New Stadium. New Game. New Attitude. You In? It’s not just a marketing slogan for FIU football in 2008. The Golden Panthers open a new on-campus stadium Sept. 20 against South Florida with a re-vamped offense under new offensive coordinator Bill Legg and without the burden of a losing streak weighing on the program’s shoulders.
It is often said that collegiate student-athletes make the biggest jump in progress from year one to year two, and that year of experience is expected to do wonders for Mario Cristobal’s team in 2008. Last season saw the now second-year head coach play with a team composed of 77 percent first- or second-year players. Those players now enter 2008 as seasoned veterans who are comfortable in the schemes and systems introduced to them last year. Ardent work in the weight room under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Roderick Moore has also produced noticeable differences in the physical make-up of the team.
Cristobal and defensive coordinator Phil Galiano have received major reinforcements in the secondary with the return of safeties Marshall McDuffie and Jeremiah Weatherspoon, who might be the team’s best all-around player. The defense also returns all its starting linebackers from last season, spearheaded by junior Scott Bryant.
Glimpses of the diversity in Legg’s offense showed through in FIU’s spring game. Legg has brought a different level of multiplicity to the offense from Purdue, offering an exponential number of plays from a variety of offensive looks. The offense returns all but two starters from a year ago and now has depth at quarterback in Wayne Younger and Paul McCall, after beginning last season without a signal caller with starting experience.
FIU’s biggest question mark in 2007 was answered by the emergence of dual-threat Wayne Younger and Paul McCall, who shined in the Golden Panthers’ last two games of the season and the spring game. Younger, a sophomore who set quarterback rushing records and finished second on the team with 536 yards on the ground in 2007, returns with 11 games of starting experience under his belt. He also threw for 1,357 yards and nine touchdowns but spent the spring rehabilitating from injury.
McCall was stellar coming off the bench last November against FAU and led FIU to its only win of the season in his first collegiate start against North Texas in the season finale. The junior completed 34-of-54 passes for 409 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in roughly six quarters of play in those two games. He has picked up Legg’s new offense quickly and showed some running potential out of the pocket in the spring.
But Cristobal has made it clear that no position is a lock. Sophomore Colt Anderson saw limited action last year as a true freshman and progressed in the spring alongside redshirt freshman Darold Hughes. Hughes, showed perhaps the most improvement last year as the team’s scout quarterback.
FIU’s backfield is loaded with starting experience and future potential in 2008. Senior’s A’mod Ned and Julian Reams have a combined 608 carries and 2,322 yards between them while sharing feature-back status the last three seasons.
Ned led the team with 581 yards rushing last year, including a season-high 152-yard effort against Louisiana-Lafayette last November. He averaged nearly six yards per carry and totaled 294 yards in the last three games of the season, producing more than half his rushing total for the season.
Senior Julian Reams complements Ned in the backfield and produced a workman-like 274 yards on 82 carries in 2007. Junior Daunte Owens, hampered by injuries in 2007, is back healthy and is the most-explosive back on the team.
FIU’s receiving corps is easily the deepest unit on the offensive side of the ball. Eight of the 11 receivers who caught passes in 2007 return in 2008, including sophomore receptions leader Jason Frierson (21-190) and sophomore yardage leader Greg Ellingson (19-304, 2 TDs). While Ellingson and sophomore Marquis Rolle (2-41, 1 TDs) could have breakout seasons, junior Jeremy Dickens may be the team’s go-to receiver.
Dickens, who battled injury throughout 2007, still managed a team-best three touchdown grabs on 16 receptions for 218 yards (13.6 average) in only seven games. Dickens, penciled in as the starter in the slot, may be the best catch-and-run receiver on the team and had an outstanding showing in the spring game, hauling in a 65-yard touchdown catch.
Junior Elliott Dix is also expected to start at wide receiver and caught 14 passes for 200 yards (14.3 avg.), playing in all 12 games last season. Sophomores James Rucker (12-100, 1 TD) and Kendall Berry (8-83) and junior Reggie Thompson (2-27, 1 TD) are also expected to contribute more in 2008.
The tight end position will be anchored by returning senior starter Eric Kirchenberg. At 6-5, 250, Kirchenberg has the size and athleticism to become an integral part of the offense. Despite missing spring practice with injury, Kirchenberg is the front-runner to start and caught five passes for 49 yards in 2007.
