Phil Steele's 2010 Postseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team (PDF)
The 2010 Sun Belt Conference Champion FIU Football team placed a conference-best 14 players on Phil Steele's 2010 Postseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team. Leading the way for the Panthers were first-team selections T.Y. Hilton, Anthony Gaitor and Jonathan Cyprien.
Brad Serini, Greg Ellingson, Winston Fraser and Jack Griffin all received second-team nods, while Darriet Perry, Jonathan Faucher, Cedric Mack, Caylin Hauptmann, Joshua Forney, Jarvis Wilson and Toronto Smith all made the third-team.
Hilton is currently ranked 42nd in the country and third in the conference in receiving yards-per-game, 13th in the country and second in the conference in all-purpose yardage, as well as 16th in the country and first in the conference in kickoff return average. The junior wideout was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week after amassing 291 all-purpose yards and scoring four touchdowns against ULM. His latest achievement came in the form of a 42-yard, game-winning touchdown in FIU's conference-championship clinching victory over Arkansas State.
Cornerback Anthony Gaitor is having another stellar season for the Panthers. Gaitor has not only been outstanding in coverage, but he also has a career-best eight tackles for loss, including three sacks. Gaitor opened the season with a three-tackle performance against Rutgers while also picking off a pass late in regulation to keep the Panthers in the game. He was then named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception 54 yards for a score, having one sack and forcing a fumble against current BCS No.18 Texas A&M. Later in the season, Gaitor was again named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week after having eight tackles, one for loss, against Troy and limiting the explosive Jerrel Jernigan to just 32 receiving yards.
Cyprien leads the Panthers and is third in the conference with 97 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, has four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one interception on the year. Cyprien opened the season with a nine-tackle performance against Rutgers and followed it up with eleven tackles and two forced fumbles against Texas A&M. Two games later he had eleven tackles, including a season-high nine unassisted against Pitt. Cyprien then had a season-best 13 stops against WKU and matched it with 13 stops against Florida Atlantic. Against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, Cyprien had 10 tackles and a key interception late in the ballgame.
Serini will be starting his 48th-consecutive game as a Panther this Saturday, and is the leader of FIU's offensive line, which ranks 30th in the country and first in the conference in sacks allowed.
Ellingson
has been FIU's go-to man in key situations as 31 of his 33 receptions have produced either a first down or a touchdown. This season he is tied for the team-lead with four touchdowns and second on the team with 33 receptions and 529 receiving yards.
Winston Fraser has been one of the leaders on FIU's defense, which has been the best in the conference all year long. Fraser has 60 tackles this season, including 7.0 for loss and one sack, has two forced fumbles and had one very key interception that sent FIU's game against ULM into overtime.
Jack Griffin has connected on 13-of-16 field goal attempts this year and all 38 PAT attempts. This season Griffin set an FIU record for scoring and PATs made.
Darriet Perry has been a stud in the redzone this season, scoring a program-record 12 rushing touchdowns.
Jonathan Faucher is having his best season as a Panther as he has hauled in three touchdowns, leading all FIU tight ends.
Cedric Mack and Caylin Hauptmann are two devastating blockers that have been key cogs in the offensive line's turnaround in 2010. Behind their great blocking, FIU ranks 28th in the country and second in the conference in rushing.
Joshua Forney has been a force in the middle of the FIU defensive line, starting all 12 games this year. The sophomore has had two games with six tackles, and has helped the Panthers rank second in the conference in rushing defense.
Jarvis Wilson is yet another Panther enjoying his best season yet as he leads the team and ranks fifth in the conference with 7.5 sacks.
Last but certainly not least is Toronto Smith, who has been described by many as the heart and soul of the FIU defense. Smith has 77 tackles this season, including ten for loss and four sacks. For his career, Smith ranks third in FIU history with 31 tackles for loss and second with 11.5 sacks.
