Emerging Center working for Miami offer

Emerging Center working for Miami offer

DMoney
DMoney
The center position is one of Miami’s major needs for the 2014 class. With Nick Linder in the fold, many assume that the Canes are done looking. But Raul Diaz of Miami Central (6’1, 270 pounds) is putting together the type of off-season that may cause them to reconsider.

Despite a star-studded field that included Linder, Trevor Darling and K.C. McDermott, it was Diaz that took home NIKE Camp OL MVP honors. The First Team All-Dade selection followed that up with another sterling performance at this past weekend’s Under Armour Camp.

“There’s a lot of competition out here. I just tried my hardest, just worked hard and used what the coaches taught me to be successful.”

Diaz isn’t your typical lumbering offensive lineman. He plays first base and pitcher for the baseball team, and credits his footwork and hands for his success. But there’s another sport that he uses to hone his athletic ability.

“I play badminton to improve my footwork. Some people think it’s funny, but we take it serious. Our offensive line coach is actually the badminton coach, so we do a lot of footwork drills. Moving around, you have to hit that little ball.”

Diaz began his career as a defensive lineman for Columbus, but transferred to Central when his family moved to the area and his brother Brandon wanted an opportunity to play quarterback.

“The competition [at Central] makes you better because by the time you get to the playoffs, you have already been through everything. We play Booker T. this year, we play University School, I think we play American Heritage and we’re going out of state to New Jersey so we gotta get focused and work hard during the summer.”

Diaz has offers from Louisville, USF, NC State and Kentucky, but his hometown school looms large in his recruitment.

“Miami has called me. I’d love to go to UM, but I’m waiting on the offer. I’m working hard to get it.”

Diaz plans to attend the Al Golden Camp. If he continues to win his one-on-one battles, he could emerge as the pure center prospect this class is lacking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrAbSoeI7gE
 

Comments (19)

When D$ adds interviews to the evaluations he puts in, CIS keeps getting better. Good work, hope we offer Diaz, do you think Linder has the ability to play guard?
 
Good work, hope we offer Diaz, do you think Linder has the ability to play guard?

I do, and I think it may be a better fit for him. I prefer quicker centers like Diaz. Courcy75 is a big fan of A'Lique Terry (center for Hialeah) as well.
 
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High character kid as well. Humble and hard worker.
 
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If SoFla continues to produce high-level OL prospects...forgetaboutit!
 
I wish Diaz all the luck in the world, and I glad he is showing out at these camps but my question is how is doing against the best prospects on dline at the camp. In all his highlights I have seen thus far he is going against so-so kids and having to hold them quite a bit, that said he is a fighter yes (which is key component of good center play). But going one on one against dline from FSU he would get manhandled, I won't even talk about an SEC team UM would meet in the NC game. I love a feel good story as much as the next guy, but when diaz went up against what is the equivalent of a FBS caliber dline in the down 4 from Manatee HS (2014 DT Demarcus Christmas {FSU} and 2013 DT Derrick Calloway {USF} ) last year they eat his lunch and his dinner. He had to be helped with a double team block on EVERY PLAY an central could not run up the middle to save their lives.

Over the last several recruiting cycles FSU has stock piled some disgusting talent at DT and UM is in essentially a Dline vs Oline arms race an having Diaz at center would be the equivalent of bring a knife to a gun fight ( where the other guy has SAW machine gun). UM needs big maulers on the O-line where as Diaz is better suited for a spread offense (hence the offers from Louisville, USF, NC State and Kentucky , not a pro-style offense such as UM's which requires large but mobile oline players). I think UM will close out their oline class with Darling, McDermott, and Linder, using the remaining spots on the dline which UM will need 3-4 DT's and 2 DE's in the class.

But again I wish him the best of luck in college pursuits.

Go Canes!

Manatee HS vs Miami Central from 2012 (watch #51 in white on offense)
[video=youtube;Z0ROmOojzkY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ROmOojzkY[/video]
 
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Have been told that Central´s `left tackle Reginald Bain looked like a big-time player at the rivals camp. Can anyone confirm?
 
