FIU Football: Starting Offensive Lineman Suspended for a Full Year

On Tuesday, FIU head football coach Mike MacIntyre told the media that starting center John Bock II was suspended for a full calendar year after taking a

FIU Athletics

On Tuesday, FIU head football coach Mike MacIntyre told the media that starting center John Bock II was suspended for a full calendar year after taking a supplement that was banned by the NCAA.

"He took a one of the weight gain things, whatever they are," said MacIntyre. "It didn't have any of the descriptions of anything the NCAA would test you for, but they mix that stuff in different mixers at places they make it, so he got NCAA tested, and he came up negative so he will miss the entire year."

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Bock, the sophomore offensive lineman started almost all games this season, aside from missing games against the Liberty Flames and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Aside from that, he started every game for the Panthers at center, while playing some right guard with the absence of Jacob Peace early on in the season.

MacIntyre later mentioned that Bock will miss the first ten games of 2024 season, so he will be able to redshirt when he does eventually return. This puts the return timeline towards the end of October of 2024.

"It's a mistake, and he'll learn from it," said MacIntyre. "The great thing for us and the great thing for John is he has a redshirt year available, so he can redshirt next year, he'll be back with four to five games left. He'll get his redshirt. They'll play four games next year and get bigger and stronger. It's a tough learning experience."