MIAMI, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2002) -- Florida International University
Head Football Coach Don Strock announced that 21 high school athletes
had accepted grant-in-aid to attend the Miami-based university
this fall. The second year of recruiting will get the program
ready for the fall.
"The players are sick of tackling each other" said Strock.
"We are ready for the year to start and excited about the
incoming players."
The recruits range from all over the state of Florida, including
highly touted quarterback Jaime Burke from Cardinal Mooney in
Sarasota. Burke has accumulated numerous awards, but his statistics
speak out for themselves. He is the only player to throw for over
500 yards in a game ever in Florida and led the state in touchdown
passes with 34.
"I am getting choked up with this one," said a jubilant
Strock. "I would like to thank Steve Spurrier for taking
the job with the Washington Redskins. Burke was a little undecided
and when Steve left, he went with his gut feeling and came down
to FIU. He is a great addition to our program."
The first name Strock mentioned was defensive back Gentry Jackson,
out of Spruce Creek High in Port Orange, FL. Jackson participated
in the Funcoast Football Classic and was named first-team all
state as a utility back. "Gentry is a great athlete, who
played quarterback and many other positions in high school. We
will use him defensively."
Strock's main emphasis was on the offensive line, where he signed
eight of the 21 players. The one that stands out is Patrick Mullen,
at 6-8 and 320, from Dwyer High School in Palm Beach. Mullen is
another first-team all state and runs a 5.2 40-yard dash.
"We went heavy on the offensive line and got a couple of
surprises at the end. They will be raw, but bigger. You can't
go into the season with six or seven lineman and expect five to
start. We needed ten who can step up and play."
The team will need the newcomers to compete when the season starts
and the coaching staff looked at that when the recruiting season
started.
"Our coaches talked to the high school coaches to make sure
the players were able to step up to the next level right away,"
said Strock. "We expect them to compete."
| Terrance Allen |
DL |
6-4 |
270 |
Merritt Island/Merritt Island HS
|
| Randy Arnold |
DB |
5-10 |
175 |
Tallahassee/FAMU HS |
| Jamie Burke |
QB |
6-4 |
215 |
Sarasota/Cardinal Mooney |
| Timothy Dierks |
OL |
6-4 |
250 |
Clewiston/Clewiston HS |
| Glen Fox |
OL |
6-6 |
270 |
Ft. Myers/Ft. Myers HS |
| Titorian Freeman |
WR |
6-0 |
185 |
Belle Glade/Belle Glade HS |
| Isaac Gamble |
DL |
6-4 |
275 |
Kissimmee/Poinciana HS |
| Bill Grant |
RB |
5-11 |
185 |
Belle Glade/Belle Glade HS |
| Josh Gravitt |
OL |
6-3 |
273 |
Tampa Bay/Hillsborough HS |
| Brandon Higdon |
DL |
6-3 |
295 |
Fernandia Beach/Fernandia Beach
HS |
| Gentry Jackson |
DB |
5-11 |
175 |
Port Orange/Spruce Creek HS |
| Clint Janis-Smith |
DB |
6-2 |
190 |
Tampa Bay/Thomas Jefferson HS |
| Dravien Jones |
RB |
6-2 |
222 |
Sebastian/Sebastian HS |
| Harold Leath |
WR |
6-3 |
190 |
Tampa Bay/West Virginia |
| Ed Leverenz |
TE |
6-4 |
242 |
Sanford/Seminole HS |
| Patrick Mullen |
OL |
6-8 |
320 |
Palm Beach/Dwyer HS |
| D.J. O'Neal |
OL |
6-4 |
255 |
Clewiston/Clewiston HS |
| Josh Padrick |
QB |
6-3 |
190 |
Merritt Island/Merritt Island HS
|
| John Shanahan |
OL |
6-6 |
305 |
Brandon/Brandon HS |
| Ronny Silva |
OL |
6-3 |
320 |
Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms School |
| Joe Thomson |
OL |
6-4 |
270 |
Orlando/Dr. Phillips HS |
MEDIA CONTACT: Aileen Izquierdo, 305-348-6999
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