MIAMI (April 23, 2020) - This week we preview FIU's safeties as we look ahead to the upcoming season. 

POSITION BREAKDOWN
Position: Safeties
Position Coach: Jerod Kruse
Key Returner: Richard Dames

PLAYER TO WATCH
Richard Dames played and started in all 13 games for the Panthers, finishing the season with 56 tackles to rank fourth overall and third among defensive backs on the team. Dames posted a career-high 11 tackles against Louisiana Tech, with 10 of those being solos. 

QUOTES FROM DAMES
Dames on Goals for 2020: "To get closer with my teammates, become a more vocal leader and have a winning season."
 
Dames on DB Culture at FIU: "The culture and chemistry with the DB room is awesome. Most of us have known each other for at least two years. It's all jokes in there until it's time for business."

QUOTES FROM COACH KRUSE
Kruse on Defensive Goals for 2020: "Going into this offseason and having a year with this group, I think we have a better idea of who we were and more importantly who we need to become. Our goals are to continue to build on stopping the run and keep focus on improving our passing defense. Really from a defensive perspective, it's trying to give our players a better idea of what offenses are trying to do to attack them. So getting a better offensive understanding from a defensive perspective was a big focus for us this offseason." 

Kruse on Richard Dames: "Richard Dames is a true ball guy. He loves the game, it's like going out in the backyard and playing every day at practice and on game day. You see that in his play with the emotion and effort that he plays with. He's been playing ball since he was four or five-years-old but at this point, a lot of things that other guys have to work on come more naturally to him. We've watched him dig into the more finer points of the game this offseason, which I think we'll allow him to react even faster once we get into next season."

Kruse on Dorian Hall: "I think what people don't understand about Dorian Hall is how well he sees the game and how intelligent he is. When you're blessed with that kind of length and athleticism, you can do a lot of things. You can take a bad step and still be right with his length, but his ball production and ability to track the ball in space is a very special attribute of his. 

Kruse on the Dames Twins: "After 20 years of doing this and coaching nearly every position at this point, I've coach twins on the same team but never before have they been in the same position group. Those dynamics are really interesting because those two know and understand each other at an extremely high level and they coach each other. You see them hold each other accountable because of that relationship and they have fun with each other as well by bringing that dynamic into the position room and into the defense is a unique situation for sure."

Kruse on DB Returners: "The culture is really good with us. Our guys really came together last season and that has just continued to grow and strengthen this offseason. If you look at our returners who've played significant reps in Richard, Dorian and Rishard they would be at the top of our leadership group for the position. Guys like Josh Turner and Jamal Anderson got reps and even with guys like Maurquel Dillard or Jesson Walker who got fewer reps you saw some highlights from them later in the season. There's a lot to like about the group coming back."

Kruse on Newcomers: "I think we have an exciting group coming in. We went out with a goal to build some depth at positions with specific players in mind that wanted to push themselves to be as good as they can possibly be and potentially have a chance to play at the next level someday. We also wanted them to check all the boxes academically and character wise as well and this group is extremely strong in all of those areas. It doesn't always happen that way unfortunately, but this is a really dynamic group. From Jamal Potts, Andrew Volmar and Joe Perkins, the three of those guys will have very bright futures at FIU."

SOCIAL MEDIA
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