FIU Panthers Prowl

Rupert Bryan signs with the Dolphins

Like Elaine Benes, the Dolphins have a need, see something they like and are thinking conversion.

Rupert Bryan started 43 games at right tackle for FIU. Now down about 30 pounds to 250, according to the Dolphins, Bryan's been signed as an undrafted free agent to play fullback. Bryan lined up at fullback for a play last season and scored against FAU in FIU's Shula Bowl win on a 5-yard run after a throwback lateral.

This is the third player from FIU signed by the Dolphins. Andy Leavine was signed as a free agent, but never played for the Dolphins. Chandler Williams did practice squad time with the Dolphins in 2007, was signed during the offseason, then cut in late April.

OC Satterfield Out; Willis In; some others enrolled early

Some football updates while exiled in Dolphinland on coaching search watch:

FIU will be looking for a new offensive coordinator now that Scott Satterfield is heading back to Appalacian State as offensive coordinator. What's your feeling on this move? Good? Bad?

I thought while FIU's offense's scheme played to its strengths, the Panthers did tend to get repetitive and into a pattern (not always the same thing) on play calls. They didn't use their tight ends enough, either, in the red zone and, yes, that did gnaw at me the whole season, especially when you see the matchup problems Jonathan Faucher and Colt Anderson could cause. FIU's offense was both explosive and inconsistent.

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT...WILLIS

Source at Camp Mitch confirmed a verbal commitment by Fort Meade High outside linebacker Jamie Willis. Here's some highlights.

 

HEAD START (IN THE) PROGRAM

On the recruit front, the word out of Camp Mitch is offensive lineman Delmar Taylor, defensive lineman Fadol Brown and running back Lemarq Caldwell will begin classes Monday. Miami Northwestern quarterback E.J. Hilliard told other Herald reporters months ago he wants to enroll after graduating high school early.

So, that takes a little of the angst from the coaches' coffees about National Signing Day.

ANOTHER SIGN T.Y. HAS GONE GOODBYE

Hilton signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Friday practice report

Day 3 of fall camp kicked off at 9:15 am Friday morning. The players went through their usual stretching and individual work before coming together for some team practice. According to Panthers coach Mario Cristobal, the team continued splitting half the field and using two units at a time to get some early looks a number of the players both on offense and defense. Day 3 marked the first day the players were in shoulder pads so far in fall camp. 

"The upper pads were on today. We call it thud tempo. It is live, we just aren't going to the ground," Cristobal said. "Years of recruiting have allowed us to obtain the types of athletes that can practice at a very high tempo but can stay off the ground to prevent injuries."

"We continue to go two sets of teams, meaning two sets of offense and two sets of defense going at the same time to increase the amount of reps we can get," he added.

New and Notes

Quarterbacks

Early in practice, all five quarterbacks worked on passing drills simultaneously. The five stood shoulder to shoulder, throwing passes to five receivers that were each running a different route. Of the three freshmen QBs, Akil Dan-Fodio showed he has the speed to run the ball of the pocket. Dan-Fodio, from Stone Mountain, Ga., was able to run past the defense during one of the drills.

"They are all doing a good job. Every single one is a student of the game," Cristobal said after practice on Thursday. "They are getting significant reps as well which they have to take advantage of. There is going to be a point in camp where we'll have to trim it down to who are those two or three guys that are going to get the bulk of the reps. With the first two getting 80 percent of the reps."

Barring some unforeseen development, it is a good bet that Wesley Carroll (right) will start again. Carroll, who is a senior this year, should take a step forward this season with an added season of experience in Cristobal's spread offense. Jake Medlock, a red-shirt freshman, will most likely be the back up.

"We are looking at guys that are either going help us win this year or can develop into good players to help us be a better program in the future," Cristobal added.

Secondary

Cristobal spoke little about losing Anthony Gaitor and what he brought to the team.

"It's football. Everyone has to do it every year. You have good players and they move on. A guy like that was here for four years so he knew us inside and out. He represented and epitomized what the program was about. Hard work and becoming a champion. What you do is throughout the course of Anthony's career he's constantly grooming those kids behind him. He's constantly teaching them. He still texts and calls these guys all the time to let them understand what they have to uphold," Cristobal said. 

Cristobal feels there is enough depth in the secondary to help cushion the effect of losing Gaitor.

"There are enough guys back there that collectively we will and must come up with a solution," he added.

Jonathan Cyprien, who led the team with 113 tackles last season, is wearing Gaitor's #7 this season.

