The Florida International Golden Panthers represent the Florida International University in the NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision and plays under the Sun Belt Conference. Florida International's football program got underway in 2002, with the Golden Panthers emerging victorious in its first assignment over Saint Peter's, 27-3. The team went to end its maiden year with a 5-win, 6-loss record. The following year, the Panthers could only afford to win a pair of games and losing 10, including the team's second straight loss to rival Florida Atlantic. The following year was no better as, eventhough the Panthers produced a better winning percentage, it was a losing season nonetheless (3-7). In 2005, the team improved to five wins, including three successive victories to end the season, highlighted by the Panthers' first ever victory over rivals FAU Owls, 52-6. The 2006 season turned out to be the most forgettable year for the FIU Golden Panthers to date. After a heartbreaking season opener loss to Middle Tennessee State (6-7 final score) and another 1-point loss to South Florida (20-21), the Panthers never recovered as they lost all of their assignments. The lowlight of this winless season came in October 14, when the FIU Golden Panthers and the Miami Hurricanes met for the first time. The meeting was anything but friendly however when nine minutes into the second half a brawl broke out involving players from both schools. In the end, many players were penalized for their actions (13 for Miami and 18 for FIU). The Panthers would go on and lose the game via shut-out, 0-35. Consequently, two players were also kicked off the FIU team.
In its five years of NCAA college football, the FIU Golden Panthers have compiled only 15 wins in 56 games for a 26.8% winning mark. Starting in 2007, Coach Mario Cristobal will also take over from Don Strock as the head football coach. Aside from the Miami Hurricanes, FIU considers the FAU Owls as its rivals with the two team meeting each other annually for a rivalry game called the Shula Bowl, where the winner receives The Shula Award. The Owls currently leads the all-time series four games to one.
FIU Golden Panthers 2008 Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown (Prev. School)
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| 1 | Marquis Rolle | WR | 6-2 | 195 | So. | Orlando, Fla. (Olympia)
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| 2 | Junior Mertile | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (North Miami High School)
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| 3 | A'mod Ned | RB | 5-9 | 186 | Sr. | Miami, Fla. (Northeast High School)
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| 4 | T.Y. Hilton | WR | 5-10 | 175 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Miami Springs High School)
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| 5 | Jeremy Dickens | WR | 5-10 | 185 | Jr. | Marianna, Fla. (Cottondale High School)
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| 6 | Jeremiah Weatherspoon | DB | 6-2 | 213 | Jr. | Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida High School)
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| 7 | Anthony Gaitor | DB | 5-10 | 178 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Northwestern High School)
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| 7 | Darold Hughes | QB | 6-4 | 183 | RFr. | Marrero, La. (Archbishop Shaw High School)
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| 8 | Daunte Owens | RB | 5-10 | 198 | Jr. | St. Augustine, Fla. (Nease High School)
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| 9 | Reggie Thompson | WR | 6-0 | 189 | Jr. | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Northeast High School)
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| 10 | Jonathan Jackson | DE | 6-3 | 235 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington H.S.)
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| 11 | Ashlyn Parker | DB | 6-0 | 207 | Jr. | Port St. Joe, Fla. (Port St. Joe High School)
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| 12 | Paul McCall | QB | 6-1 | 198 | Jr. | Hollywood, Fla. (Hollywood Hills High School)
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| 13 | Troy Dannehower | QB | 6-1 | 220 | Fr. | Ormond Beach, Fla. (Seabreeze High School)
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| 13 | Toronto Smith | LB | 5-10 | 220 | So. | Tallahassee, Fla. (Rickards High School)
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| 14 | Wayne Younger | QB | 6-3 | 180 | So. | Cocoa, Fla. (Cocoa High School)
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| 15 | Colt Anderson | QB | 6-4 | 205 | So. | Omaha, Neb. (Westside High School)
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| 16 | Franklin Brown | DB | 6-2 | 190 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington H.S.)
