Buzz builds for 2011 football season

As FIU football gears up to defend its Sun Belt Conference title, expectations are high.

Blue Ribbon Football Yearbook picked FIU to win the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Championship, as well as named senior wide receiver and Heisman hopeful T.Y. Hilton as the Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo by Samuel Lewis

Hilton was also named to the Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list. The Biletnikoff Award is presented to the top receiver in college football. Hilton is one of three Sun Belt Conference players to appear on the list, joining Ladarius Green from Louisiana and Dwayne Frampton of Arkansas State.

Photo by Samuel Lewis

Junior kicker Jack Griffin was named to the 2011 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Watch List. The list features 30 of the top place-kickers in college football. Griffin is the only Sun Belt player to be recognized on the watch list.

In 2010, Griffin had one of the best seasons of any SBC kicker hitting an FIU record 17-of-20 field goals and connecting on all 45 extra points — an FIU record. He finished the season riding on the shoulders of his teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl as time expired in FIU’s 34-32 win over Toledo, the first bowl victory in school history.

The 2011 season opens with a home matchup against conference rival North Texas Thursday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m.

— Courtesy of FIUSports.com