Injuries

Offensive linemen Ceedrick Davis and James Wiggins wore the orange injury jersey on Friday.

Practice

Saturday's practice will be at 8:30 a.m.

Justin Azpiazu

Follow me on twitter @JustinAzpiazu

Ellingson signs with Jacksonville

Missed this a few days ago. The Jacksonville Jaguars came to terms with former FIU wide receiver Greg Ellingson on Thursday. I'm going to try to track down Greg on Monday and put together an interview for the blog.

Justin

On To New Orleans

Here's an update for you on how the NFL rookie camps went for some former Panthers.

Jeremiah Weatherspoon (right) is on his way to New Orleans to workout for the Saints after spending last weekend in Cincinnati with the Bengals rookies.

JW would have skipped the Saints workout if he had signed with the Bengals, but that was not the case.

Andy Leavine might next visit the St. Louis Rams or Jacksonville Jaguars camps after his weekend with the Dolphins. Contrary to initial reports, AL was invited to workout for Miami, but was not signed.

No word yet from Detroit on how Armond Willis' workout went.

Still out there and not really sure why they have not received any looks are FIU's all-time leading tackler Scott Bryant and punter Carlos Munera.

When I get more info I will post it on here for you.

FIU VS. ASU SUN BELT GAME OF THE WEEK

Tied with Arkansas State at 12-9 for fifth in the Sun Belt standings, the Panthers and the Red Wolves will be featured as the Sun Belt Network's Baseball Game of the Week this Saturday afternoon.

You can catch the 4 p.m. game locally on CSS (Comcast Sports Southeast).

SUMMER SUSPENSE

Devonta Abron -- the No. 12 power forward in the nation -- will make his decision this summer instead of this week on where he will play college basketball this coming fall.

Abron (right) is being recruited by FIU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Alabama and West Virginia.

The decision will come around the same time that we find out if FIU gets an early "Christmas" present. So there could be a couple of gifts under the blue & gold tree by August.

GW Ties All-Time FIU Hit Streak; More FIU in NFL

With his double off the center field wall this afternoon in Sessions Stadium in Jacksonville, FIU third baseman Garrett Wittels tied former Panthers outfielder Anthony Hicks for the all-time FIU hitting streak at 35 consecutive games.

With the hit, GW (left, thanks Sam Lewis photo) also broke the Sun Belt Conference's all-time hitting streak record. GW had been tied with former FIU third baseman Bryan Pullin at 34 games. When Hicks played at FIU, the Panthers were not members of the Sun Belt yet.

GW looks to own the all-time FIU mark on Friday by trying to get another base knock against ULM.

I didn't give you guys a play-by-play on GW's at-bats today, because I figure I was playing with the baseball gods yesterday and sure enough GW went 0 for 3 before Tuesday's game was cancelled due to rain.

As the old saying goes: "You don't [flock] with a streak." Of course, flock is not the exact word that goes in there, but this is a family blog.

ARMOND THE LION; SPOON A BENGAL OR SAINT?

Former FIU defensive lineman Armond Willis (right, thanks Alex J. Hernandez photo) has been invited to workout with the Detroit Lions. Nice to hear as Armond showed up at FIU from Tennessee as a walk-on 3 years ago and now is going to get his chance in the NFL.

Traded e-mails with Jeremiah Weatherspoon's agent today and he says Spoon will workout for the Cincinnati Bengals this week and possibly the New Orleans Saints next week. Should Spoon sign with the Bengals, then obviously there is no need to visit the Super Bowl champions off of Bourbon Street. Thanks, Jsuarez88.

Still nothing new on Scotty Bryant or Carlos Munera, who both should get some NFL looks in my opinion.

BARK AT THE SOFTBALL PARK

The FIU softball team is hosting a "Bark at the Park" for their doubleheader against ULM on Saturday at 2 p.m. All dogs get in with their owner for $3 and water and pooper scooper will be provided.

DAZZLERS AUDITIONS

While dogs are in the stands on Saturday at the softball game, beauties will be auditioning to be part of the Golden Dazzlers squad for the 2010-11 FIU sports season. I've been invited by the Dazzlers to watch the tryouts on Saturday afternoon and will have photos for you on here next week.

Andy the Dolphin

Former FIU offensive lineman Andy Leavine (right) was invited to workout for the Miami Dolphins.

Andy at 6-5, 300 pounds certainly has the size to play in the NFL and his versatility playing different positions on the offensive line will help when he begins work at the Dolphins practice facility in Davie later this week.

