– Tampa Bay Online reports that WWE has signed Andrew Leavine to a developmental deal and he will report to FCW next month.
Leavine, who is 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, spent the past four years playing football on the offensive line at Florida International University. After graduating with a degree in parks and recreation, Leavine was briefly signed to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins with a few other undrafted rookies.
He also did amateur wrestling in high school and finished his senior year with a record of 33-4 and 23 pins. While in college, Leavine trained some in jiu-jitsu and other forms of MMA. He had the following to say about those skills and stepping into the world of pro wrestling:
“It helps tremendously. But at the same time, I’m walking into a whole different animal here. It’s going to be a process of watching film, watching guys in front of me, like Husky Harris. It helps to watch those guys and see what I have to do to get to the next level.”