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Signed to Dolphins as a fullback.

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The FIU baseball team (25-27, 13-14) picked up a key 7-1 victory over the UALR Trojans on Sunday to clinch the weekend series. The Panthers used a strong starting outing from freshmanAlex Seibold[/B] and a 10-hit performance to seal the win.
Seibold tallied a second-straight quality start with a career-best seven innings and eight strikeouts, to go along with one earned run and seven hits. Junior Aramis Garcia[/B] capped off a strong weekend with a 2-for-4 performance with a home run, double and three RBI. Junior Josh Anderson[/B] added two doubles and two RBI. Junior Albert Cardenas[/B]recorded his fourth save of the season.
FIU struck first with a two-spot in the third inning. Sophomore Oscar Aguirre[/B] started things off with a leadoff walk. Following two-straight outs, junior Zach Sweety[/B] moved Aguirre to third to set things up for Garcia. The sophomore scorched a double down the left field line into the corner to score Aguirre and Sweety. FIU had a 2-0 lead after three.
Seibold, who faced the minimum in the first and four in the second, got a quick two outs in the third inning. However, the next three batters went on to reach base on a single, a hit by pitch and a walk to load the bases with two outs. The freshman pitcher escaped the jam though, forcing a big 3-1 putout to end the Trojan scare.
UALR cut the FIU lead in half in the fifth. Bryson Thionnet led things off with a double to right centerfield and advanced to third on a wild pitch with no outs. After Seibold punched out the next two batters, UALR's Austin Pfeiffer hit a slow-roller to third for an infield hit to score Thionnet. FIU had a 2-1 lead.
The Panthers answered in the sixth and seventh. With two outs and nobody on in the sixth, seniors Nathan Burns[/B]and T.J. Shantz[/B] each singled, allowing Aguirre to rip an RBI double to the right centerfield gap to give FIU a 3-1 advantage. Then in the seventh, Garcia drilled his 11th homer of the season to right to up the Panther lead to 4-1.
In the eighth, Seibold forced a pop up in the sun that resulted in a double. Cardenas came in to relieve the freshman and shut the Trojans down in order. He allowed a double in the ninth, but put another zero on the board to earn his fourth save in 2013.
FIU put the game out of reach in the ninth. Junior Tyler Hibbert[/B] drew a leadoff walk and scored later in the inning on a one-out RBI single by freshman Edwin Rios[/B]. Anderson delivered the big blow in the inning with a two-run double to up the lead to 7-1.
The Panthers are back in action this upcoming Thursday as they host upstate rival FAU in the final three-game Sun Belt series for this season. Thursday's first pitch is slated for 6 p.m. ET.

Juwan Dowels is a must get. Great speed.

Interview now lead story...

Jason Brooks interview is now posted..

Needs to have a productive season this year.

Visits, offers, and more ... now lead story.

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Signees and Recruit share thoughts... Now lead story..

Speaks about his path to FIU...

The Defensive Coordinator at Miami Northwestern High School spoke very highly about FIU.. Interview will be posted soon.

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The pipeline of Golden Panther's to the NFL continues as former FIU defensive back Junior Mertile signed as an undrafted free agent with New York Giants.

Junior Mertile finished his career with 27 career starts, while appearing in nearly every game the past three seasons. He began his FIU career as a wide receiver and had an immediate impact as a freshman, finishing third on the team in receptions. Made the transition to cornerback as a sophomore in 2010 and was in the starter's rotation ever since. He led the team in interceptions in 2010.

2012 (Redshirt Senior): Appeared in all 12 games during his final campaign, while starting four at cornerback…started against Akron, WKU, South Alabama and FAU…finished his career with 27 career starts…finished the season with 16 tackles, including nine solo stops…also had three pass break-ups…began the season with four tackles at Duke (9/1)…had another four tackle effort, all solo, against WKU (10/27)…had three stops in the rivalry win at FAU (11/16).