Had a chance to speak with Andy on Sunday afternoon and this is what the latest Panther to get a shot in the NFL had to say:

PP: How did the process happen after the NFL Draft?

AL: The Dolphins were among some of the teams talking to me before the draft. They were asking me if I can play center. They had never seen me snap before and I told him I had played center my whole life until I got to FIU in 2006. So Miami is bringing me in on Thursday to camp. I report with all the Dolphins draftees and we'll start rookie mini-camp on Friday.

PP: It's been 4 years since you last played center at Springstead High. You played mostly left tackle and left guard at FIU. Do you think it will be a big adjustment getting in there and snapping the ball?

AL: I'm very confident in my abilities. Football is football. It's all relative. If you can play left tackle, you can play left guard and if you can play left guard, you can play center. Center is the only position I had played on the line until college. I'm grateful for the opportunity to see what I can do.

PP: What did you do this past weekend while the draft was going on?

AL: I was working out all weekend with [former FIU tight end] Eric Kirchenberg. In fact, I'm getting ready to run some 110s now with Kirch before I called you. I didn't really watch much of the draft. I thought I was snubbed coming out of high school and the same coming out of college. But I am thankful to get the opportunity now. This is my time to shine. Miami is a great organization. They have a great coaching staff and I'm looking to make the most of it.

PP: Did you get calls from the Dolphins or other teams on Saturday in the late rounds of the draft?

AL: [Former FIU Director of Football Operations and current Dolphins scout] Matt Winston was texting me at the end of the draft seeing how I was doing and asking me if other teams had contacted me. The Rams, Jaguars and a couple of other teams contacted me. Dolphins offensive line coach [Dave DeGuglielmo] told me he wanted to see me play center and see what I got.

PP: I would imagine your family is pretty happy about you getting an opportunity with the hometown NFL team. Has everyone in your family always been a Dolphins fan or did they side with the Bucs?

AL: All my family has always rooted for the Dolphins and my wife as well. My wife's father is from Fort Lauderdale and he is probably one of the biggest Dolphins fans around.

PP: Now you are the third FIU player currently in the NFL. I know FIU football has only been around 8 years heading into the 9th season this fall, but what does that mean to you that you are in select company when it comes to former Panthers to play in the NFL?

AL: There has always been a talent pool at FIU for football players. It's an honor to be among those guys to get a shot at the next level. I know Antwan (left) has made it and Chandler (right) is with the Chiefs and I want to be that next FIU player to make it. I got a lot of work to do, but I'm going to make the most of it.

  

Growling w/ El Oso

With solid 2010 seasons, you are more likely to see FIU Panthers walk across the Radio City Music Hall stage in next April's NFL Draft than you are in this year's draft. However, that's not to say that a group of former FIU players won't catch on as free agents or get invited to an NFL camp this summer.

One of those former Panthers looking to get a shot at the next level is linebacker and FIU's all-time leading tackler Scott Bryant (left, thanks AJH photo).

Checked in with El Oso and this is what he had to say about possibly joining El Monstruo at the next level.

PP: How's it going as you try to get a chance to play pro? What are you doing while the draft is going on this weekend?

SB: So far, so good when it comes to my preparation. I'm back home in Lakeland for the weekend spending time with my family watching the draft. I'll be back in Miami to graduate from FIU on April 27. I'm focused on getting on a team or getting in a mini-camp. I don't care how I get there. I just want a chance to show that I could play football at the next level.

PP: What have you heard about your draft chances and what teams have shown interest in you?

SB: My agent has told me that he's hearing I can go in the 7th round or possibly sign as a free agent. I've worked out for the Dolphins, Bucs and the Raiders and Bears have shown some interest. I'm looking to play as a linebacker at the next level, but if a team says "Can you play another position?" then I'm playing that position.

PP: Have any teams asked if you can play elsewhere or anything like that?

SB: The Dolphins have talked about me possibly playing safety. They play a 3-4 defense and at my size (5-10, 225) it would be tough to play outside linebacker in the 3-4.

PP: Have you ever played safety?

SB: No, I have not, but I've always thought about it. I'm always mistaken for a safety or a running back, but I always played middle linebacker at Lakeland High and then I played outside linebacker at FIU. I think the biggest thing in making the switch to safety would be the footwork needed to play the position and being able to react to the plays. I trained for about a month with Jeremiah Weatherspoon and he helped me out a lot. Maybe we can play together again, he was getting some interest from Miami and Seattle.

PP: Did you speak to any past players about what to expect this weekend and into next week?

