by bigbluebazooka » November 22nd, 2017, 12:55 am
Quarterback
Need: 1
Committed: 0
If you've been reading my recruiting posts over the past few years, you know I have a closely held recruiting rule: you have to have a QB in every recruiting class. No excuses; no exceptions.
For the majority of the 2018 recruiting cycle, it looked like Miami had their man committed in 4-star Artur Sitkowski. Standing 6’5” 215lbs, Sitkowski has great size for the position. But....things aren’t always what they seem.
The early-season starter at the football powerhouse of Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, Sitkowski was benched in early October. Following that, Sitkowski started to feel as though staying in Florida for college might not be the thing for him, and he had thoughts of returning home to New Jersey. After some thought, and even some conversations with UM coaches, Sitkowski and Miami parted ways (the exact circumstances of who suggested the breakup first are fodder for the comments section) and the 4-star signal caller committed to his home-state school: Rutgers.
The move will bring Sitkowski home for college and gives Rutgers their highest rated recruit in this class. Conversely, that same move means that Miami is now in the hunt for a QB commit in the 2018 recruiting class. BUT, this could be a net positive for Miami, as the available and interested options would be an upgrade over the previously-committed Sitkowski.
Leading the way on the target list at QB is 4-star Jarren Williams. A Lawrenceville, GA native and former Kentucky commit, Williams has been the #1 target for Miami since Sitkowski decommitted. QB Coach Jon Richt was at Williams’ HS game just days after Sitkowski dropped, and Williams took an Official Visit to Miami during Notre Dame week — which, I mean, could there have possibly been a better week to visit? Williams got the red carpet treatment: he visited ESPN’s College Gameday, which was broadcast live from campus and described by host Rece Davis and commentators Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and David Pollack glowingly the entire show, then saw Miami destroy Notre Dame 41-8 at a raucous Hard Rock Stadium later that same night. There were other parts of Williams’ visit, but those were undoubtedly the highlights.
During his visit, Williams took “Kentucky commit” out of his Twitter bio — DURING THE 1ST QUARTER OF THE GAME. The next day, Williams publicly decommitted from Kentucky, something that I had been waiting to see happen. Williams is, simply put, too good a player to play at Kentucky. Kudos to the Wildcats on their scouting and evaluation to get Williams on campus and committed earlier than anyone else could have, but that wasn’t going to last.
Williams was the QB on the same team at Nike’s The Opening as Miami commits Lorenzo Lingard, Cam Davis, Brevin Jordan, Mark Pope, and Brian Hightower. So, there’s a familiarity both on and off field with some of the elite skill players in Miami’s class. Williams and his parents were reportedly blown away by their visit to Miami on all fronts — athletics, academics, coaching, location, weather, and social life. Williams is on record saying that he won’t make a decision until after taking all his scheduled official visits (Ohio State last weekend, and Auburn (maybe?) this weekend) but as of the writing of this piece, Miami is the overwhelming favorite here.
Another QB option is UCLA commit Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman QB is HS teammates with Canes TE commit Brevin Jordan, and was connected to Miami earlier this cycle. Thompson-Robinson, whose nickname is DTR (good bc who is typing that full name all the time?) was scheduled to visit Miami with Jordan for Paradise Camp in July, but canceled that trip. That was before Artur Sitkowski committed, for clarity of timeline.
With UCLA having recently fired Head Coach Jim Mora, the least Miami can do is contact DTR and see if there’s any interest on his side. As a top tier dual threat QB, DTR’s skills would be put to good use in Miami’s offense. AND he’s friends with a current commit. AND the 2018 class has a bunch of elite offensive skill players he could connect with. AND Miami’s team has loads of talent and skill which would be helpful for DTR’s performance and development. AND Mark Richt has a long history of recruiting and training high level QBs.
