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Photo by Geoff
Anderson
Battling
back from ACL surgery last fall, sophomore
running back Diamos Demerritt has
claimed the starting tailback job
this Saturday against Indiana State.
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FIU head football coach Don Strock
today unveiled his offensive and defensive
depth charts for the season opener against
Indiana State this Saturday. And while the
Golden Panthers labored for two hours Monday
afternoon in shorts and shoulder pads, one
charter member of the team was missing--running
back Tori Robinson (Miami/Southridge)
has been ruled out for the season with what
was described as “cardiac symptoms.”
Robinson, whose original complaint was “chest
tightness,” according to FIU football
trainer Andy Simon, has been ordered to rest
by team physicians and will be re-evaluated
in three months. It may not be until next
spring before it is determined whether or
not Robinson’s football career will
continue.
“Right now, I’m more concerned
about the health of this young man than I
am about him playing football again,”
said Strock.
Robinson experienced a similar situation
prior to last season. He sat out part of the
fall with a heart murmur, but was cleared
just prior to the Golden Panthers inaugural
game against Saint Peter’s. Robinson
started against the Peacocks, but suffered
a deep bone bruise of the right ankle and
never returned to form.
After ankle surgery in the winter, he sat
out spring workouts but came into fall practice
looking to regain his starting spot against
a host of competition that included University
of Minnesota transfer Diamos Demerritt
(Miami/Norland) and last year’s
MVP Rashod Smith (Miami/Northwestern).
As the team began preparations for Indiana
State, Monday, there were few depth chart
surprises. On offense, the line is intact
from last season, Jamie Burke
(Sarasota, Fla.) is at quarterback and Cory McKinney (DeLand, Fla.) and Harold Leath (Tampa, Fla.) are the wide
receivers.
There will be two new faces in the backfield;
however, as Demerritt has won the battle for
starting tailback and redshirt sophomore Aston Wilson (Casselberry, Fla.) will be
the starting H-back.
On defense, Lance Preston
(Hollywood/Chaminade) retained his starting
middle linebacker spot. He’ll be flanked
by Johnathan Sturrup (Carol
City/Monsignor Pace) on the weak side and
freshman Antwan Barnes (Miami/Norland)
on the strong side.
When Strock calls for the 3-4 defense, sophomore
Nick Carreño (Miami/Belen)
will line up at nose tackle, with All-Independent
defensive end Daunte Foster
(Hollywood/Hollywood Christian) on one side
and Terrence Allen (Merritt
Island, Fla.) at the other.
The Golden Panthers return to FIU Stadium
for practice Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in full
gear. Practices are closed to the public.
