Well, the fetish that is National Signing Day is in the books (Thank God). The one
day of the year where 17 year old kids make us forget that the program is bigger than any one person. Maybe now we will have a day or two of people forgetting about 17 year old kids making their college decisions. That is, until they start again. Anyway, here is the breakdown of Miami’s class. *= Early Enrollee
QB
Stephen Morris (Monsignor Pace- Miami)*
Morris is a quarterback who seems most likely to spend his career as a backup. However, he is a smart player that was essentially hand picked by Mark Whipple. If he picks up the system quickly he could become a very competent player within the system, and who really knows what could happen if he protects the football, learns the system and gets the ball to the guys around him who can make plays? As I said to someone, well, make that everyone I have ever talked to about quarterback recruiting, no one thought Ken Dorsey was going to be much more than a system quarterback; he turned out OK.
RB
Eduardo Clements (Booker T. Washington- Miami)
After his sophomore season, people were calling Clements the top running back in the country. After a down year as a junior, many cooled off on him. He played well as a senior but suffered from nagging injuries and was part of an underperforming team. Definitely the highest risk-reward back of this class, but then again, with the stable of backs being stockpiled on this team Randy can afford a few of these guys. He looks great catching the ball out of the backfield and will probably fill a Graig Cooper-type of role eventually. Some rumors have crept out that he might be tried at corner, which could make sense given his size and skill set and the numbers at this position on the roster.
Maurice Hagens (Tampa Tech)
Hagens is a man-child who could become the starter at fullback in a hurry. He is 230+ pounds already and will probably get to 250 before he suffers much dropoff in speed. Could be deadly in short yardage and single back formations as a runner, and the coaches are counting on him becoming a steamroller as a lead blocker.
Darion Hall (Naples Lely)
Hall, depending on who you talk to, is either one of the best running backs in the state or a complete and total head case that will never do anything for Miami. I like his combination of speed and size. If he can pick up the blocking schemes, he could become a great guy to have in the game on third down. There have been reported behavioral problems during his senior year, so we will see what happens, as Randy Shannon is not known for suffering fools. Bottom line is that this kid can play if he keeps his head on his shoulders.
Storm Johnson (Loganville- Loganville, GA)*
Johnson is a big running back who, from what I can glean from his tapes, runs with good speed and balance. Looked impressive in the Under Armor All American game. A lot of folks are saying that he could be the replacement for Damien Berry. This is the type of guy that you love in your class, especially because he is enrolling early; he could fill a Mike James type of role where he is a hybrid back, or become a feature back if he fulfills his potential. Low risk, high reward. Reminds me of a Najeh Davenport type….and that, my friends, is high praise. There have also been, however, reports that he is a big back that tries to play like a small back, which will hurt him at the next level where everyone is as fast as he is.
WR
Allen Hurns (Carol City- Miami)*
Hurns came on relatively late in the game, balling out at Miami’s Randy Shannon Football Camp and Florida’s Friday Night Lights Camp, both against elite competition. He has good size and good athleticism, and from the tapes he looks like he can go up and get it. He played in a run heavy high school offense (this is the same school that churned out under the radar recruits in Santana and Sinorice Moss), so he will be rough around the edges when it comes to hand placement and route running. He has a high ceiling though, and can afford to sit for a couple of seasons with the numbers this roster currently has at receiver. Someone compared him to Kevin Beard, while someone else said Leonard Hankerson. A middle ground between the two would be just fine.
TE
Chase Ford (Kilgore Junior College)
Ford was named MVP of his conference as a tight end, which seems pretty ridiculous to think about. He is a little light in the pants, but definitely should help pick up some of the pass catching void left by Jimmy Graham and Dedrick Epps. Solid pick up for the ‘Canes, but would have been better if he had not been denied an early entrance waiver by the NCAA, who denied his waiver in their infinite quest to butt-f*ck us.
Asante Jabari-Cleveland (Christian Brothers- Sacramento, CA)
Cleveland was Miami’s only signing day addition and is a great pickup at a position of need. He is 6’5” and about 230 lbs. On his tape, the kid runs like a freight train. Now, the questions are how quickly he can pick up his in-line blocking assignments and how he will adjust to the competition level. If he gets the scheme down quickly he should be able to make an impact starting around mid-season. Otherwise this is redshirt-city.
