The 2007 FIU football season gets underway Monday with a 7:45 p.m. practice on the University Park Campus. Practice is open to the public and will be held at the FIU Intramural Fields while FIU's new stadium is under construction.
To get to the practice, fans can enter campus at the SW 8th Street entrance and take a right at the first stop sign. The intramural fields are located just north of the parking garage, on the right as you come around the bend and Pharmed Arena comes into view.
Fans can brush up on what the 2007 holds for the Golden Panthers by taking a look at the Preseason Preview below.
Youthful exuberance is what first year head coach Mario Cristobal and his entirely-new coaching staff brings to the FIU football program. Cristobal, the first Cuban-American head coach at the Division I-A level, is recognized as a skilled recruiter who honed his coaching talents at Rutgers and, most recently, at the University of Miami (Fla.). The coaching staff he has assembled complements his passion.
Despite the loss of several key components, the defense once again seems to be the strength of the 2007 Golden Panthers. Honorable mention SportsIllustrated.com All-America defensive back Lionell Singleton is the top returning starter, but seven returning letterwinners on the defensive line should keep this a formidable unit.
Cristobal will need to replace major skill positions on offense, starting at quarterback where between returnees and recruits he'll have a bevy of candidates battling for the starting nod this fall. Quarterback protection should be better this season; however, with five offensive linemen returning who started seven-games-or-more in 2006. With two years of intercollegiate experience under their belts, junior running backs Julian Reams and A'mod Ned also hope to use the experienced line to their advantages.
Cristobal and his staff broadened their recruiting efforts this year and signed 20 high school seniors, mostly from Florida but also from neighboring Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia, Nebraska, New York and California. While it probably will take more than one recruiting class to steer the program toward the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings, Cristobal and his coaches have the enthusiasm and expertise to see their plan through.
Once again, FIU will take on an ambitious schedule that includes six bowl teams from 2006 and all but three opponents finished last season with a .500 record or better. Four of the teams won bowl games including Penn State, Maryland, Miami and Troy, one (Arkansas) played for its conference crown and another (Middle Tennessee) tied for its league championship. In addition, the Golden Panthers 2007 opponents had a combined record of 80-71 (.520) and their non-conference foes went 41-24 (.631) last season.
Quarterbacks
After seasons under the leadership of four-year letterwinner Josh Padrick, the battle for starting quarterback appears wide open. Only sophomore Paul McCall comes in with any intercollegiate experience, limited as it might be. McCall is an extremely intelligent player who completed 7-of-18 passes last season and took snaps against Alabama and Miami, as well as versus Sun Belt foes Middle Tennessee, Florida Atlantic and Troy.
Two red-shirt freshmen are also back, but maybe the one whose stock rose highest during spring practice was Wayne Younger, who led the offense with two touchdown throws to go along with 80 yards rushing in the annual Blue & Gold Game. Younger excelled as a shot-gun quarterback in high school and was Florida Space Coast's Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 after passing for 20 touchdowns and running for nine more. John Paul Fraites was also a successful prep quarterback, throwing 16 TD passes in leading Niceville (Fla.) to the 2005 state semifinals.
But all bets could be off with two true freshmen signal callers joining the fray. Colt Anderson (Omaha, Neb.) helped his Westside team to Nebraska's Class A state championship game and was ranked by Rivals.com as the ninth-best player coming out of the state. Darold Hughes (Marrero, La.) ran a very successful spread offense at state runner-up Archbishop Shaw.
Running Backs
Coach Cristobal looks to have plenty of offensive backfield weapons coming back, led by Reams and Ned who shared featured-back status last season. Reams is more the power runner of the two, carrying the ball 104 times in 2006 for 325 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 10 receptions for 41 yards. His career-best 96-yard performance in the seven-overtime game at North Texas showed a glimpse of future potential.