Below is Mertile's Bio on FIU Sports:


2011 (Redshirt Junior): Played in all 13 games, recording five starts...five starts came in consecutive games from UCF (9/17) through Arkansas State (10/18)...had 27 tackles, including 21 solo stops...had one tackle for loss...posted four tackles (all solo) in the season-opener vs. North Texas (9/1)...had another four tackle performance vs. UCF (9/17)...had a season-high five tackles (all solo) vs. Louisiana (9/24)...had a 22-yard interception return at Arkansas State (10/18)...lone other multiple tackle game came at Middle Tennessee (3 tackles) on 11/26.


2010 (Redshirt Sophomore): Led FIU in interceptions with three, including one returned for touchdown, despite playing just four games on defense…started the year out as a wide receiver and made the transition to cornerback before FIU's game at Louisiana (11/20)…against the Ragin' Cajuns, made one tackle and had his first-career interception, which he returned 26 yards for a score…made four tackles against Arkansas State (11/27)…had a season-best five tackles, and a crucial interception against Middle Tennessee (12/4)…tied his season-high with five tackles, including three unassisted, and had one interception and one tackle for loss against Toledo (12/26) in FIU's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl victory.


2009 (Sophomore): Suffered a season-ending injury and redshirted.


2008 (Freshman): Played in all 12 games...ranked third on the team with 26 receptions, 245 yards and two touchdowns…was on the receiving end of the game winning 38-yard pass from fellow freshman T.Y. Hilton against Arkansas State…caught a season-high four passes on four different occasions…made his collegiate debut at Kansas (8/30), catching two passes for 14 yards…vs. USF (9/20) caught two passes for 22 yards…at Toledo (9/27) had one reception for five yards…at North Texas (10/4) hauled in one pass for 11 yards…vs. Middle Tennessee (10/11) had four receptions for 41 yards...at Troy (10/18) caught three passes for 10 yards and his first collegiate touchdown…at FAU (11/29) caught four passes for 44 yards…in the season finale against Western Kentucky (12/6) caught four passes for a season-best 62 yards.


North Miami: Miami Herald First-Team All-County pick as an athlete...Florida Sports Writers Association Third-Team All-State...selected as team captain during his senior season...played in the Nike Dade vs. Broward All-Star Game...timed at 4.5 in the 40...can play multiple positions on offense and in the return game...recorded 65 tackles and two interceptions on defense and 761 rushing yards with eight touchdowns on offense as a senior...also recruited by Kent State and Akron.


Personal: Born October 26, 1989...son of Tresmette Mertile...A Sports Management major.

Two additional former FIU football players have signed as undrafted free agents and will join the NFL. OL Caylin Hauptman[/B] signed with the Cleveland Browns and DB Jose Cheeseborough[/B] signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

Below are each players Bio's.

Caylin Hauptman[/B]

STRENGTHS:

Tough lineman with a thick overall build. Solid pass pro set, has good bend and lateral agility, and can widen and anchor to stay out of the quarterback's way. Uses powerful arms to control ends trying to bull him off the edge, can reset quickly if his man tries to move him up top. Possesses foot quickness to reach linebackers, block down on five-techs and bounce out to cut off rushing linebackers. Will extend his arms and keep his feet moving to sustain blocks through the whistle to prevent backside pursuit or seal the end of the line.

BOTTOM LINE:

The junior college transfer chose FIU over more-recognized programs to make his mark, and the 2011 second-team All-Sun Belt pick has certainly accomplished that. The strength and agility he's shown as a blind-side starter for the Panthers gives him a chance to make it at the next level.

Jose Cheeseborough[/B]

2012 (Redshirt Senior): Earned All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention in 2012…received first-team preseason All-Sun Belt Conference honors from Athlon's and Blue Ribbon, while Phil Steele placed him on the third team...has started every game at FIU since the 2010 season, 38 straight games…tied for the second-most career starts at cornerback at FIU…in 2012, has 54 tackles, one interception, five pass break-ups, one quarterback hurry and a recovered fumble…serves as one the team captains for 2012.