It remains to be seen what, if any, connection Miami can forge with Thompson-Robinson (Mora just got fired about 12 hours before I wrote this piece), but calling and asking if he’s interested is the minimum that the Canes should be doing. It should be noted, however, that reports indicate DTR is still “locked in” with UCLA, even with Mora’s recent firing. Before I got a chance to publish this piece, DTR even tweeted about it.
Even if that is the case, that’s the answer to Miami (or others) asking the question, I’m not mad about it. You can’t fault any team for inquiring, and you can’t fault the kid for being solid in his commitment, despite the current circumstances at UCLA.
Lastly, OSU commit Emory Jones is a player to keep in the corner of your peripheral vision. There has been plenty of chatter that the Franklin, GA native Jones may be less than secure in his commitment to Urban Meyer’s team, and he just popped up at Auburn for a surprise visit. Alabama is scheduled to get a visit from Jones in the near future, and are thought to be the team most likely to flip Jones from his current commitment.
If Jones is looking around, as he reportedly is, then why not Miami? He holds a Canes offer already, so much like I wrote about DTR above, Mark Richt and company should reach out to the talented 4-star recruit and see if there’s interest there. This is admittedly a longshot, as there hasn’t been talk of Jones and Miami since the Canes offered him last year, but stranger things have happened.
No, I’m not predicting Jones commits to Miami or anything, especially with Williams’ interest and connection to Miami, but he’s on the radar as a talented QB who may be looking for a more Southern School for his collegiate destination, and Miami fits that bill.
Miami has offers out to several other QBs in 2018, including Texas commit Cameron Rising, Tennessee commit Adrian Martinez, and Texas commit Casey Thompson, but the above-listed trio of Williams, Thompson-Robinson, and (to a much, MUCH lesser extent) Jones are the group from which Miami is most likely to obtain their QB in the 2018 recruiting class.
Running Back
Need: 2
Committed: 3
For the 5th cycle in a row, Miami looks to bring in 2 RBs in the 2018 recruiting class. And, as of now, they have that many RBs committed in 5-star Lorenzo Lingard and 4-star Camron Davis (GREAT first name, btw).
Both Lingard and Davis are top 10 RBs in America for the 2018 recruiting class, and have a wealth of talent. While their styles are different — Lingard is bigger and Davis is more of a slasher — they have the skills to be very effective players for the Hurricanes. And, both seem to be locked in with Miami, and were in attendance at the season-opening win against Bethune Cookman.
So far this season, Lingard has a couple of 300+ yard, 5 TD games, and Davis is the centerpiece of the offense for defending State Champion Carol City as they look to repeat. Seems decent, if you ask me.
Even with Lingard and Davis committed, Miami looked to add size and physicality to the run game with a fullback. Earlier in the cycle, the odds-on favorite for that spot was 3-star LB/FB Abraham Alce. However, after further evaluation, Miami wasn’t enamored with him as much as they initially were, so they looked elsewhere for the fullback in this class.
Enter 3-star Realus George. The Atlanta (GA) Pace Academy player is ranked as the #1 FB in America this cycle, has great size at 6’2” 245lbs, and plays with the physical mean streak you look for in a player at this position. George, who has played RB, FB, TE, DE, and LB for Pace, skyrocketed up Miami’s board, and quickly filled the void left from them deciding not to recruit Alce further. And, to make things even better, Goerge committed to Miami on Sunday after the Notre Dame win.
George, who is 18, was mistaken by a Miami staffer as the parent of a recruit, not a current HS kid. When you click on the piece linked above, you’ll see why. (That doesn’t really affect his recruitment, but it was funny, to me).
Miami has other offers out at RB in this class, but that’s just the way the game works. Barring a seismic recruiting event and some unforeseen circumstances, the trio of Lingard, Davis, and George will be the 3 RBs in this class for Miami.
After needing a 2 RB class for years and striking out, OC/RB coach Thomas Brown has locked down a top 3 RB, another top 10 RB, and the #1 FB in this class for Miami. JOB WELL DONE!!!!