SB: I got off the phone this morning with Alexander Bostic (right, making a tackle vs. Troy, thanks AJH photo) and earlier this week I spoke with Keke Bouie (left, thanks AJH photo). They both told me to keep my head right and don't get discouraged. When those guys both played they both had a never-give-up attitude and those are the kind of people I look up to. And you can see that as they both continued playing in arena football. Keke won a championship [United Indoor Football title playing for the Sioux Falls Storm in 2008] and Bostic is playing arena ball in Atlanta.

PP: What have you heard about what teams like about you?
 
SB: My agent has told me that scouts like my productivity and always being around the ball since I started playing football. They've said when they look at film if I'm not in making the tackle that I'm always in the play. As far as the mental aspects, they won't know about that until they sit down with me and ask me about the plays.

*[Last December, SB broke the all-time FIU tackles record previously held by KB]

PP: What's your mentality as far as your future if you don't get that chance?

SB: I will never be disappointed, because you never give up and you keep on going in life. Only the strongest survive and I will always know that I gave everything that I had and I never gave up. I trained and played my hardest and I did my best.

Thanks to SB for taking the time to join us here and best of luck to El Oso.

From talking with several scouts throughout last season, these are the Panthers most likely to get a look in NFL camps before the 2010 season.

Jeremiah Weatherspoon -- Although JSpoon did not have the spectacular senior season to open up some NFL eyes, the former Panthers safety has all the physical tools to play at the next level. It's just matter now for JSpoon to get a chance to show those physical tools. Some scouts said they like JSpoon's athleticism, speed and size (6-2, 225) for the position.

Carlos Munera -- As you all know CM (right, thanks AJH photo) has got a cannon for a right leg and it doesn't hurt that he's built like a linebacker (6-2, 232). Besides the long punts, CM has the ability to pin an offense deep in the red zone. The one thing mentioned by some was that CM needed to be a little more consistent.

John Ellis -- With his size and smarts, the Bus -- as he was called by his teammates -- could get a look for a team in need of fullback depth or special teams play. You remember his fake punt run last season to spark the comeback against North Texas.

PANTHER PAWSE

While FIU released a 2-deep chart today, I wouldn't read too much into it. A lot of national publications ask for a depth chart after the springtime as they prepare to write their annual college football previews instead of actually showing up to camp in August and doing some work.

Yes, there are some givens on there like Goodbye, Gaitor, Little Canada, etc. However, remember the highly-touted freshman class has yet to step foot on campus, plus training camp has not happened and the season opener is still more than 4 months away. How about a 12 noon start against Rutgers on Sept. 11? Could be, to see if the Scarlet Knights can stand the heat down here.

Anyway, those of you on the ledge come down, relax and have a cold one.

The GPP Worldwide Readership keeps on adding new friends around the globe. A reader from Bogota, Colombia [Shakira's native country] says FIU baseball should finish 11-4 or better in the final 15 conference games. As of this writing, the Panthers defeated Western Kentucky 7-6 in 10 innings late Friday.

Get out your pencils and scorecard for an update:

GPP WORLDWIDE READERSHIP SCORECARD:

The GPP is now read in: 45 STATES: ALA, ARI, ARK, CA, COL, CT, DEL, FLA, GA, HI, IDAHO, IL, IND, IOWA, KAN, KY, LA, MASS, MD, MICH, MIN, MISS, MISSOURI, MON, NEB, NEV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, ORE, PA, RI, SC, TEN, TEX, UTAH, VA, VER, WASH, WEST VA., WISC.

41 COUNTRIES: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Peru, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Venezuela, Vietnam.

1 DISTRICT: Washington, D.C. and 1 TERRITORY: Puerto Rico.

 

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Golden Dazzlers on Super Bowl TV

The lovely Golden Dazzlers will be on national TV this Thursday morning when they perform on the CBS Early Show (locally on Channel 4) as part of the week's Super Bowl festivities.

The show begins at 7 a.m., but I don't have an exact time when the Dazzlers will be on. So tape it, if you can't see FIU's finest live.

The ladies will be performing from the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. There is a possibility that the Dazzlers could also be part of the Super Bowl halftime show. When I know more info, will pass it on to you.

In case you missed it, I posted earlier tonight the latest recruiting prowl preview on the running backs. It is below this post. On that post, you can vote on who you think will win the starting running back job for the Panthers this season. 

