MIAMI (www.fiusports.com) - Florida International University Head Coach Mario Cristobal's first recruiting class consists of 18 student-athletes, including 14 from the state of Florida, eight from South Florida and four from outside the Sunshine State. The class includes 12 offensive players and seven on defense.

 

“We have all the confidence in the world that these guys are not only going to be great players, but also great leaders, great students and they will represent this University in a big-time way,” Cristobal said of his recruiting class. “I can't wait until they step foot on campus.”

 

While this recruiting class has more commitments from outside of Florida than any other in the history of the program, Cristobal and his staff achieved their goal of keeping some of South Florida's best players home.

 

“We chose to attack South Florida, like we should,” Cristobal said. “This is our home state and there are plenty of great football players here.”

 

Cristobal and his staff had roughly three weeks to hit the recruiting trail and ended up signing potentially the best recruiting class in FIU history. He and his staff were looking for student-athletes with high character, great athletic ability and who could make an immediate impact.

 

“We came in with a goal and a mindset to compete at the highest level,” Cristobal said. “It doesn't matter what conference or what team was recruiting a specific player. We're not backing down and we're not shying away. We took that approach and it has paid off. We won a lot of those battles and those results will show themselves in the coming years.”

 

Capsules of the signees can be found below.

               

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown	Last School
Colt Anderson	QB	6-4	195	Omaha, Neb.	Omaha Westside HS
Kendall Berry	WR	6-0	185	Haines City, Fla.	Haines City HS
Ricky Booker	DE/LB	6-3	245	Orlando, Fla.	Dr. Phillips HS
Curtis Bryant	DT	6-3	270	Miami, Fla.	South Miami HS
Chris Cawthon	OL	6-4	320	Loganville, Ga.	Grayson HS
Greg Ellingson	WR	6-3	200	Tampa, Fla.	Tampa Robinson HS
Jason Frierson	WR	5-8	160	Miami, Fla.	Coral Gables HS
Anthony Gaitor	DB	5-10	175	Miami, Fla.	Northwestern HS
Ernest Goodley	OL	6-3	260	Plantation, Fla.	South Plantation HS
Shaquan Hicks	OL	6-2	324	Sandersville, Ga.	Washington County HS
Darold Hughes	QB	6-3	195	Marrero, La.	Archbishop Shaw HS
Bryan Mann	QB	6-3	195	Belle Glade, Fla.	Glades Central
Jermaine Malcolm	DB	6-1	190	West Palm Beach, Fla.	Palm Beach Lakes HS
Devin Parrish	DB	6-0	185	Miami, Fla.	Milford Academy
Cody Pellicer	DL	6-3	235	Port Orange, Fla.	Spruce Creek HS
Marquis Rolle	WR	6-3	185	Orlando, Fla.	Olympia HS
James Rucker	WR	6-1	190	Jacksonville, Fla.	Englewood HS
Jarvis Wilson	LB	6-2	195	Miami, Fla.	Carol City HS

Colt Anderson · QB

6-4 · 195

Omaha, Neb. · Westside High School

Instrumental in leading the Warriors to a 12-1 season record and the Nebraska Class A state championship game... a two-star Rivals.com player who was the No. 9 rated player in Nebraska by Rivals.com...in 13 games as a senior, set school records passing for 2,100 yards and 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions...also picked up 350 yards rushing with four TDs...totaled 3,278 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air as a junior and senior...an Omaha World-Herald All-Metro Conference selection and an AP All State Honorable Mention...Chose FIU over interest shown by Western Michigan and a preferred walk-on invitation by Colorado.

 

Kendall Berry · WR

6-0 · 185

Haines City, Fla. · Haines City High School

Grew into the Haines City triple-option offense as its quarterback over the last two seasons after playing the running back position as a sophomore when he led the Hornets with 705 yards rushing...passed for 410 yards and four touchdowns while carrying the ball 124 times for 950 yards, an average of 95.1 yards per game, and 10 touchdowns...also returned two punts for 68 total yards...led Haines City in scoring (64 points), rushing and total offense (128.1 yards per game).

