At the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, FIU safety Johnathan Cyprien's been grabbing notice of the NFL Draftniks who hang around such events and do some non-professional professional scouting for their draft intensive sites and publications. But Cyprien's also caught the eyes of enough NFL scouts and executives for them to vote him Outstanding Defensive Back for the week of practices.
The game is Saturday, which is probably why FIU's basketball games in Mobile against South Alabama will be Sunday afernoon at 3:05 and 5:05. The men go in having won seven of their last eight after outlasting Louisiana-Lafayette, 80-75 Thursday night. The women are 10-3 in their last 13 or 4-2 since the schedule became Sun Belt exclusive.
FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Massive 6-0, 295-pound Jason Rae, a center out of Cypress Bay High rated at two stars by Scout.com and Rivals.com said Thursday night he decommitted from FIU because the current coaching staff rescinded the offer made by the previous coaching staff.
"I didn't meet their requirements of what they needed as an offensive lineman," Rae said by phone. "They didn't tell me, they told my coach (Cypress Bay head coach Mike Guandolo)."
This late in the process, that's a surprising move by FIU, which needs offensive linemen in this class. Rae knows it could be tough to find another school he likes to offer him a scholarship. Rae's brother, Jordan Rae, centered the Central Florida line this past season with aplomb.
"Maybe I'll have to walk on to a school and prove myself," he said.
This weekend's visitors include Louisville Trinity quarterback Travis Wright, rated at two stars by Rivals.com and three stars by ESPN.com, and who'll be given a long, hard look by FIU. The school needs quarterbacks. It's not that sophomore E.J. Hilliard won't be up to snuff if (when?) quarterback Jake Meclock's injury sidelines him for a game or two. The Panthers need more depth.
Wright's not committed anywhere. Tampa Gaither High wide receiver Shug Oyegunle, also visiting FIU this weekend, is committed to Ball State. That's in Muncie, Indiana. That's all I'm going to say about that.
Good on Cyprien. Too bad he didn't get a little more help last year. Meanwhile, that QB looks like he has decent mechanics and mobility and enough size to stay alive...a little reminiscent of Medlock, actually. And if all those kickoffs weren't hurricane aided, the PK seems serviceable, even if the punts didn't seem all that. Anyways, good luck to us and thanks for the dish, djn.
Posted by: Diagodog | January 25, 2013 at 07:58 AM
by the way, after what we showed at center last year, I am glad to hear the bar seems to have been raised for that position, nothing against this rae kid, of course.
Posted by: Diagodog | January 25, 2013 at 08:09 AM
Thanks for the updates DJN...
QB Travis met with QB Coach Cameron Turner and is flying down today I think, love twitter.
I fully agree that we need depth at QB. JM, EJ and the rest of the guys are athletes playing QB.
Excited to see the Pro formations and see Seneace, Prince, and the other OL guys battle for those starting jobs!
BTW, Wright said FIU is between him and another QB recruit. But may offer both.
So the only QBs at FIU right now maybe Jake and EJ.
Posted by: chiapanther | January 25, 2013 at 08:51 AM
The Pitino hire is looking better and better.
Already looking forward to first game of the season @Maryland. Have a pretty strong alumni chapter here in DC so hopefully we will travel well.
Thanks for the updates as always DJN
Posted by: DC_Panther2010 | January 25, 2013 at 10:27 AM
All I am going to say is that we need A LOT of depth at OL... Graduate A LOT of OL. It also takes a minimum of 2 years to develop these guys- the college game is just a little bit different than HS. Hope we're on the right track here.
Posted by: REALLY?? | January 25, 2013 at 10:35 AM
REALLY?
Its not like we haven't signed any OL in the past 3 recruiting cycles. We have OL that have been waiting their turn. Hopefully they're up to the task.
Posted by: jcalex22 | January 25, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Travis Wright - no offers
Shug Oyegunle - offers from the "Who's Who of Ineptitude"
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Shug-Oyegunle-135044
Posted by: miacane86 | January 25, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Well, our new OL coach is now the new assistant OL coach at the Jags- this can't be good for recruiting.
Posted by: REALLY?? | January 25, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Well, too bad we lost Mr. Butkus, but the fact that he was snapped up by the Jags sure tells you how much most of the yahoos writing in to complain about Turner and his hires know about football.
Posted by: Diagodog | January 25, 2013 at 03:38 PM
Wow! Rescind on Jason Rae. I saw this happen before at another college. The Coaching staff is not there anymore. Kids really need to look for solid programs. A revolving door of Coaching staff creates an unstable environment yielding poor results.
Posted by: gbuk | January 29, 2013 at 07:47 AM