The College Football All-Star Challenge is tommorrow [Monday] at 1 p.m. at FIU Stadium. Admission is free. Expected to participate are: quarterbacks Tony Pike (Cincinnati), Dan Lefevour (Central Michigan), Javon Snead (Ole Miss), wide receivers Jordan Shipley (Texas), Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati), Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), kickers Brett Swensen (Michigan State), Hunter Lawrence (Texas) and Josh Shene (Ole Miss) and a few other players. The Challenge will air on ESPN this Friday, Feb. 5 at 9 p.m.

I was going to go to the All-Star Challenge, but I will be busy with the Miami Heat and Willis Wright on Monday. No, Willis is not taking over for injured Heat forward Michael Beasley, those are just two different things I'll be working on Monday.

Big Starling To FIU

Add another defensive lineman to the FIU recruiting tally, Thatcher Starling from Hutchinson (Kan.) JUCO said he wants to be a Golden Panther.

Starling is not a major household appliance, as cabin001 thought, but he is built like one at 6-4,  250. TS will enter FIU as a junior and after getting in the FIU weight room this summer don't be surprised to see him starting next fall when the Golden Panthers open in Alabama. Could envision Jonathan Jackson and/or Kambriel Willis bringing the speed from one side and Starling (right in blue) bringing the muscle from the other side of the D. Or he could bulk up enough to become a D-Tackle, which is a position FIU needs to fill.

GOLDEN PANTHER PAWSE

In the early voting results from our last poll regarding FIU's 2008 Defensive MVP, you good people have DB Anthony Gaitor leading by a wide margin (70%) thus far. Keep voting, poll remains open.

Although today is Festivus, and a Happy Festivus to all, we got an FIU Christmas shopping question at the end of this Pawse. Speaking of Christmas, the GPP's gift to you will be posted at some point on Wednesday, Christmas Eve.

To your questions:

Ultimate FIU Fan: Pete, any chance Robert Mitchell gets drafted? Any senior have any hopes for this year's draft? Will MC have a FIU / NFL day for scouts? I'll be there for the Dec 27th game for my prize. Any players coming back from injury list for that game?

GPP: RM has a shot to get drafted late, if not, he would likely get a free agent shot with some team.  Other than RM, don't think any other FIU senior gets drafted. Yes, MC has a FIU/NFL Day.

As far as FIU hoops injuries, no player is expected back on the 27th, but Alex Galindo is supposedly close to returning in January. Will have your 2nd place prize from our WIN A GPP BLOG contest on the 27th.

FIUJM: Thanks on the 2 FIU hoops articles.

fiufan751: Are you getting positive vibes from Coach Thomas?

GPP: Yes, I am. FIU baseball can have a similar turnaround like the Golden Panthers football team. Turtle Thomas (left) signed several pitchers and has 4 left-handers, which he did not have any last season. And regarding those who jumped on TT for last season, remember MC went 1-11 in his first season. It takes some adjustments from the players when there is a change in head coaches. Plus, what the former head coach thought of as talent, may not be what the new head coach thinks of as talent. FIU football and baseball previously had 2 head coaches that recruiting was NOT their strength. FIU football and baseball now has 2 head coaches that recruiting IS their strength. TT must be doing something right when this year's recruiting class is ranked No. 15 in the U.S.A. Only the Gators were ranked higher among Florida baseball schools. TT will be on the GPP in January to talk FIU baseball.

CJ: UM DB Demarcus Van Dyke's little brother David Van Dyke is being recruited by both UM and FIU according to Rivals with only FIU offering.. what's your all take on that?

GPP: Not sure about the recruiting situation in Coral Gables, but FIU could always use 4.4 speed and 6-0 at DB. Plus, a 3.4 GPA doesn't hurt either. Like I wrote in the DB recruiting blog, FIU will always need as many DBs as possible facing spread offenses about 6 to 7 times a season. DVD's speed is just 0.1 slower than Goodbye.

In our last poll question about FIU's Defensive MVP, we reached another part of the world. The GPP is now read in Zagreb, Croatia. A GPP reader there voted for Anthony Gaitor as FIU's D MVP. Here's the updated scorecard:

GPP WORLDWIDE READERSHIP SCORECARD:

The GPP is read in: 37 STATES: ALA, ARI, ARK, CA, COL, FLA, GA, HI, IDAHO, IL, IND, IOWA, KAN, KY, LA, MASS, MD, MICH, MIN, MISS, MO, NEB, NEV, NC, NJ, NY, OH, ORE, PA, RI, SC, TEN, TEX, VA, VER, WASH, WISC.

23 COUNTRIES: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Venezuela, Vietnam.

1 DISTRICT: Washington, D.C. and 1 TERRITORY: Puerto Rico.

Time to go last-minute shopping for the Golden Panthers:

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