MIAMI (March 31, 2016) – The FIU football team completed its eighth practice on the spring on Thursday morning from Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
The Panthers passed the halfway point of the Spring Camp and continued preparation for the 2016 season as well as this year's Spring Game on April 15 (7 p.m.).  
 
FIUSports.com caught up with Defensive Line Coach Paul Volero and defensive tackle Imarjaye Albury after practice.
 

Defensive Line Coach Paul Volero On Spring Practice I think it's going really good. I think the players are bought in, they're working hard. The biggest goal is to develop the entire roster on the defensive line and we have some young kids really stepping up. I'm not a big believer in first unit, second unit, third unit but more of getting the entire d-line group ready. Right now, our fundamentals are catching up to the scheme and it's a daily grind that we have got to continue to stay on.   On the Progression of the Defensive Line I'm very pleased. They have had a great offseason this winter in the weight room; and in the spring so far, about half way through, I'm very pleased with the progression and glad to say that they're working and going in the right direction. But, we have to get to a point where we're getting ready for the season and we're not they're yet. We have got a long way to go, but we've come a long way.   On the Filling the Holes left by the Departing Seniors It's a positive because it creates opportunity. Those seniors that were here, took four years to get there and now that they're gone, it opens the door for the other guys to step up and do their job. You want to develop the entire roster so that all of them are equally good in lining up and getting a rotation going versus anybody that we play. It doesn't matter who we put on the field on d-line, we expect them to do the job and we except them to do it the FIU way. We'll do it off the strength of our backs and the sweat off our brows.

 

Defensive Tackle Imarjaye Albury On Spring Practice It's going great. My main focus right now is to concentrate on the little things, try to be more of a student of the game, to key in on little things that can help me make more plays. I know I have the strength already. I have the experience. I know what it takes to make plays. I'm working to make my game a complete game.   On Replacing the Departing Seniors It's always tough losing guys. We lost some great guys, Mike Wakefield, Denzell Perine, Lars Koht and Darrian Dyson. Right now young guys are stepping up. I'm very impressed with Milo Juste and Fermin Silva. Jermaine Sheriff is stepping up and doing a great job. I'm very impressed with him. So, right now the key for them is to gain that confidence in themselves because they don't have that much playing experience. They might get in the game and be nervous, but right now they are building confidence by getting practice reps against our offense. They just need to come out every day and try to get better. I think the guys are doing it. They have the right attitude, the right mindset.   On the Depth of the Defensive Line Creating Good Competition Yeah, I definitely see it. I feel like any of the guys on the defensive line could come and do a great job because the competition is there. Milord Juste and R.J. Harris have had great springs and are stepping up. Then you have me and Leonard Washington, whenever one of us in the game, there's not too much of a drop-off. Leonard is a great player and works hard and Marques Cheeks is having a great spring too. So, I definitely feel like any guy can come in and hold his own.

Previous Reports
Monday, March 7 – Day One / Photo Gallery
Tuesday, March 8 –  Photo Gallery
Thursday, March 10 – Day Three / Photo Gallery
Tuesday, March 22 – Day Four / Photo Gallery
Thursday, March 24 – Day Five / Photo Gallery
Friday, March 25 – Day Six / Photo Gallery
Tuesday, March 29 – Day Seven / Photo Gallery
 
Remaining FIU Football Spring Practice Schedule
Saturday, April 2                  9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 5                   9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 7                 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 9                  9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 12                9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 14               9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Friday, April 15                  (7:00 p.m. – Spring Game)
 
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The 2016 FIU football season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Panthers host the Indiana Hoosiers.

FIU's 2016 schedule is highlighted with games against Miami Beach Bowl and 2016 C-USA champion WKU, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl champion Louisiana Tech, St. Petersburg Bowl champion Marshall, Popeyes Bahama Bowl participant Middle Tennessee, and New Era Pinstripe Bowl participant Indiana. In addition, the Panthers will face Maryland, Massachusetts, UCF, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Charlotte and Old Dominion. 
 
For FIU football ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.