shown by Colorado State,
North Carolina State, Iowa, Middle Tennessee
and New Mexico…son of Martha Dix.
Michael Dominguez (top)
Linebacker • 5-11 • 210 •
Miami, Fla.
North Miami Beach High School
Ranked No. 24 on the Miami Herald’s
Top-25 Miami-Dade Recruits…a state runner-up
in wrestling last year, he was one of the
county’s leading tacklers for head coach
Jeff Bertani…All-Dade second-team selection…helped
lead the Chargers to their first district
title with 70 tackles and two sacks…runs
a 4.7, 40-yard dash…selected FIU over
interest from North Carolina State.
Brandon Ellison (top)
Defensive Back • 5-11 • 175 •
Lauderhill, Fla.
South Plantation High School
A four-year football letterwinner for head
coach Jack Chapman…an honorable mention
all-county performer who helped South Plantation
win the district title for the first time
in 15 years…team captain…also
competed with the track and field program
for four years…picked FIU over interest
shown by Eastern Illinois, Villanova, Colgate
and Lehigh…son of Larry and Marion Ellison.
Jeffery
Eugene (top)
Offensive Lineman • 6-3 • 305
• Miami, Fla.
El Camino Junior College (Calif.)/Monsignor
Pace High School
Started off last fall as a defensive but made
the switch to offensive guard and started
all 12 games last season for the Warriors…second-team
All-Mission Conference selection with good
strength and quickness…line contributions
helped El Camino to a conference championship,
undefeated regular season and bowl game victory
over conference rival Riverside…helped
the Warriors finish as best in the league
in scoring offense, total offense, pass efficiency,
first downs, third-down conversions and sacks
against.
John Paul Fraites (top)
Quarterback/Kicker • 6-1 • 185
• Niceville, Fla.
Niceville High School
A multi-sport student-athlete who was quarterback
and place kicker for head coach John Hicks…the
Daily News Player of the Year who was 75-of-158
passing for 1,311 yards, 16 touchdowns and
nine interceptions…kicked 9-of-9 field
goals and was 38-of-39 on extra points…helped
lead Niceville to an 11-2 record and a spot
in the state semifinals...first-team all-state
selection as a senior and was third-team all-state
as a sophomore…picked as the all-area
Football Player of the Year…All-Sports
Association Male Scholastic honoree…picked
FIU over interest shown by Louisiana-Monroe,
West Point, Air Force Academy and Vanderbilt…son
of Thomas and Jin Fraites.
Devon Freeman (top)
Running Back • 5-10 • 200 •
Niceville, Fla.
Niceville High School
Despite an injury-plagued senior season, finished
with 1,300 rushing yards while helping Niceville
to the state semifinals for head coach John
Hicks…Class 5A second-team all-state
performer and was first-team all-area and
first-team All-Northwest Florida…named
Offensive MVP of the Panhandle All-Star Game…starting
tailback in Max Emfinger’s All-American
Game in Shreveport, La…rushed for 1,179
yards as a junior and named the team’s
Player of the Year after all-area and all-state
honors…named Niceville’s Rookie
of the Year in 2003 and was an honorable mention
all-area selection…ranks second in the
Niceville career record book for rushing…listed
in Who’s Who in Sports…also played
a year of basketball and two in track…selected
FIU over interest by Auburn, USF, Ole Miss,
Clemson and Western Illinois…son of
Tammy Freeman.
Javon Hill (top)
Offensive Lineman • 6-4 • 315
• Miami, Fla.
Monsignor Pace High School
Ranked No. 21 on the Miami Herald’s
Miami-Dade Top-25 Recruits…big tackle
who anchored the offensive line for head coach
Joe Zeccheo…earned double All-Dade first-team
honors…first-team Class 3A all-state
honoree…ranked as the No. 34 high school
offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com…runs
a 5.1, 40-yard dash…picked FIU over
interest shown by Auburn, Duke, Pittsburgh,
USF and UCF.
Sheldon
Jacques (top)
Defensive Lineman • 6-2 • 265
• Opa Locka, Fla.
Miami Central High School
Varsity letter winner for head coach Anthony
Saunders…also competed in track and
field…selected FIU over interest shown
by Florida Atlantic…son of Vareus and
Anne Jacques.
Dezaree
Johnson (top)
Defensive Back • 5-11 • 180 •
Orlando, Fla.
