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Ex-Central High offensive lineman Andrew “Andy” Leavine, who graduated from F.W. Springstead High in 2006, has since started in 22 out of 24 possible games for Division I Florida International University in Miami.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: August 23, 2008

Updated:

Keep getting better everyday. That's the new credo Andy Leavine has decided to live by.

"In the past I looked too much ahead," Leavine said. "I'm trying to do away with that and go day-by-day. Live today, get better today."

This new way of thinking applies to the college football career of the 20-year-old Leavine, a former offensive lineman at Central High - though he eventually graduated from Springstead.

For the past two years, Leavine has played and started at left tackle for Florida International University, a NCAA Division I program out of Miami and a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

He has started 22 out of a possible 24 games since coming to the Panthers, a team that has won just one game over the past two seasons.

"Hectic," Leavine said in describing those first two years. "It's a different experience. I feel a lot more settled in and I'm ready for a breakout year.

"It's crazy. I started right away. I didn't expect that but it happened and I'm thankful for the experience."

Consistent and dominating

But at a position where success is never getting noticed, what would constitute breaking out?

"I'm bigger, stronger, faster," Leavine said. "I should have a breakout year this year. Just getting out there, being more consistent and dominating every play."

He'll have to accomplish all that at a new spot. The make-up of the roster has forced Leavine to shift to right tackle.

"It's not too much different," Leavine said. "It's what the team needed so I did it."

Listed at 6-foot-5, 292 pounds, Leavine indicated that he has gotten even bigger than that. He feels that those that remember him from high school might have a hard time picking him out of a lineup.

"Most people wouldn't recognize me anymore," Leavine said. "I have long hair. I was 270 (in high school). I'm right around 300, a little more muscled up. It's a whole metamorphosis."

In his time with the Panthers he has already shown great mental and physical toughness. He spent almost all of last season playing with a giant cast on his left arm.

Leavine broke three bones in his wrist and one in his hand, an injury suffered in the season opener. He missed the next game, then returned the next week and played in every contest the rest of the way.

"It hurt," Leavine said. "But duty called. They need you to step up and play and you got to do it.

"It's just one of those things. You really don't think about it. You're not going to hurt it anymore with the cast on. The team needed it so you go out and play."

An offseason of hard work combined with his previous experience has Leavine believing he can take a huge step forward.

But as he said before, he won't look much further down the road. For now he'll just enjoy the ride.

"Being out on the big stage and starting, it's definitely an experience not a lot of people go through enough," Leavine said. "It's something to always remember."

ANDY LEAVINE BIO

POSITION: Right tackle

YEAR: Junior

AGE: 20

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 292

HOMETOWN: Brooksville

HIGH SCHOOL:

Springstead (2006)

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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