2011 (Redshirt Junior): Started all 13 games...totaled 59 tackles, three tackles for loss for 31 yards, two sacks for 25 yards and three passes broken up...tackle total, which was fifth on the team, was good for 43rd in the Sun Belt...helped the defensive secondary become of the nation's top units, resulting in the No. 13 pass efficiency defense, No. 14 scoring defense, No. 22 in red zone efficiency defense and No. 30 total defense...had a season-high eight tackles vs. Troy (10/25)...recorded seven tackles three times: vs. UCF (9/17), at ULM (11/19) and at Middle Tennessee (11/26)…had sacks in consecutive games at Arkansas State (10/18) and vs. Troy (10/25).

2010 (Redshirt Sophomore): Started all 13 games...was one of the six players on the team to have started every game...recorded 49 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and one forced fumble…recovered a fumble and returned it four yards in the season opener against Rutgers (9/11)…had four tackles against Texas A&M (9/18)…made three stops, two of them unassisted, at Maryland (9/25)…recorded four tackles, three unassisted at Pittsburgh (10/2)…had a season-best eight tackles in FIU's win over WKU (10/9)…credited with three stops at North Texas (10/16)…made seven tackles, including half a stop for loss, at FAU (10/30)…had five tackles, all unassisted against ULM (11/6)…made a season-best seven unassisted tackles in FIU's victory at Troy (11/13)…made two tackles, including one sack, at Louisiana (11/20)…had one tackle against Arkansas State (11/27)…made two stops in the regular season finale against Middle Tennessee (12/4)…recorded three tackles in FIU's victory over Toledo in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (12/26).

Now lead story with quotes from Tourek, Pete Garcia, and Anthony Gaitor..

Quotes from Pete Garcia, Anthony Gaitor, Antwan Barnes, etc...Now lead story...

The Anthony Evans interview that was set up for this week was cancelled due to his traveling. PantherRage.com is currently confirming a date and time for next week.

Please stay tuned...

FIU Head Coach Anthony Evans announced on Tuesday the signing of Daniel Robinson to a national letter of intent (NLI) and will join the program starting next season.

"Daniel is a tremendous addition to our program," Evans said. "He's a versatile post player and will bring a lot to our team. He wants to win and is someone who works very hard to be successful. Not only is he an impressive basketball player, he's an even better person. He's also an outstanding young man, who will represent this University, proudly."

Robinson, a 6-foot-10 power forward, spent the 2012-2013 season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Prior to his time at IMG, Robinson was a Second-Team, All-VISAA selection at Atlantic Shores Christian in Chesapeake, Va., where he averaged 9.3 points-per-game, 8.4 rebounds-per-game and 3.3 blocks-per-contest. During his junior year with the Seahawks, Robinson grabbed 6.0 boards-per-game and averaged a block per game.

The spring signing period continues through May 15.

The 2012 FIU football team looks to have its place in school history during the upcoming NFL Draft with one of its own projected to be the program's highest player selected, in addition to possibility of multiple Panthers being selected over the three-day event.



The 2013 NFL Draft, live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, returns to primetime, with the first round taking place Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Rounds 4-7 will be held Sat., April 27 at 12 p.m. ET. Both ESPN and the NFL Network will have all three rounds of the Draft live.



Safety Johnathan Cyprien is widely projected to be selected at a position that would place him as the highest drafted player in program history, either the second half of the first round or top of the second round.



Former FIU All-American T.Y. Hilton presently stands as FIU's highest NFL Draft pick, with his third round (92nd overall) selection in the 2012 Draft.



FIU football once again has a chance to see multiple players selected in the same draft with defensive lineman, projected at linebacker, Tourek Williams and offensive tackle Caylin Hauptmann also listed among the top prospects.

The 2007 NFL Draft stands as the only other time multiple FIU players were selected in the same year. In 2007, Antwan Barnes (Baltimore, fourth round, 134th overall) and Chandler Williams (Minnesota, seventh round, 233rd overall) both made history as the first pair of Panthers to get drafted. The lone other Panther drafted was Anthony Gaitor by Tampa Bay in 2011 with the 222nd overall selection in the seventh round.



Several mock drafts have Cyprien listed among the first round potentials: The NFL Network's Gil Brandt (No. 29 to New England), Josh Norris (No. 21 to Cincinnati) and Daniel Jeremiah (No. 26 to Green Bay); CBSSports.com's Rob Rang (No. 31 to San Francisco), Pete Prisco (No. 21 to Cincinnati), Clark Judge (No. 32 to Baltimore) and Will Brinson (No. 31 to San Francisco).

