1/20/2004 football Edit

Bielema continues efforts in Miami area

Brian Gates

GoPowercat.com Recruiting Analyst

Kansas State co-defensive coordinator Bret Bielema has made his name on the recruiting trail by going into the Miami area and coming out with good prospects who had received little attention from college recruiters. Bielema has continued to use his recruiting talents in much the same way this year finding his Wildcats in the mix with several talented prospects from the Sunshine State.

Bielema has ventured back into a familiar high school, Miami’s Monsignor Pace in hopes of landing another prospect and has made up a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Pace delivered cornerback Byron Garvin to K-State a year ago and could do the same this year.

Defensive end Vladimir Faustin has taken one official visit and has two more lined up, including a trip to the Little Apple.

“I visited Tulane last week,” the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Faustin said. “I will go to Kansas State next weekend and Iowa the final weekend of the month. That will be all I can take before the signing day in February.”

Faustin said the trip to Tulane was a good one.

“I had a good time,” he said. “The family atmosphere at the school and in the program was good. The school is in a good area and the location is good for things outside of college. I was impressed with what I saw on the visit.”

Faustin knows the K-State program could offer good things for him as a player and in the academic side of school.

“They are a good football program,” he said. “They are always near the top of the polls and playing in bowl games. It would do good things for my football career. The academics at K-State would also be good for me later on in my life. That is important to me. I want to find something that will help me later on. I want to be in the medical field after college, so I need a good education.”

Faustin has enjoyed his talks with Bielema, even though the time has been short.

“Coach Bielema is a nice guy,” he said. “He is down to earth. He kind of leaves his coaching at the door when he talks to you. He is really informative with his talks and doesn’t waste any time. He really can’t afford to waste time since he just got involved in the last few days.”

Only being involved for a few days is something Bielema is fighting in his efforts to land the two-star rated Faustin.

“With him coming in so late, it could be tough for him,” Faustin said. “I just don’t know anything about the school. The others have been involved for a while and I know a lot about them. He’s doing a good job, though.”

Former Wildcat, and current Pace assistant coach, Mario Smith is again providing what assistance he can in informing about his alma mater.

“Coach Smith has been really good,” he said. “He has told me about Kansas State when he can. He’s helping me when I have questions. He was good for Byron when he was recruited a year ago. I think Byron will be my host when I go on the visit this weekend. I didn’t know him a lot, but we were teammates last year. I came over from Westminster Academy before my junior year because of the opportunities to better myself. I know who he is, but we weren’t best friends.”

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