Andrew Tallman (Dorchester- Boston)
Tallman is a good athlete for a man as big as he is, but fans don’t know much about him. He missed a lot of high school games with weird injuries, but could play TE as well as DE or OT. Much like Stephen Plein in last year’s class in that we have no idea what we have in this kid for at least three years.
Clive Walford (Glades Central-Belle Glade)
A developmental type from The Muck, Walford played basketball throughout high school and actually was a bigger fan of the hard court than the gridiron. However, he has great size (6’5”, 225 lbs+) and good athleticism. Really, at this position, every guy is a developmental prospect…there is no harm done by taking a kid this talented from a part of the country that turns out elite players from under the radar every single season. Just don’t expect anything aside from a redshirt this season. And for the record, Walford would absolutely win the “Most Likely to go to an SEC School and Become a Star and Have the Entire Fan Base Calling Randy Shannon a Douche” Award if he went to South Carolina. And, you know,they gave out that award. And yet I digress.
OL
Jermaine Barton (St. Thomas Aquinas- Ft. Lauderdale)
Barton is tall and athletically built, although, like several others in this class, rough around the edges. Many have knocked him as a player that will probably spend his entire career on special teams (a la Ian Symonnette); however, he is the type that is definitely worth taking a shot on. He has feet that can be worked with and after sitting for a few seasons might be a solid option at right tackle. Offensive line is a particularly difficult position to evaluate, so the theory is that getting as many big, athletic bodies in to the program as possible is really the only way to come up with a solid 7-8 man rotation. Barton might never be a star, but then again, he just might be a star. Such is the nature of the position. Barton is 6’6”, goes about 280 lbs. and played basketball exclusively until two years ago. A project to be sure, but in a class this big you can take a couple of these guys.
Malcolm Bunche (Milford Prep-New Berlin, NY)*
Bunche originally signed last year and then was forced to go to prep school. Bunche is an athletic, strong player that most likely will play guard but could become a very solid right tackle as well. He is the forgotten man in this class but maybe one of the most important.
Jonathan Feliciano (Davie High- Ft. Lauderdale)
Feliciano was a complete unknown until he ambushed Hurricane coaches after the spring game and forced his tape in to their hands. They liked what they saw so much that they offered him immediately after viewing it, and the rest is history. Feliciano is a mean-spirited interior lineman that is well reviewed by everyone who watches him. This guy could catch a lot of people by surprise by coming in and seizing playing time right away,
Tavadis Glenn (Terry Parker- Jacksonville)
Glenn is a very athletic lineman most well known for getting kicked out of Friday Night Lights for throwing up the U. Glenn stepped up and played very well at the Under Armor All American Game and made more of a national name for himself as some called him the best line offensive tackle prospect in attendance. He could play as either an offensive or defensive tackle after putting on some more weight. I think he also could be an interesting center prospect. Glenn committed early and never wavered, even as his teammate and friend Louis Nix did. Maybe the most underrated recruit of the entire class, certainly along the offensive line.
Brandon Linder (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Linder is a stud who could play anywhere on the line. Many have him rated as the top center prospect in the nation, but Jeff Stoutland projects him as a left tackle. Either way, Linder is the type of top flight, mauler of a lineman that this program has lost out on two years in a row to Florida (Matt Patchan, Xavier Nixon). Maybe the best player in this class.
Shane McDermott (Palm Beach Central- Wellington)*
McDermott is a little pit bull of a center prospect who is undersized but never stops pursuing his man. He is intelligent enough to learn the playbook quickly, and once he does, he might seize the starting center position as a true freshman.
DE
David Perry (University School- Ft. Lauderdale)
Perry is extremely raw, but also has the prototypical build for a defensive end or tight end to go along with tremendous athleticism. Has very long arms, and if the ‘Canes are content with their numbers at defensive end and Perry has the hands, I like his potential as a tight end even more than his potential on the d-line. Comparable to Lynden Trail in that they both are tall, skinny and projectable but will need time to contribute. This is a high risk, high reward type in that he may never turn in to anything more than a kick blocker but at best is a first round talent that could become a nightmare pass rusher.
DT
Jeff Brown (Township High- Evanston, IL)
Would you be surprised if I told you that this was another “sleeper”? Brown was lightly recruited until about a month ago, but he is a lean (6’2”, 260lb) tackle that will probably grow to about 290 easily and become a pass rusher…I have visualized a healthy, higher motor version of Josh Holmes (who I like). This is the type of kid you bring in on passing downs and collapse the pocket. This is probably the closest thing to a replacement for Todd Chandler that the coaches could find.
