FIU hoping that QB Christian Langford signing is a building block
For the next few years, it will be interesting to follow the careers of two Georgia quarterbacks – FIU’s Christian Langford and Miami’s Luke Nickel.
They faced each other last year in Georgia’s Class 5A football state final. Nickel won that contest as Milton defeated Langston Hughes, 56-35.
Nickel completed 21-of-22 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns.
Langford completed 15-of-19 passes for 245 yards. He also ran for 66 yards and two TDs.
However, Langford’s team was held scoreless in the second half.
Langford – a track star -- is exceptionally fast, especially for a quarterback, running the 40 in 4.46.
When he arrives at FIU this fall, he will join a QB room that includes starter Keyone Jenkins as well as backups Chayden Peery and Clayton Dees.
Langford, though, is the only quarterback in that group who was signed by new FIU coach Willie Simmons.
“When Christian was still available in the January recruiting cycle, we jumped on him as soon as possible,” Simmons said. “We were able to get him on campus (on Jan. 17, and he committed two days later).
“He just wants an opportunity to play.”
Langford, a 6-2, 205-pounder, led Langston Hughes High to a 13-2 record this past season, completing 56.9 percent of his passes for 3,258 yards, 38 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also ran for 632 yards, an 8.4 average and eight touchdowns.
FIU offensive coordinator Nick Coleman and special-teams coordinator Kenneth Gilstrap – who are best friends since their playing days at Middle Tennessee State -- deserve major credit for signing Langford.
Gilstrap, who is from Atlanta, has known Langford for years.
And, as soon as Coleman and Gilstrap were hired, they talked about recruiting Langford, who went unsigned during the early recruiting period in December.
“We tried to keep (our interest in Langford) as quiet as we could for the next few weeks,” said Coleman of the period of time between the December and February signing days.
“Christian is a talented kid, and we were hoping that no other team was on him like we were.”
Langford, as it turned out, had three other offers – UCF, Liberty and Troy. But FIU won the recruiting battle, which could turn out to be vital if Langford lives up to his potential.
“He has a world of ability,” Simmons said of Langford. “He’s an explosive athlete, and we’re looking to see him compete right away.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Nova Southeastern University suffered a tough loss last week when LeAnn Freeland left the women’s basketball program to become the coach at FAU. In 13 years at NSU, she led the Sharks to eight NCAA Division II tournaments, four Elite Eight appearances and one Final Four. She earned a five-year contract with FAU.
▪ St. Thomas University’s first-year men’s volleyball program is ranked 11th in the nation in the NAIA. The Bobcats (20-1, 13-0) won their conference regular-season title, and they will play for the postseason championship starting on April 17 in Kingsport, Tennessee.