(BEFORE YOU WATCH - Please be kind on the quality of the video, still learning on this dinosaur of a camera I have. A few notes before you watch. The video is a little long at 7:44, but I felt Larry made some good points and I did not want to take them out. Wait till the end when Larry talks about Northwestern WR Rhymes and the work Cristobal has done in recruiting the Bulls. Just in case you have trouble playing the video on the blog, click here.)
Recruiting update
Like I promised on Wednesday, I met with Miami Herald recruiting guru Larry Blustein at the Dade vs. Broward All-star game at Traz Powell Stadium, Friday night to talk about local recruits and how the 2011 class is sizing up for FIU.
Larry was quick to point out that it is still early in the process and that decisions could change quickly on some of the top recruits in South Florida. Blustein is optimistic that FIU will be able to land a few "big" recruits this year but how many is still unknown.
Larry said he has gotten a nice response from FIU fans on the column he wrote a few weeks back on FIU and wanted to thank those who wrote emails.
Some of the players Larry thinks might end up at FIU:
QB Rakeem Cato (right, photo Al Diaz, Miami Herald staff) 6-0, 175, Central, Blustein feels there is still a chance, if slim, that Cato picks FIU over Marshall. It's been reported that Cato has already verbally committed to Marshall, but Blustein still think there might be a last minute change of heart.
Blustein was quick to praise the work coach Mario Cristobal and his staff have done luring a large group of verbal commitments from Northwestern. LB Lyndon Edwards, 6-1, 195; OL Everett Slocumb, 6-4, 265; WR Dominique Rhymes (left, preparing to catch a pass against Central at FIU Stadium, photo Charles Mostoller, Miami Herald Staff), 6-3, 205, WR Clinton Taylor, 5-8, 165. Have all verbally committed to FIU and should sign letters of intent on National Signing Day (Wed., Feb. 2)
Blustein feels Rhymes is a solid wide receiver that might move over to tight end in the future. Blustein said that Rhymes will create defensive problems for any Sun Belt team that has to face him. (Blustein spends a good two minutes talking about Rhymes late in the video.)
In Broward and Palm Beach, Blustein feels FIU could potentially get Boyd Anderson DB Corey Tindal (right, photo Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel) (5-10, 165) and Delray Atlantic WR Ezekiel Turner, (5-10, 170).
Tindal would be a nice player for FIU to get, helping to fill a void in the defensive back field left by the departure of Anthony Gaitor.
Turner and Northwestern WRs Rhymes and Taylor could only add depth to an already stacked receiver core, that will need some help getting over losing T.Y. Hilton in 2012.
From around Florida
RB Shane Coleman, 5-8, 180, Green Cove Springs Clay
TE/DE Ya'keem Griner (6-3.5, 200, Starke Bradford County
DE Cody Horstman, 6-3, 231, Vero Beach
DB T.J. Lowder, 5-11, 175, Panama City Bay
TE Aaron Nielson 6-4, 220, Orlando Freedom
OL Richie Reay, 6-5, 255, Tampa Robinson
S, Luis Rosado, 6-2, 205, Gainesville.
Justin
What the f*ck kind of "update" is that?!
Talk to the coach, talk to the recruiting coordinator, TALK TO THE RECRUITS!
If we cared what Miami Herald's high school beat writer thought we would read his blog.
Do your f*cking job.
Posted by: Fire Justin Azpiazu | January 15, 2011 at 08:47 AM
nice work Justin
Posted by: JP1990FIU | January 15, 2011 at 08:53 AM
Thanks for the update Justin - Go Panthers!
Posted by: gpantera | January 15, 2011 at 09:02 AM
Good stuff. That's what we were looking for Justin. Just need more of it.
Posted by: SouthPaw | January 15, 2011 at 09:08 AM
Coaches are not allowed to comment on recruits until they sign their letters of intent. FIU already has 2 quarterbacks committed (Dylan Warner and Loranzo Hammonds) They also have a former Missouri transfer QB (Blaine Dalton) enrolled. So I don't see Cato coming here.
I'm hoping we can still land Corey Tindal. This is an impact player who can help right away at cornerback. But what's going on at the offensive line and defensive tackle positions? Everett Slocum is no longer a commit. Richie Reay is our only offensive line commit and he didn't play varsity football until his senior year. Where's the beef?
Posted by: MiamiSouthPaw | January 15, 2011 at 09:50 AM
Great work Justin, thanks
Posted by: Gold | January 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM
nice interview, I agree with Southpaw, we need lineman.
Posted by: panther viscosity | January 15, 2011 at 11:04 AM
I have to say that this was actually a very good job with a little update on our 2011 Recruiting Class. I realize its almost impossible to get a concrete answer about some of this kids that change their mind more then their own underwears.. Not bad! Keep it up.
ARE WE GOING TO SEE A "PART II" RECRUITING BLOG.. Justin/Adam I think you guys can one more update on our 2011 class some time next week.. Maybe more info will come out after the long weekend..
Go FIU!
Posted by: Gooch7 | January 15, 2011 at 01:24 PM
@Gooch, There will be several more recruiting updates before Feb. 2.
Posted by: Justin Azpiazu | January 15, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Im going to MARSHALL!!!
Posted by: Rakeem Cato | January 15, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Rivals 120
FSU - 16
UCF - 24
UF - 35
USF - 39
UM - 45
FIU - 70
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1175238
Players in Rivals 2010 All-Bowl Team
FSU - 1
UCF - 1
UF - 1
USF - 1
UM - 0
FIU - 1
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1175173
Posted by: The State Universities of Florida | January 15, 2011 at 11:02 PM
The University of Miami is a private school idiot.
Posted by: Buc Nasty | January 16, 2011 at 08:50 AM