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| 16 | James Rucker | WR | 6-0 | 194 | So. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Englewood High School)
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| 17 | Robert Mitchell | DB | 6-0 | 199 | Sr. | Melbourne, Fla. (Palm Bay High School)
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| 18 | Kreg Brown | DB | 5-10 | 188 | So. | St. Petersburg, Fla. (Admiral Farragut Academy)
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| 19 | Kendall Berry | WR | 6-0 | 188 | So. | Haines City, Fla. (Haines City High School)
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| 20 | O'Darris D'Haiti | DB | 5-10 | 185 | Sr. | Miami, Fla. (North Miami High School)
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| 21 | Devin Parrish | DB | 6-0 | 184 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Milford Academy)
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| 22 | Marshall McDuffie | DB | 6-2 | 212 | RSr. | Valrico, Fla. (Durant High School)
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| 23 | Brandon Ellison | DB | 5-11 | 184 | Jr. | Lauderhill, Fla. (South Plantation High School)
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| 24 | Jerrell Lamb | RB | 6-0 | 180 | Fr. | St. Petersburg, Fla. (Northeast High School)
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| 24 | Emmanuel Souarin | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Norland High School)
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| 25 | Alonzo Phillips | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Sr. | Vero Beach, Fla. (Liberty University) (Vero Beach High School)
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| 26 | Chuck Grace | DB | 5-10 | 185 | Fr. | Tampa, Fla. (Hillsborough High School)
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| 27 | John Ellis | FB | 5-11 | 237 | Jr. | Pensacola, Fla. (Pensacola High School)
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| 28 | Darriet Perry | RB | 5-9 | 195 | Fr. | Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes High School)
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| 29 | Dezariah Johnson | DB | 6-1 | 178 | Jr. | Orlando, Fla. (Jones High School)
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| 30 | Jonathan Faucher | TE | 6-3 | 210 | Fr. | Weston, Fla. (Cypress Bay High School)
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| 31 | Jarvis Wilson | LB | 6-2 | 200 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Carol City High School)
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| 32 | Julian Reams | RB | 5-11 | 201 | Sr. | Miami, Fla. (Coral Reef High School)
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| 33 | Matt Garris | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Jr. | St. Augustine, Fla. (St. Augustine High School)
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| 34 | Winston Fraser | LB | 6-2 | 225 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington H.S.)
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| 34 | Carlos Munera | P/K | 6-2 | 232 | Jr. | Miami, Fla. (Miami Senior High School)
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| 35 | Trenard Turner | RB | 5-9 | 216 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Monsignor Pace High School)
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| 36 | Marcelus Manear | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | Fort Washington, Md. (Milford Prep, N.Y.)
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| 37 | Andrew Clawson | LS | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Naples, Fla. (Palmetto Ridge High School)
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| 37 | James Lambert | LB | 5-9 | 195 | Jr. | Frankfort, N.Y. (Schwyler Central High School)
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| 38 | Derrick Clark | DB | 6-1 | 185 | Fr. | Aapopka, Fla. (Apoka High School)
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| 39 | Peter Riley | DB | 6-0 | 173 | Jr. | Miami, Fla. (Miami Senior High School)
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| 40 | Dustin Rivest | K/P | 5-8 | 175 | Jr. | Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln High School)
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| 40 | James Watkins | WR | 5-10 | 175 | Fr. | Orlando, Fla. (Umatilla High School)
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| 41 | Chris Cook | P/K | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | Palm Bay, Fla. (Palm Bay High School)
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| 42 | David Skahn | K | 6-1 | 163 | Fr. | Centreville, Va. (Westfield)
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| 43 | Brandon Paquette | DB | 5-9 | 200 | So. | Naples, Fla. (Wagner College) (St. John's Neumann)
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| 44 | Scott Bryant | LB | 5-10 | 220 | Jr. | Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland High School)
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| 45 | Aaron Davis | LB | 6-0 | 240 | Fr. | Winter Haven, Fla. (Bartow High School)
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| 46 | Michael Davies | LS | 6-3 | 215 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Ferguson High School)
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| 47 | Calvin Paquette | DB | 5-9 | 200 | So. | Naples, Fla. (Wagner College) (St. John's Neumann)
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| 47 | Mannie Wellington | LB | 5-8 | 215 | Jr. | Ponte Vedra, Fla. (Nease High School)
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| 48 | Kasey Smith | DL | 6-3 | 245 | Fr. | Daytona Beach, Fla. (Seabreeze High School)
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| 49 | Tyler Clawson | LB | 6-0 | 222 | Jr. | Naples, Fla. (Gulf Coast High School)
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| 50 | Joe Alajajian | OL | 6-4 | 283 | Jr. | Naples, Fla. (Naples High School)
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| 51 | Ula Matavao | OL | 6-3 | 310 | Jr. | Rialto, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio College) (Eisenhower High School)
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| 52 | Artis Warthen | LB | 6-2 | 240 | Jr. | Miramar, Fla. (Miramar High School)
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| 53 | Michael Dominguez | LB | 5-11 | 224 | Jr. | Miami, Fla. (North Miami Beach High School)
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| 53 | Eric Karcinski | K | 5-7 | 165 | Fr. | New Port Richy, Fla. (River Ridge H.S.)
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| 54 | Quentin Newman | LB | 6-0 | 235 | Sr. | Cocoa, Fla. (Cocoa High School)
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| 55 | Kambriel Willis | DE | 6-0 | 215 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington H.S.)
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| 56 | Devon Dickerson | OL | 6-4 | 250 | RFr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Robert E. Lee High School)
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| 57 | Kenneth White | OL | 6-3 | 250 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Norland High School)
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| 58 | Andy Leavine | OL | 6-5 | 292 | Jr. | Brooksville, Fla. (Springstead High School)
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| 59 | Cody Pellicer | DL | 6-5 | 220 | So. | Port Orange, Fla. (Spruce Creek High School)
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| 60 | Chris Edwards | LB | 6-0 | 215 | RFr. | Naranja, Fla. (South Dade)
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| 61 | Josh Soto | LB | 6-0 | 230 | So. | Miami, Fla. (USF) (Coral Gables High School)
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| 62 | Jonathan Nieves | DT | 6-2 | 250 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Braddock High School)
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| 63 | Juan Gonzalez | OL | 6-0 | 252 | RFr. | Miami, Fla. (Christopher Columbus H.S.)