Three of the five starters from a year ago return on the offensive line, led by junior guard Joe Alajajian and sophomore center and Rimington Trophy nominee Brad Serini. Alajajian, who started all 12 games last season, including 11 at right guard, may be FIU’s most improved linemen. Serini started all 12 games at center as a true freshman in 2007.
Also returning is tackle Andy Leavine, who has started 22 of the 24 games FIU has played in the last two seasons. Senior Dustin Gibson is expected to slide into the guard spot alongside Leavine after playing in six games last season. Gibson is no stranger to the starting lineup, starting 12 games at right tackle as a sophomore. Junior newcomer Mario Caraballo is expected to start at right tackle to round out FIU’s starting five.
A year in the weight room for returners and some successful recruiting are expected to bolster the defensive line in 2008. Returning starters, seniors Jarvis Penerton (21 tackles, 1 sack) and Daniel Chacreton (16 tackles, 3 TFL) will shore up the middle of the defensive front, with senior Jonathan Betancourt (25 tackles, 5 TFL) and junior Justin West also competing for time in the middle.
Sophomore defensive end Artis Warthen played in nine games last season, but was extremely limited due to injuries. Laden with potential, Warthen is expected to play a much larger role this season. Opposite of Warthen is sophomore Cody Pellicer, who played in all 12 games last season as a true freshman, totaling seven tackles and two sacks. Senior Reggie Jones will provide plenty of experience with nearly 30 collegiate games and recorded five tackles for loss and three sacks in 2007. The coaching staff also has high hopes for redshirt freshman defensive end Ricky Booker. Booker was explosive as a member of the scout team in 2007 and used his great quickness and speed to stand out in spring practice.
A solid linebacker corps, led by SBC Honorable Mention pick junior Scott Bryant. Bryant led the team with 91 tackles as a sophomore and is joined by 2007 starters, junior Mannie Wellington (57 tackles) and senior Ryan Martinez (53 tackles).
The group might be the most competitive unit on the defense, with a slew of underclassmen in the mix for a starting spot or playing time. Junior Matt Garris, a special teams stalwart in 2007, is expected to increase his contribution this season, as is sophomore Jarvis Wilson. Sophomore Toronto Smith played in all 12 games as a true freshman last year and led the team with seven tackles for loss and an interception. Junior Michael Dominguez ranked second on the team with 66 tackles, including 19 against Lousiana-Lafayette.
The secondary may see the biggest overall improvement on defense thanks to a year of experience, the return of two veterans after a 2007 absence and some highly-touted recruits. Anchoring the secondary are safeties are juniors Jeremiah Weatherspoon and Ashlyn Parker. Weatherspoon, who missed last season due to academic issues that have now been reconciled, could be the team’s best overall player. He started all 12 games in 2006 and recorded 50 tackles and two interceptions and has the size (6-1, 221) to be a heavy-hitting presence downfield. Parker, who converted from wide receiver to safety last preseason, thrived in his role on defense. He became arguably FIU’s biggest hitter on the way to 56 tackles, two forced fumbles and a SBC Honorable Mention selection.
Senior Marshall McDuffie, who rejoins the team after not playing in 2007, will provide added size in the defensive backfield. At 6-0, 214 pounds, McDuffie also has good speed and 23 games of college experience to help direct the defense. Sophomore Kreg Brown was a pleasant surprise in 2007, recording 15 tackles and two tackles for loss as a true freshman, playing cornerback and safety.
While replacing Lionell Singleton as the team’s top cornerback is no easy task, sophomore Anthony Gaitor seems up to the challenge. Gaitor ranked second in the secondary with 56 tackles and led the team with two interceptions as a true freshman last year, starting 11 games. Opposite Gaitor is junior corner Dezeriah Johnson, who continually improved throughout the 12 games he played in last season. Johnson recorded 47 tackles and broke up three passes as a sophomore. Senior Robert Mitchell will also provide depth at the corner position and was one of FIU’s most-aggressive defensive backs last season with four tackles for loss. Sophomore Devin Parrish is also expected to contribute more after missing seven games due to injury last year.