The free agent wire will also be active for former FIU standouts as over 20 seniors graduated following the 2012 season and had impressive Pro Day workouts in front of 32 professional franchises this past March, including Tevin Blanchard, Josh Brisk, Rupert Bryan, Jr., Jose Cheeseborough, Kenneth Dillard, Joshua Forney, Winston Fraser, Chuck Grace, Jack Griffin, Jeremiah Harden, Jordan Hunt, David Istanich, Mike Jean-Louis, Paul Lungren, Mitch MacClugage, Darian Mallary, Andrew Mattox, Junior Mertile, Andre Pound, Giancarlo Revilla, Shae Smith, Wayne Times and Jacob Younger.




Johnathan Cyprien had a brilliant four-year career at FIU, establishing several new defensive records that will stand for some time. He concluded his college career as FIU's school record holder for total tackles (365) [which also rank in the top four all-time in Sun Belt Conference history], solo tackles (213) and fumbles forced (six). He also ranks among the all-time best for pass breakups (second, 22), interceptions (fourth, 7), assisted tackles (fourth, 152) and fumbles recovered (fourth, 3).

Aside from statistics, Cyprien's name also garnered several honors and accolades. He was an All-Sun Belt Conference First-Team selection in 2012, the fourth league honor of his FIU career. Cyprien was named to the second-team his sophomore and junior seasons and honorable mention as a freshman. He was also tapped a First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference pick by the Phil Steele publication.



Widely-regarded as the top safety to ever play at FIU, Cyprien's senior season was also impressive once again leading the team in tackles with 93, including FIU highs in solo stops (54) and assisted tackles (39). He also recorded a team-high four interceptions, along with five pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. As durable as they come, he started every game the past three seasons (2010-12), and has started the most career games at safety at FIU (45) - the third-most amount of starts at any position for a Panther.




Tourek Williams is arguably one of the top defensive ends ever to play at FIU. The three-time All-Sun Belt Conference honoree and 2012 team captain started the most career games ever by a defensive lineman at FIU (39). In 2012, Williams led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, going along with a career-high 46 total tackles (including 29 solo), two pass break-ups and three quarterback hurries. He finished his FIU tenure second to former Panther and current NFL San Diego Charger Antwan Barnes in career tackles for loss (45.5), yardage from TFLs (224), sacks (18.0) and yardage from sacks (155).

Following the 2012 season, despite a 3-9 team mark, league coaches chose Williams onto the All-SBC Conference First-Team. The year-ending accolade was his third straight, after second-team recognition following the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Recognition was plenty for Williams surrounding his senior season in Miami, after beginning the campaign being voted the SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and media, along with a spot on the 2012 Preseason All-SBC Team. He earned unanimous preseason All-SBC First-Team honors from Athlon's, Blue Ribbon, CBSSports.com, Lindy's and Phil Steele, as well as Lindy's No. 1 NFL talent in the Sun Belt Conference.




Caylin Hauptmann had a standout 2012 season along the FIU offensive line earning All-Sun Belt Conference second-team honors from the league's head coaches, as well as the Phil Steele publication. Hauptmann finished his three-year FIU career starting every game played for the Panthers (37 total games). He helped pave the way for the FIU offense to have four 100-yard rushers, three 300-yard passing efforts and six 100-yard receivers in a season where the primary running back and quarterback were out for multiple games with injury. To start the year, Hauptmann was named to the Outland Trophy 2012 Preseason Watch List, and was a unanimous all-conference selection from the league's head coaches and multiple college football print publications and websites.

A graduate of Beverly Hills High School, the California native began his collegiate career playing at nearby College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. After one season he transferred to FIU where he became an immediate starter on the offensive line. Phil Steele named him to his postseason all-conference team after both his sophomore and junior seasons, while making his debut on the official All-Sun Belt team as a second-team pick in 2011.

VIA FIUSports

Ben Jones likes FIU but has Wisconsin as his current leader.

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