Delmar Taylor (North Miami Beach)
Super-Sleeper who has great size and motor according to the film but only played in 5 total high school games. Moved to the Bahamas in the middle of high school and worked full time as a plumber for over a year to support his family. Great story, and if he pans out will be perhaps the biggest recruiting win of Randy Shannon’s career.
LB
Kelvin Cain (Clovis West- Clovis, CA)
Cain is an uber-sleeper (I hate when people say “uber”…damn it) who projects at either linebacker or end and replaced Javarie Johnson in this class after Johnson decommitted to Maryland. He is 6’4” and probably weighs about 210 lbs, so a future move to defensive end is definitely in play. His next best offer was from Fresno State; this guy has inspired a LOT of negative message board chatter. I hope he shoves it in all of their fucking faces, mostly because any “fan” who talks shit about a 17 year old kid that is about to bust his ass for their “favorite team” deserves to be punched in the face. Hard.
Tyrone Cornelius (Stephenson- Stone Mountain, GA)*
Cornelius is an undersized (195 lbs) hitter who could play either WILL linebacker in a Sean Spence-type of role or move to strong safety. The question is how good he is in coverage and where the coaches like him better. He is a great athlete and fits the mold that Shannon likes in his linebackers. Even better, he is exactly what the team is lacking in its upper classes at the linebacker spot right now. The system requires the linebackers to have the speed to play sideline to sideline and react quickly to the underneath pass; Cornelius should be able to do both of these things. If he can add15-20 pounds he will probably be a key special teams contributor next season. Cornelius may be the most underrated player in this class.
Jimmy Gaines (Canisius High- Buffalo)
Gaines is another “sleeper” originally committed to Buffalo who opened up his recruitment when Turner Gil left for Kansas. Gaines then fielded offers from major programs such as Arkansas and Arizona before committing to the ‘Canes. He has good measurables and will most likely become a special teams demon. There are also reports that he is only 16, although I have no clue if this is true. If it is, I am even more excited about a kid with this size and this production at such a young age (20+ tackles in one game against an Ohio high school powerhouse that shall remain unnamed).
Kevin Nelson (Gainesville High)
Very productive MIKE that I saw in person a couple of times. Has the frame to put on a lot of weight and become a thumper to anchor the defense. Very solid pull from Gator Country. However, too many people are saying things like “first year starter” and “future All American” which I frankly have yet to see on display. He is a great story that sought out the coaching staff on his own accord (see a theme in this class?) and seems to have a major chip on his shoulder.
Travis Williams (Lake Taylor- Norfolk, VA)
Williams is much like Cornelius in that he is undersized and very fast for a linebacker. In high school he was mostly a pass rusher; I read somewhere he had over 70 sacks in his career (which is, for the record, nuts). He will probably have to redshirt and add weight while he develops his coverage skills on the scout team. Williams played well in a recent US vs. The World All Star Game (which is a HILARIOUS premise) and said that one of his preferences is “covering tight ends”. Consider me sold.
DB
Devonta’a Davis (Gainesville High)
Davis is a player that, if he is academically qualified, will be big time. He is, like most of this class, not a sexy name but after watching him play he has great size with room to add more and the type of athleticism that could play at either corner or safety, although most think he is a safety. Very good pickup who is held in even higher regard than his teammate and friend Kevin Nelson.
Jeremy Davis (Cape Coral High- Ft. Myers)
Davis is perhaps the fastest player in the state and is electric with the ball in his hands. He is related to former ‘Cane great Phillip Buchanon and could have the same type of results on returns. He will come in as a corner but given a chance to play both ways according to his interviews. If he stays at corner and develops up to his potential, he will be a first round pick and the best corner in the program since Antrel Rolle.
Keion Payne (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Payne is the truest corner in the class and has the purest cover skills. One of three kids from STA; could come in and play right away in Dime packages, but most likely will redshirt. Played very well in the US vs. The World all star game.
Kacy Rogers (Southlake Carroll- Dallas)
His dad coaches defensive backs for the Dolphins and he plays at one of the top high school programs in the nation. He should be ready to come in and learn the system immediately (at the least), and he has the height (6’ +) that Randy loves in his corners. Most likely of these four to make an immediate impact in the secondary.
Now let's go back to the real world, where 17 year olds DON'T make an impact on our lives in anyway (assuming we are all 22 year old single, recent college grads...)!
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