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| 64 | Luis Pena | OL | 6-3 | 220 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Coral Gables High School)
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| 65 | Michael Alls | OL | 6-2 | 270 | Jr. | Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (Northeast High School)
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| 66 | Chad Edwards | OL | 6-3 | 270 | RFr. | Davie, Fla. (Nova High School)
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| 68 | Michael Kuffermann | OL | 6-5 | 265 | Jr. | Orlando, Fla. (USF) (Freedom)
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| 70 | Mario Caraballo | OL | 6-2 | 270 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Christopher Columbus H.S.)
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| 71 | Saf Ahmad | OL | 6-3 | 265 | RFr. | Miami, Fla. (Norland High School)
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| 72 | Donnell Wilson | DL | 6-0 | 265 | Fr. | Naples, Fla. (Golden Gate High School)
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| 73 | Stephen Bailey | OL | 6-6 | 265 | Fr. | Lake Worth, Fla. (American Heritage School)
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| 74 | Chris Cawthon | OL | 6-4 | 305 | RFr. | Loganville, Ga. (Grayson High School)
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| 75 | Andre Pound | DL | 6-3 | 280 | Fr. | Vero Beach, Fla. (Sebastian River High School)
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| 76 | Brad Serini | OL | 6-3 | 300 | So. | Highland, N.Y. (Highland High School)
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| 77 | Javon Hill | OL | 6-4 | 302 | So. | Hollywood, Fla. (Monsignor Pace High School)
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| 77 | Cedric Mack | OL | 6-4 | 320 | Jr. | Torrance, Calif. (El Camino College)
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| 78 | Dustin Gibson | OL | 6-5 | 284 | Sr. | Quincy, Fla. (Lincoln High School)
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| 79 | James Wiggins | OL | 6-4 | 255 | RFr. | Sylmar, Calif. (Sylmar High School)
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| 80 | Jason Frierson | WR | 5-9 | 175 | So. | Miami, Fla. (Coral Gables High School)
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| 81 | Travis Felder | WR | 6-4 | 194 | Sr. | Miami, Fla. (Killian High School)
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| 82 | Greg Ellingson | WR | 6-3 | 183 | So. | Tampa , Fla. (Robinson High School)
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| 83 | Jody Basemore | WR | 6-1 | 202 | Sr. | Cottondale, Fla. (Cottondale High School)
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| 84 | Elliott Dix | WR | 6-1 | 197 | Jr. | Orlando, Fla. (Evans High School)
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| 85 | Eric Kirchenberg | TE | 6-4 | 235 | Sr. | Maywood, Ill. (University of Miami) (Walther Lutheran High School)
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| 86 | Joey Harris | TE | 6-3 | 230 | Fr. | Chiefland, Fla. (Chiefland High School)
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| 87 | Ryan Martinez | LB | 6-1 | 228 | Sr. | Teaneck, N.J. (Teaneck High School)
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| 88 | Jacob Younger | WR | 6-2 | 170 | Fr. | Titusville, Fla. (Astronaut High School)
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| 89 | Moses Hinton | TE | 6-4 | 271 | Sr. | Delray Beach, Fla. (American Heritage H.S.)
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| 90 | Deiondrick Roberts | DL | 6-0 | 250 | RFr. | Tallahassee, Fla. (Leon High School)
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| 91 | Armond Willis | DE | 6-2 | 225 | Sr. | Chattanooga, Tenn. (Baylor School)
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| 92 | Jonas Murrell | DL | 6-2 | 350 | Sr. | Lebanon, Ky. (Marion County High School)
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| 93 | Ricky Booker | DE | 6-3 | 254 | RFr. | Orlando, Fla. (Dr. Phillips High School)
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| 94 | Jonathan Betancourt | DL | 6-2 | 281 | Sr. | Miami, Fla. (Coral Reef High School)
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| 95 | Justin West | DL | 6-1 | 270 | Jr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Wolfson High School)
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| 96 | Jarvis Penerton | DE | 6-4 | 280 | Sr. | Homestead, Fla. (South Dade High School)
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| 97 | Curtis Bryant | DT | 6-2 | 272 | RFr. | Miami, Fla. (South Miami High School)
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| 98 | Reginald Jones | DL | 6-2 | 264 | Sr. | Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida High School)
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| 99 | Daniel Chacreton | DL | 6-3 | 277 | Sr. | Delray Beach, Fla. (Spanish River High School)
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| | James Jones | DE | 6-1 | 230 | Fr. | Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson High School)
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