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Hope we offer


On a side note amazing the talent CCHS has lost in football and basketball recently
 
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For some reason I like this kid. "No lie, No lie, No lie-e-i-e-i!!" And Paranos, I love you playa cuz u put in mad work and cats on here be hatin' on a youngin but go sit down with that eval. I guess according to your theory we should take back Trevor Darlings offer as well because he got his breakfast, lunch, dinner AND midnight snack takin from him by Robert Nkediminche (?) last year when Central played Grayson. And it wasn't just Robert either who took him to school. Darling learned from it and got better. I like what Diaz is doin. He wants an offer so let him earn it. I am pretty sure the coaches are going to see how he does his senior year as well as the camps before making a decision.
 
Looks like one of those coal shovelers golden likes. Not a stud though. We need both
 
Jass,

Thx for the love. Darling has taken it to whole other level this off season, at those camps he was throwing kids down by the neck. Not to mention he was 2yrs older then Darling, while christmas is the same age as Diaz. But your right Diaz will most likely have to attend every AG camp and in the process may earn a late season offer if combined with a monster SR year.

The issue I having is UM just got a prefered Walk on Center (Ryan Shiver) from Fork Union Prep in Virginia that is the white version of Diaz except bigger (6'4" 300 lbs and stronger 420lb bench). Someone on here posted a whole bio and eval about him a few months back. An I think he had a 3.8+ gpa so the kid is smart on and off the field. He wants to attend UM Law School.

So I am thinking if he busts his butt in fall this kid may get the offer that could have gone to Diaz. But as you said lets see what happens.

Go Canes

http://canesinsight.com/threads/44184-CANES-snag-a-preferred-walk-on-from-Asheville-via-Fork-Union?highlight=Walkon
 
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Love the way he carries himself in that highlight clip. Nasty & tenacious, but in control. It'd be fantastic if he could get to a legit 6'2". Anyone have clips of Eduouaouaourd's center who has been mentioned?
 
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If SoFla continues to produce high-level OL prospects...forgetaboutit!

Florida has really stepped up producing QBs and OLs lately, two areas where you used to think we had to go out of state. That's big for Miami. 7on7 is really helping athletic kids develop real passing skills, so all of those gunslingers down in SoFla who used to play backyard ball and auto-switch to WR in college, some of them are now getting a chance and making the most of it. Only problem is, some kids who need to be playing WR/CB can't get over it.
 
I dont understand why if you are 6'3 or above, are at least 260lbs+ and can run without being knock-kneed or pigeon toed that you cant see the reward of playing OL/DL for your local HS team? Ol/Dl are a rare breed and at the very least you can get a free education. Alot of those big boys are just lazy as ***** and would rather play video games and eat instead of doin something productive. I knew a few growing up...
 
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I dont understand why if you are 6'3 or above, are at least 260lbs+ and can run without being knock-kneed or pigeon toed that you cant see the reward of playing OL/DL for your local HS team? Ol/Dl are a rare breed and at the very least you can get a free education. Alot of those big boys are just lazy as ***** and would rather play video games and eat instead of doin something productive. I knew a few growing up...


my best friends bro...

hhe grew up watching both of us play hs ball an college ball....is bigger than the both of us...but kid has no fight in him or want to...oh he'll watch every can e game..every dolphin game...but kid wont step on the field to play for ****..about 6'3 275-280...and quit soph year spring 1st day on the field...would rather come home early to play madden or nba2k
 
Honestly, I'm not sure how much room he has to grow.
 
Kid looks pretty small. Tenacious, yes, but small. Leverage and footwork can only do so much without mass.
 
Kid looks pretty small. Tenacious, yes, but small. Leverage and footwork can only do so much without mass.

I don't have a problem witha 6'1 - 6'2 guy on teh OL, as long as he's at Center. It's all about leverage, and a smaller Center can jack a DT up, because he'll be able to get under that chest quicker than a 6'4 guy...

We've been missing a dominant Center for a while. You can get away with a servicable Center, but to reall improve you run game, get a top notch Center in there, and he'll open that middle up for you. But again, a guy that size has to play Center, IMO!

Example: Harland Gunn at 6'2 should have played Center at Da U from the start. As soon as he got in an NFL camp, that's exactly where they worked him.
 
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