Jones High School
All-county defensive back for head coach Mike
Cullison…an outstanding track and field
competitor who was named all-conference and
regional champion in the 110-meter hurdles…also
competed in wrestling…selected FIU over
interest shown by UCF and Minnesota…son
of Oran Johnson.
Andy Leavine (top)
Offensive Lineman • 6-5 • 290
• Brooksville, Fla.
Springstead High School
An all-county performer at Central High School
as a junior and senior who transferred to
Springstead where he has been a heavyweight
wrestler for the Eagles…football team
captain as a senior…also competed in
track and weightlifting…runs a 5.2,
40-yard dash…chose FIU over interest
shown by UCF and USF…son of Andrew and
Cynthia Leavine.
Joey Myers (top)
Defensive Lineman • 6-2 • 220
• Miami, Fla.
Palmetto High School
A four-year letter winner and a second-team
All-Miami-Dade County tight end for head coach
Jim Kroll…Palmetto team captain…projected
as the No. 1 tight end in the county last
fall by the Miami Herald…selected FIU
over interest shown by Florida Atlantic, Wisconsin
and Bowling Green…son of Christopher
and Bridged Myers…brother Chris plays
with the Denver Broncos.
Daunte Owens (top)
Running Back • 5-9 • 185 •
St. Augustine, Fla.
Nease High School
Outstanding running back for the Class 4A
state championship team of head coach Craig
Howard…had 177 carries for 1,343 yards
and 16 touchdowns…also had 16 receptions
for 173 yards and another two scores…named
the team’s Best Back in 2005…all-county
performer and a selection to the Northeast
Florida Shrine Bowl…St. Augustine Record
Player of the Week…overall Top-20 Tallahassee
Nike shuttle time of 4.15 seconds and a vertical
jump of 32.9-inches…also competed in
softball and basketball…selected FIU
over offers from Clemson, Iowa, UCF and TCU…son
of Donald and Robynn Owens.
Frantz
Placide (top)
Utility • 6-0 • 185 • Miami,
Fla.
Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School
A multi-talented performer who played a variety
of positions for head coach Greg Magner…saw
action at tailback, wide receiver, linebacker,
defensive back, as a kicker and a kick-return
specialist…named both the team’s
Offensive and Defensive MVP…first-team
All-Dade pick of the Miami Herald after collecting
76 tackles, 578 rushing yards and nine total
touchdowns…track triple jump champion…son
of Duval and Carlette Raymonvil.
Torrelt Solomon (top)
Wide Receiver • 5-11 • 175 •
Miami, Fla.
Booker T. Washington High School
Caught a 37-yard touchdown pass and recovered
an onside kick helping Dade to a 35-28 win
over Broward County in the ninth annual Nike
South Florida All-Star game last month…runs
a 4.5, 40-yard dash.
Mannie Wellington (top)
Linebacker • 5-8 • 205 •
North Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Nease High School
Well decorated performer for head coach Craig
Howard…three-time all-county team selection
of the St. Augustine Record…picked to
the Florida Times-Union’s All-First
Coast team…team’s best tackler
for three consecutive seasons…team Defensive
Player of the Year in 2003…also participated
in basketball, track and weightlifting…set
a school record in the 199-pound weight class
with a clean and jerk of 295 pounds…runs
a 4.59, 40-yard dash…picked FIU over
interest shown by Bowling Green, Navy, Illinois
and Georgia Southern…son of Eugene Wellington.
Justin West (top)
Defensive Lineman • 6-3 • 290
• Jacksonville, Fla.
Wolfson High School
A two-way player at Wolfson who was voted
the team’s Co-MVP for head coach Ron
Regan…as an offensive guard, graded
out at 88-percent…at defensive tackle,
recorded 50 tackles, eight for losses and
had two sacks…named to the all-district
team…chose FIU over interest shown by
Florida A&M, Southern Mississippi and
Ball State.
John Houston Whiddon (top)
Wide Receiver • 6-0 • 190 •
Niceville, Fla.
Niceville High School
Led the area in receiving with 49 catches
for 827 yards and 11 touchdowns…2005
Class 5A all-state and All-Northwest Florida
receiver for head coach John Hicks…member
of the Panhandle all-star team…second-team
all-state as a junior, first-team All-Northwest
Florida and Big Play Award winner in 2004…also
participated in prep wrestling, track and
baseball…selected to play at FIU over
interest from Auburn, Virginia and Boston
College…son of Paul and Lynn Whiddon.