Despite missing two games because of a knee injury, Ned emerged as last season's leading rusher. Along the way, he put up a career-best 225 total-yard performance against Bowling Green that included an 80-yard touchdown run. He enters 2007 with 820 career yards, which ranks third on the school's all-time list and just 66 yards out of second place.
Among the 16 true freshmen who played in 2006, running backs Chance Attaway and Daunte Owens saw some meaningful action. Attaway was an all-state prep standout who was FIU's starting running back at Alabama. Owens had limited touches of the ball out of the backfield but was a valuable special teams performer who fielded 12 kickoffs and averaged 17.7 yards per return.
Redshirt freshmen, like Niceville all-state runner Devon Freeman, James Jones and Trenard Turner got opportunities last spring to show they deserved a look this fall. Freeman helped his prep team to the state semifinals as a senior and afterwards, was named Offensive MVP of the Panhandle All-Star Game and starting tailback in Max Emfinger's All-American Game. Jones provided valuable backfield depth at area-power Chaminade College Prep and Turner was an all-state linebacker who converted to running back at the 2005 Miami Nike Training Camp.
At fullback, sophomore John Ellis got the attention of the new coaching staff with an outstanding spring both running and catching the football. Ellis, who was used mostly as a blocking back last season, still averaged 5.3 yards on limited carries. Senior Anthony Guli, who has battled injuries over his two years with the program, hopes to provide backup protection.
Wide Receivers
In each of the last three years, FIU has lost its top wide receiver. Last year, it was Minnesota Vikings' draft selection Chandler Williams, who set a school record and led the Sun Belt Conference with nearly seven catches per game in 2006. FIU returns four wide receivers who had catches last season, bring back another half-dozen red shirts and reserves and welcome five highly-regarded recruits.
Honorable mention all-conference sophomore receiver Ashlyn Parker started all 12 games last season and caught 23 passes with a career-high eight grabs for 71 yards against North Texas. Sophomore Jeremy Dickens, who also played in 12 games, ranked fourth on the squad with 21 receptions for 279 yards, and his 13.3 yards per catch was tops on the team. A big-play receiver, he showed tremendous potential with efforts like the one against Alabama when he had four catches for 100 yards, including his season-long 68-yard grab.
Sophomores John Houston Whiddon and Elliott Dix gained valuable experience in 2006 as true freshmen while Whiddon also returned punts and kicks.
Redshirts like sophomores Sanchez Anderson, Torrelt Solomon and Reggie Thompson hope to become involved with FIU's new-look offense. Anderson saw action in seven games during 2005 with three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown to go along with 12 kick returns. Thompson played in three games that same season with three catches and Solomon had an outstanding prep career.
A group of true freshmen will also get extended looks. Marquis Role was a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com who caught 70 passes for 820 yards and eight touchdowns last season at Orlando's Olympia High School. James Rucker was a first-team All-Space Coast at Jacksonville Englewood High School who recorded touchdowns on both offense and defense. Kendall Berry is an all-around athlete who played two years of quarterback at Haines City (Fla.) High School. Greg Ellingson was a third-team all-state performer at Tampa Robinson who finished 2006 with 1,009 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Jason Frierson was another all-state honoree who caught 41 passes for 699 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Coral Gables High School to its first district title in 17 years.
Tight Ends
Now healthy, junior Moses Hinton is expected to be a force in the Sun Belt Conference. Hinton is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-3, 276 pounds who was hampered by a broken foot last fall but returned to form in the spring as a capable receiver, above-average blocker and powerful runner.
Redshirt freshman Joey Myers and converted fullback Marcus Jones II both showed promise last spring. Myers was a four-year prep letter winner and an all-county performer at Miami Palmetto H.S. who was projected as the No. 1 tight end in the county for 2005 by the Miami Herald. Jones has battled injuries during his collegiate career but appears fit and up to the challenge.