 

Ricky Booker · DE/OLB

6-3 · 245

Orlando, Fla. · Dr. Phillips High School

Good speed, athletic ability and quickness...recognized as a sideline to sideline player and an explosive hitter...third-team 6A all-state defensive lineman who lead Dr. Phillips with 87 tackles as a senior...a two-star prospect by Rivals.com and ranked as the nationally-ranked No. 30 OLB by ESPN.com, who lists him as a “Good Prospect”...an honorable mention All-Orange County performer as a junior with 115 tackles, 21 tackles for loss,17 sacks and two interceptions, he also caught two passes as a tight end for 36 yards and two touchdowns...chose FIU over offers from schools including Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisville, Pittsburgh and UCF.

 

Curtis Bryant · DT

6-3 · 270

Miami, Fla. · South Miami Senior High School

Verbally committed to North Carolina State last September but rescinded that commitment with the departure of head coach Chuck Amato...rated the No. 76 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.com...selected to the 10^th annual Nike South Florida All-Star Game...second-team all-county offensive guard by the Miami Herald  who was named among the Herald's Top 25 Miami-Dade recruits (No. 16)...graded out at 85 percent for the season with 15 pancake blocks and without allowing a sack...recorded 22 solo tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense...bench presses 335 points and is expected to continue the tradition of solid offensive linemen to come out of South Miami...a two-star prospect by Rivals.com...selected FIU over interest shown by Marshall, Ole Miss and Colorado State.

 

Chris Cawthon · OL

6-4 · 320

Loganville, Ga. · Grayson High School

Team captain who anchored an offensive line that allowed the Rams to rush for more than 200 yards per game...a strong prospect who possesses nearly a 350-pound bench press...impressed intercollegiate scouts in attendance at last summer's Southern Mississippi Senior Camp...also received interest from Georgia Tech.

 

Greg Ellingson · WR

6-3 · 195

Tampa, Fla. · Robinson High School

An all-around football player when earned third-team all-state honors at wide receiver by the Florida Sports Writers Association...also played safety and punter and placekicker...played at tight end as a prep junior where he proved to be a capable blocker...first-team All-Hillsborough selection of the Tampa Tribune...finished 2007 with 1,009 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 PATs...selected to compete in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South Football All-Star Classic...possesses good speed (4.5 seconds in the 40)...also excelled in track (100m, 400m, long jump, high jump) and scholastic soccer.

 

Jason Frierson · WR

5-8 · 160

Miami, Fla. · Coral Gables High School

Caught 41 passes for 699 yards and eight touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers to their first district title in 17 years...scored four TDs during a 45-22 win over Miami Beach H.S?two by rush, one on a 17-yard catch and another on a 60-yard punt return...second-team all-state selection of the Florida Sports Writers Association...first-team all-county performer who was included among the Miami Herald's Top-25 Miami-Dade recruits...a three-year starter who played quarterback, wide receiver, running back, corner back, safety and as a return man on special teams...totaled 108 career catches for 1,721 yards and 19 touchdowns...selected to compete in the 10^th Annual South Florida All-Star Football game...played on the Team USA roster for the NFL Global Junior Championships where he made the all-tournament team and scored a touchdown during the title game against Team Canada...runs a 4.5, 40-yard dash...cousin of San Francisco 49ers Pro-Bowl running back Frank Gore...also a four-year starter in basketball who finished third in Dade County in assists.

 

Anthony Gaitor · DB

5-10 · 175

Miami, Fla. · Northwestern High School

A second-team All-Miami-Dade County performer who was instrumental in Northwestern's 2006 6A state championship...recorded 87 total tackles on the year and seven interceptions...a member of Team USA at the NFL Global Junior Championships whose 96-yard interception for a score lifted USA over Team Mexico...selected FIU over scholarship interest by Bowling Green.

 

Ernest Goodley · OT

6-3 · 260

Plantation, Fla. · South Plantation High School

First-team all-state 6A offensive lineman of the Florida Sports Writers Association and first-team All-Broward by the Miami Herald...member of Team USA at the NFL Global Junior Championships that reached the title game versus Team Canada...recorded 125 pancake blocks and allowed 0 sacks in 2006...also played defensive line in goal line situations, recording four tackles...was a three-year starter who garnered honorable mention honors as a junior...won the team's Iron Man Award

 

Shaquan Hicks · OL

6-2 · 324

Sandersville, Ga. · Washington County High School

An all-state and All-Middle Georgia performer who played in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) North/South All-Star Football Classic as a member of the south squad...a two-star rated prospect by Rivals.com...considered by the Augusta Chronicle as “the area's finest run blocker” and mentioned among that publication's Dream-16...collected 119 pancake blocks in 10 games last season and graded out at 85 percent as a junior...finished second as a sophomore in all classes at the state's high school weight-lifting meet...selected FIU over a scholarship offer by Middle Tennessee State.