Wide Receiver
Need: 4
Committed: 3
Miami has 3 WRs committed in the 2018 recruiting class: 4-stars Brian Hightower, Mark Pope, and Daquris Wiggins. This 3 man group has good size (Pope is the shortest of these committed WRs at 6’1”) and dynamic skill. You’d be hard pressed to find a current group of WR commits anywhere in America that rival this trio. Hightower is a long-strider who does numbers at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy. Pope and Wiggins are teammates at Miami (FL) Southridge and are both elite talents. Of the two, Pope is the better player, and could (should?) be a 5-star. He’s so good. SOOOO good.
But, even with those 3 very, VERY good WRs committed currently, Miami isn’t done recruiting at WR. The Canes are looking to take 4 WRs in the 2018 class, so there’s 1 more spot open — and maybe more depending on how the rest of the class comes together.
4-star Devonta Jason (New Orleans, LA) recently released his top 6 which included Miami. Currently committed to Kansas — no, that’s not a typo — Jason is a big bodied WR with plenty of skills. While I don’t think that he’ll end up in Coral Gables, I’ve long maintained that Jason won’t end up at Kansas, either. This commitment to Kansas feels a lot like RB Jordan Scarlett’s commitment to FAU a while back: good PR for the school, but absolutely not a realistic landing location for a player of his talent.
With the recent firing of Jim McElwain at Florida, Miami could circle back on a couple once and former UF commits. Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington 3-star WR Tyquan Thornton is such a player, and Miami has been looking his way the entire cycle. Thornton’s parents reportedly work on UM’s campus, so there is understandably at least some interest on his part.
Additionally, Miami may make a run at Metarie (LA) 4-star Jamarr Chase. Chase was committed to UF for a long time, but recently dropped when McElwain was fired. A 6’1” playmaker, Chase has the kind of skills and athleticism that Miami should get in their WRs. He would probably be the best case scenario for WR4 in this class for Miami.
The elephant in the room is that Chase is a Louisiana native. Miami recruited 5-star WR De’vonta Smith in the 2017 recruiting cycle, and had good connection to him....until he canceled his OV with a suspect reason (to be very, VERY nice about it) before committing to Alabama. Similar things have happened with other Louisiana-native recruits in the recent past, so it wouldn’t shock me if Miami’s pursuit of Chase were to follow a similar path.
Another player who has had their named linked to Miami in recent days is Stockbridge (GA) 4-star WR Marquez Ezzard. A one-time Florida State commit, the 6’2” 208lb Ezzard is an intriguing player who has good size and runs like a running back in the open field. Ezzard is a player I wrote about in my early 2018 targets piece just after signing day, so he’s been on the radar for quite some time.
Ezzard, who just last weekend took an official visit to Oregon, is still being evaluated by the Miami staff. With the fact that Ezzard is an early enrollee, decisions and moves will have to be made quickly here. I would probably prefer Chase or Thornton to Ezzard, but he’s a Miami-caliber player and that matters.
While the names Thornton, Chase, and Ezzard are known, Miami could reach out to and get connected with players they haven’t been strongly recruiting yet this year. If you remember, this is exactly what happened last cycle with Jeff Thomas (who is now a starting WR for the Canes) so you don’t have to look very far in the rearview mirror to see how this can and has worked for the Canes.
On top of that, why couldn’t/shouldn’t Miami try to flip a kid currently committed to another school? The Canes are 10-0, #3 in the CFP rankings, and the talk of the College Football World. The worst thing that could happen is a kid says he’s not interested. But that’s fine. At leat Miami asked.
Shooters shoot like FIU Mike on the TL, and I’m sure that Ron Dugans will go after and likely get a quality 4th WR for Miami in this recruiting class.
Tight End
Need: 2
Committed: 2
After landing only 1 TE (Brian Polendey) in a 2017 class when 2 was the preferred number, Miami has already secured commitments from 2 of the top TEs in America for the 2018 recruiting cycle.
Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman 4-star Brevin Jordan — who some think is the best TE prospect in this class — and Jacksonville (FL) Providence 4-star Will Mallory are the players Miami has committed at TE in this class, and they’re going to end up being the #1 group of TEs that sign with any school in America this cycle.
Jordan has been a beast this season. Mallory came back from a concussion to dominate the last few games of his senior season. This is a talented and diverse group of players, and both will have high level impact and performance for the Canes in years to come.
Others have offers, but this position group is a wrap. Jordan and Mallory will be your 2018 TE signees. Done.
Offensive Line
Need: 4
Committed: 3
Miami continues to rebuild along the offensive line, and the 2018 is another step along that path. In the quest to increase the talent on the OL and build quality depth, the Canes are looking to bring in 4 OL in this class. While I had already been using this number for this position group in my previous piece, a summer article by Andrew Ivins of 247sports’ Miami site InsideTheU.com states the same thing.
Already committed in this class are Lakeland (FL) 4-star Cleveland Reed, Miami (FL) Southridge 4-star Delone Scaife, and Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips 3-star John Campbell. Both Reed and Scaife attended The Opening, Nike’s elite recruiting camp, which was held in Oregon earlier in July. They are both talented players who have played tackle in HS, but figure to be interior linemen at the collegiate level. Campbell has good size and length and will likely stick at tackle in college, although he will probably need time to develop into a rotation player at the next level. Campbell is now on track to be an early enrollee, per Peter Ariz of CanesInsight.com
In the pursuit of another OT in this class, Miami has been looking at 3-star Jalen Goss. The Valdosta, GA native has good size at 6’7” 265lbs with long arms and room to add weight to his frame.
Per reports, Miami is “really pushing” for Goss to join their 2018 recruiting class. Goss has had a strong season, and his recruiting profile has continued to rise. He could likely end this cycle as a 4-star rated player, but his size, length, and skill have always been there. With continued skill development, and added weight and strength, Goss could be a very nice player at the collegiate level down the line. BUT, it should be said that he is probably not a day 1 contributor in college.
Miami is reaching out to some players committed elsewhere, according to recent reports. First up, Miami has contacted Knoxville (TN) Catholic 5-star Cade Mays. A consensus top 15 player nationally in this class, Mays is a Tennessee Legacy — his father played for the Vols — who has been committed to UT since July 2015. But, Mays recently decommitted from Tennessee, so the door is open. Miami hasn’t offered yet. But, per 247sports’ report, Mays and Miami have discussed a visit. Like always, if he comes to campus, then things become real. Until then, this is an interesting anecdote, and nothing more. (Mays has visited other schools such as Alabama and Clemson but seems, to me, like he may not visit Coral Gables).
Another player committed to an SEC school who has recently received a Canes scholarship offer is Cypress (TX) Cy Ranch 4-star Colten Blanton. Blanton is committed to Texas A&M, and has been since last November. Like Mays, Blanton has very good size and the skills to be able to play early at Miami. And, like Mays, until/unless he visits, that’s nothing more than a cool story, bro.
Montgomery (AL) Park Crossing 3-star Tank Jenkins is another player that Miami is recruiting. He a guard and not a tackle, but he’s got good skills and you can never have too many talented and physical offensive linemen.
Tampa (FL) Cambridge Christian school 4-star Richard Gouraige, Tampa (FL) Berkley Prep 4-star Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy 3-star Daniel Faalele are players with offers who figure to head elsewhere. They all have good size — Faalele is a huge player at 6’9” 400lbs — and undeniable talent, but their sights seem set in places other than Coral Gables. That being said, both Gouraige and Petit-Frere were high on UF, and that program is a dumpster fire, so maybe there’s a chance?
Miami’s in a good, but not great, spot at OL in this class. To really knock it out of the park, the Canes would need to add another Tackle to this group, and preferably one who is a bit more polished than Campbell. Unfortunately, the OL crop from SoFLA isn’t the strongest this cycle, so Miami will have to look elsewhere to find the player(s) to round out this group in 2018.