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FAU head coach Lane Kiffin talks recruiting Cole Leinart, West Virginia star receiver David Sills as middle schoolers; defends Ohio State star Joey Bosa’s decision to leave team early

BOCA RATON — When it comes to recruiting prospects who haven’t even started high school yet, Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin considers himself ahead of the curve.

Nearly a decade after offering 7th-grade quarterback David Sills a scholarship while at USC in 2010, Kiffin made news on Tuesday evening by announcing he extended the same offer to 11-year-old Cole Leinart. Cole’s father, Matt, played for Kiffin at USC from 2003-05 and won the 2004 Heisman Trophy.

“We’ve always had a good relationship and communicated a lot over the last couple of months,” Kiffin said of his relationship with Leinart, who now works for Fox Sports.