 

Darold Hughes · QB

6-3 · 195

Marrero, La. · Archbishop Shaw

Shaw ran a spread offense and completed 92-of-177 passes for 1,225 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in leading Shaw to the 4A State Championship game and a 14-1 record...was named to Shaw's Honor Roll last quarter...received interest from Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulane and Central Florida.

 

Jermaine Malcolm · DB

6-1 · 190

West Palm Beach, Fla. · Palm Beach Lakes

Malcolm was named to Second Team All-Area by the Palm Beach Post after recording 45 tackles and three interceptions as a safety...rushed 88 times for 576 yards and caught nine passes for 167 yards on offense.

 

Bryan Mann · QB

6-3 · 195

Belle Glade, Fla. · Glades Central

Mann finished off a stellar career by completing 100-of-173 passes for 1,684 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 268 yards and two touchdowns to lead Glades Central to the 3A State Championship...Only threw four interceptions as a senior...Rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more in the 39-27 state title victory against Pensacola Pine Forest...Third Team All-State by the Palm Beach Post...Completed 15-of-17 passes for 356 yards and six touchdowns against Belen Jesuit Prep during his senior season...Received interest from Ole Miss and South Florida...rated as the No. 76 quarterback in the country by Scout.com.

 

Devin Parrish · CB

6-0 · 185

Miami, Fla. · Milford Academy

Rated the No. 30 prep school prospect by Rivals.com...three-star recruit by Rivals.com...rated the No. 85 cornerback in the country by Scout.com...had offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Minnesota, Tennessee and Temple out of prep school...intercepted six passes, recorded 45 tackles and served as a captain in 2006 for Milford Academy, which plays against college JV teams...All-Dade defensive back who caught 21 passes for 550 yards (26.2 avg.) and five touchdowns as a senior at Parkway Academy (Miramar, Fla.)...was a three-star recruit coming out of high school, who was rated No. 87 in Florida's top 100...received offers from Illinois, Colorado and Louisville out of high school...hauled in 13 passes for 370 yards and recorded 20 tackles as a junior for Hollywood Christian High School...is the younger cousin of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish...received scholarship offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Tennessee and Minnesota.

 

Cody Pellicer · DE

6-3 · 235

Port Orange, Fla. · Spruce Creek HS

Orlando Sentinel Second Team All-Central Florida selection, First Team All-Volusia County, Honorable Mention All-State, team captain and Central Florida All-Star...rated as the nation's No. 82 defensive tackle by ESPN.com...played left tackle for Spruce Creek and graded out at 92 percent for the season while allowing only two sacks...also played defensive end and posted 47 tackles and 5.5 sacks...three-year starter...also a member of the school's weightlifting team...competed in the shot put and discus on the track and field team.

 

Marquis Rolle · WR

6-3 · 185

Orlando, Fla. · Olympia HS

Orlando Sentinel Second Team All-Orange pick in 2006... labeled as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com...totaled 70 catches fro 820 yards and eight touchdowns receiving, two rushing and four more on kickoff returns...two-time offensive MVP...team MVP as a senior...played in Citrus Bowl All-Star Game...has been timed at 4.46 in the 40...caught 25 passes for more than 300 yards as a junior...two-year starter in basketball.

 

James Rucker · WR

6-1 · 190

Jacksonville, Fla. · Englewood HS

A two-way prep player who work as a wide receiver, running back and defensive back...caught 21 passes as a senior for 384 yards and three TDs...also had a touchdown on 12 carries for 65 yards and collected three interceptions...returned three kicks for TDs...first team All-Space Coast and an all-conference wide receiver...two-star prospect of Scout.com...had 24 receptions for 463 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.

 

Jarvis Wilson  · LB

6-2 · 195

Miami, Fla. · Carol City HS

Honorable Mention All-Dade County by the Miami Herald...extremely athletic linebacker who possesses great instincts and comes from a tradition-rich football school...chose FIU after receiving interest from Central Florida, Minnesota, South Florida and Florida Atlantic.