Offensive Line
Last season's rebuilding project on the offensive line will hopefully pay dividends this year for FIU as five starters and seven letterwinners return. Center Xavier Shannon, right tackle Dustin Gibson and left tackle Andy Leavine started all 12 games last season for the Golden Panthers. Juniors Shannon and Gibson both enter their fourth years of intercollegiate competition, gaining strength and experience that should place them among the Sun Belt's elite. Leavine was a quick study who cracked the starting lineup as a true freshman. Continued progress in the weight room and during spring drills should help him become one of the offensive line leaders.
Senior Jeffrey Eugene saw action in all 12 games last season, cracking the starting lineup in the third game and remaining there for the remainder of the year. Talented performer Joe Alajajian played a prominent role in last year's offensive line rotation as a true freshman coming in and starting seven games in 2006?six at right guard and one at left guard. Sophomores Danny Muy and Alex Szima saw limited action last season but hope for more playing time this year.
Also looking for time in the playing rotation after working with the scout team last year are redshirt freshman Javon Hill and sophomore Michael Alls. Hill was a 2005 first-team all-state honoree who was ranked as the No. 34 high school offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com. Alls was listed among Broward County's top recruits by the Miami Herald in 2004 and was a first-team all-district and a second-team all-county Large School Football team selection of the Sun-Sentinel. Luis Peña, who played in several games as a backup at defensive tackle, was moved to the offensive side last spring and hopes to contribute. Spring walk-on Chris Pacheco, who played the 2004 season at Edward Waters College, raised some eyebrows with his work ethic and physique.
A number of newcomers could also factor into the mix. Chris Cawthon anchored the offensive line at Grayson (Ga.) High School that allowed the Rams to rush for more than 200 yards per game. Senior Summer Camp. Offensive tackle Ernest Goodley was a first-team all-state honoree and a member of Team USA at the NFL Global Junior Championships. He recorded 125 pancake blocks and allowed no sacks in 2006, winning the team's Iron Man Award. Brad Serini was a championship wrestler and a first-team all-state lineman from New York State.
On Defense
The strength of last year's Golden Panthers was defense and despite major losses, with 21 returning lettermen on that side of the ball, defense could prove again to be this season's strong suit.
Singleton gained national exposure as a member of SI.com's All-America team while excelling at cornerback, where he tied a school record with five interceptions. He is one of eight returning letterwinners in the defensive backfield. Up front, returning starters Roland Clarke, Reginald Jones and Jarvis Penerton lead a group of seven lettermen on a veteran line expected to more than hold its on in the trenches, even with the loss of Baltimore Ravens draft choice Antwan Barnes.
The main question marks are at linebacker where all three 2006 starters have graduated. The group looking to replace them is young but athletic and can hopefully develop as the season progresses.
Defensive Line
The defensive line is deep and talented. Returning tackles Clarke and Penerton started 16 games between them. Senior Clarke enjoyed a breakout season and became a force in the middle. He finished with 17 tackles and recorded his lone sack of the year in the season finale against conference champ Troy. Junior Penerton has been a two-year mainstay on the line whose 21 tackles in 2006 were the second-most among FIU linemen. Junior Jonathan Betancourt will provide veteran backup. Betancourt showed his potential when he recorded five tackles, three for loss, and a sack in the season-opener at Middle Tennessee.
Coming off the edge for the Golden Panthers, Jones returns for his third season after ending 2006 as the top tackler on the line with 23 stops. Replacing Barnes will be no small task but Cristobal will look at sophomore Artis Warthen and senior Audric Adger to try. Injuries hampered both last year, but Warthen was an all-county prep performer coming out of Miramar High School and Adger's speed and quickness make them a potentially potent duo.
Several true freshmen recruits could beef up the line. Ricky Booker is a defensive end from Orlando Dr. Phillips who is recognized as a sideline to sideline player and an explosive hitter. Defensive tackle Curtis Bryant from South Miami High was a two-star prospect of Rivals.com. Bryan Frye was a first-team All-Metro and All-Washington D.C. selection as a defensive end at Fairfax (Va.) Woodson and Cody Pellicer from Port Orange (Fla.) Spruce Creek was rated as the nation's No. 82 defensive tackle by ESPN.com.
