
Bernadin Fleurima Jr. brings veteran run-stuffing strength to SIU’s defensive interior
Bernadin Fleurima Jr. is a seasoned **Southern Illinois** defensive tackle whose value is built on interior leverage, physicality, and run defense rather than flashy box-score production; he arrived from Robert Morris after logging **42 career tackles** and was listed at **6-foot-0, 292 pounds** for SIU, a frame that fits a plug-and-play nose-style role. He also showed disruptive flashes, including a tackle-for-loss against Air Force in 2023, and his senior-level maturity and leadership come through in his public comments about consistency, gratitude, and team-first culture, making him a strong fit for a defense that wants toughness and dependable gap control.[4][2][6]





