FIU Dismisses Another RB; Academics At Issue For CB
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The 2013 season was going to be tough for Florida International, but things continue to go downhill as more star players have been lost.
According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, FIU dismissed transfer running back Jakhari Gore after he was arrested on charges of robbery by sudden snatching and false imprisonment. Gore is a former LSU recruit who walked-on at FIU.
His dismissal comes a few weeks after the team dismissed last year's starting running back, Kedrick Rhodes. Losing both Rhodes and Gore takes away the top two running backs on the roster for first-year head coach Ron Turner.
In addition, according to the Herald, the Panthers will be without their top two wide receivers, Willis Wright and Glenn Coleman. The latter still isn't listed among the team's top eight receivers on the depth chart while academic issues are being investigated.
FIU may also be without junior cornerback Richard Leonard who is also dealing with academic issues. The Herald reported Leonard was the team's best cornerback and defensive player through spring and summer training.
It makes the task for Turner that much more difficult. FIU struggled last season and in a very bizarre move, fired head coach Mario Cristobal who took FIU to unprecedented success. Cristobal has since gone on to be hired by the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Turner comes into the program and has installed a West Coast Offense and ditching the spread-option. Turner's had little to no success in college football during his last stint at Illinois and with a schedule that includes Maryland, UCF, Louisville, and others, may struggle to find success at FIU in his first season.
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