LINEBACKERS
Young, but inexperienced, athletic, but eager to learn, this year's linebacker corps looks to be a work in progress, but capable of rapid development. Projected strong-side linebacker, sophomore Scott Bryant played nine games last year as a true freshman and seemed to get more comfortable with the college game as the season progressed. He collected 16 of his 21 totals tackles over the last three games of the year, including 10 stops with a pass breakup in the finale against Sun Belt Conference champion Troy.
Sophomore Mannie Wellington, who will have an opportunity to take over at middle linebacker, was a well-decorated prep honoree and all-state performer at Nease (Fla.) High School. He appeared in eight games at linebacker and on special teams in 2006 until a stress fracture ended his season. Sophomore Michael Dominguez gained valuable experience at middle linebacker last season, starting in place of injured Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year Keyonvis Bouie in the last two games of the year. Being looked at weak-side linebacker this fall, Dominguez collected 18 of his 23 total tackles in those last two games, recording nine stops at Florida Atlantic.
Two other sophomores will be given a chance to contribute. Matt Garris, who worked mostly at defensive end last season and gained starts against Arkansas State, Alabama and Louisiana-Monroe, was the top tackler as a linebacker in 2005 for state champion St. Augustine (Fla.) High. Tyler Clawson is another hardnosed competitor who saw action in 11 games last season as a redshirt freshman with a career-high five stops against Louisiana-Monroe.
A couple of spring walk-ons and a recruit will also get looks. Junior Ryan Martinez was an all-conference performer at Nassau (N.Y.) C.C. who helped the Lions to a league championship and Brett Homeyer, a 28-year old former U.S. Navy diver and nuclear power plant operator, all have opportunities to contribute. So does true freshman Jarvis Wilson from Miami Carol City High who possesses great instincts and comes from a tradition-rich prep football power.
Defensive Bakcs
Like the defensive line, the secondary also returns plenty of experience. A two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week and SI.com All-American, Singleton led the league with 0.50 interceptions per game and was best in the Sun Belt with 1.60 passes defended per game.
Right cornerback Robert Mitchell grew by leaps and bounds last season, ranking among the team's top-10 tacklers while recording two interceptions (one for a touchdown), five pass breakups and recovered a fumble. Also returning is senior Cory Fleming at free safety who came on as last season progressed to play six games with starts in the last three. He ended the year with 17 tackles, 15 of those coming in his starts, and returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown in the season finale against Sun Belt champion Troy.
Capable backups abound with sophomores Dezariah Johnson, Brandon Ellison and Kent Henderson and juniors Jeremiah Flood and Malik Jones looking to impress coaches for more playing time in the fall. All, except Henderson, who redshirted, were regulars in an FIU defensive backfield that ended the year ranking fourth nationally in NCAA Division I-A pass defense.
Joining the backfield will be true freshmen Anthony Gaitor, an all-county performer who was instrumental in Miami Northwestern's 2006 6A state championship, and Devin Parrish, a three-star prospect of Rivals.com who was rated as their No. 30 prep school prospect.
Specialists
The Golden Panthers return both their starting placekicker and punter this season as sophomore Dustin Rivest is back as placekicker and Chris Cook is the second-year punter.
Rivest kicked five field goals last season and was 8-of-11 on PAT season and make the FIU kicking game a potent offensive weapon. He gained strength and accuracy over the off-season as he continues adjusting from a high school punter to a college kicker. The left-footed Cook punted 54 times last season as a true freshman, just four punts shy of the school record, and showed promise at Maryland where he punted eight times for an average of 41.9 yards that included three over 50 yards and four downed inside the 20.
Return specialist Singleton is back as is Owens, who returned 12 kicks last season. Anderson, who redshirted last year but was a regular on kicks and punts as a true freshman in 2005.
