By Jackson Wolek/ Staff Writer
jackson.wolek@fiusm.com
Photo by: Kristi Camara
T.Y. Hilton reached the peak of the mountain top at FIU. Now, he is starting over at the bottom to begin his climb into the National Football League.
His collegiate career started at FIU in 2008 by being named Sun Belt conference freshman of the year. In the span of four years, Hilton holds multiple program records and helped lead the Panthers to two consecutive bowl games while being named MVP in both of them.
Hilton completed step one of his NFL journey by hiring Drew Rosenhaus, owner of Rosenhaus Sports Representation in Miami, to be his agent.
Rosenhaus started RSR in 1988 when he was only 22 years old. He now represents around 150 NFL players, 22 of which were first round picks. Some of the big names he represents are Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Frank Gore, DeSean Jackson and Anquan Boldin.
He also represents former Panther Antwan Barnes, who now plays for the San Diego Chargers. Barnes was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens with the 134th pick.
Other players to have already signed with Rosenhaus for the 2012 draft include University of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, running back Lamar Miller and outside linebacker Sean Spence.
The next time Hilton will get a chance to go on the field and showcase his talents to the NFL is in the 2012 Senior Bowl on Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala. Hilton is the first FIU player to be invited in program history.
According to many online mock drafts, Hilton is projected to be a third round draft pick, but a good showing at the Senior bowl, the NFL combine and the right amount of convincing from Rosenhaus could push him up to the second round.
Recruiting
FIU added three new Panthers to the roster in defensive lineman Fadol Brown, offensive lineman Delmar Taylor and running back Lamarq Caldwell.
Brown, who measures in at 6’5”, 265 pounds is from Charleston, S.C. and played at Burke in high school and North Carolina Tech Prep, which is Division 1 AA. He played both inside and outside defensive lineman and had 15 sacks and 107 tackles in his senior year. He was also named the 2010 Region Defensive player of the year.
Taylor, who was a three-star recruit coming out of Miami Beach High in the class of 2010, played last year in Texas at Navarro Junior College. He stands 6-4 and weighs 265 pounds. He had originally signed with UM before going to Junior College.
Caldwell is from Tampa Bay Tech, where current Panther Gregory Hickman graduated from, and comes in at 6-0, 210 pounds. In his senior season, he rushed for 5.44 yards per carry and five touchdowns.
Satterfield Out
Offensive coordinator Scott Satterfield left FIU to go back to Appalachian State University, where he was a coach from 1998-2008. He will be the new assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Satterfield leaves FIU after just two years. He also spent one year at Toledo as the coordinator/quarterback coach from 2009-2010.
“My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to come back home to Appalachian,” Satterfield told the Appalachian State website. “I am extremely excited to start working with our 2012 team.”
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