LB Alex Figueroa Commits to Miami

Dec 1, 2012

The Miami Hurricanes have added their 11th commitment to the 2013 Class. This one came completely off-the-radar, as it wasn't until last night that there was word Alex Figueroa from Stafford, Virginia was on campus for a visit. One day later, he committed.

Figueroa posted on his twitter account on Saturday night, "officially a Miami hurricane."

Figueroa's story is a unique one, as he graduated from Brooke Point high school in Virginia this year. He had signed with Division II school Shepherd in West Virginia due to the fact he could not qualify academically for a Division-1 program. Figueroa instead decided to take this semester to improve his academic situation. He had planned to attend Fork Union Military Academy before tearing his labrum in an All-Star game in July, so then enrolled in a community college to focus on academics.

At Miami, he figures to use his versatility on the defensive side of the ball. While many may speculate this could be a bad sign for Miami's hopes with Matthew Thomas, this does not mean anything as far as that situation goes. The staff is "stacking chips" on the defensive side of the ball and Figueroa can play a multitude of positions.

In his senior year, Figueroa recorded 107 tackles (74 solo) with 11 for loss and 9 sacks. He also caught 54 passes for 612 yards and 6 TDs. The Washington Post named him to the All-Met 1st team in his senior season.

Here are Figueroa's highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/619990/highlights/2516406

Click to expand...

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Comments (194)

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wushah

Dec 2, 2012

I love these hybrid TE/LB/DE guys. You can't have enough of them. Butch recruited a ton of guys that fit this mold. Ultimately, it paid off for him, and I see Golden doing the same thing. They can play multiple positions, are good STs guys, and give you plenty of options.

If you factor in graduating seniors, juniors that leave, and attrition, It wouldn't surprise me to see a bit more than 17 players signed.

5Ringz

Dec 2, 2012

mapcane said:
Based on his film, I'm not sure how we can be overly excited about the kid. Sure, it's cool to watch him destroy people on special teams, but that a good football player does not make. His frame and athleticism give us room for optimism about his upside as a DE, but otherwise, tough to jump up for joy for this type of kid, especially in what was supposed to be a small class of carefully selected elite kids.

Kid was 1st team defense in the state of Virginia the year he graduated and would be at VT

But he could only count to potato at the time

sotacane22

Dec 2, 2012

looks like an elite talent with versatility. plenty to be excited about

Burr

Dec 2, 2012

I just talked to this guy on twitter , had no idea what Utough was and he gets here in January. Had to let him know.

DMoney

Dec 2, 2012

From a Virginia guy over on Rivals...

Good find..he was a top 15 player in the state just had some grade issues! Good speed,very aggressive tackler(a steal)

Bennubird

Dec 2, 2012

Plays fast and physical, physical, physical...great find.

NoVaCane04

Dec 3, 2012

So is he an EE then?

rudebuddha

Dec 3, 2012

mapcane said:
Based on his film, I'm not sure how we can be overly excited about the kid. Sure, it's cool to watch him destroy people on special teams, but that a good football player does not make. His frame and athleticism give us room for optimism about his upside as a DE, but otherwise, tough to jump up for joy for this type of kid, especially in what was supposed to be a small class of carefully selected elite kids.

You know why it's good to be excited about this guy?
He's 6'4" 230-240lbs, runs a 4.5 40 time and seems to play that fast. Do we currently have any linebackers that big and that fast? E.J. maybe, Perryman maybe after he puts on another 10 pounds. Looks to have real good hands so he won't be dropping many interceptions. Most importantly this kid seems to be a real football player, not just an athlete running nowhere real fast like so many of our former and some of our current players.
He seems to find the ball whether it's on defense or offense.
Don't disregard those wicked blocks he makes. Those blocks display that this kid gets it. His football I.Q. seems to be pretty high. Now it may just be the case that he was bigger, stronger, faster and meaner than anybody or any 4 wedge blockers he destroyed in High School, and if that's the case, fine with me.
He's the kind of guy we need and seems to be the kind of guy that Golden gravitates towards.
Big, strong, fast and mean has been the staple of Miami Football since Howard. We seemed to have only looked for the guys with the star popularity in the past 10 years and gotten away from big, strong, fast mean mother****ers with a chip on their shoulders the size of cinder blocks.
Time to get back to what made us great.

D
drifters1234

Dec 3, 2012

mapcane said:
Based on his film, I'm not sure how we can be overly excited about the kid. Sure, it's cool to watch him destroy people on special teams, but that a good football player does not make. His frame and athleticism give us room for optimism about his upside as a DE, but otherwise, tough to jump up for joy for this type of kid, especially in what was supposed to be a small class of carefully selected elite kids.

i drew the same conclusion after watching the highlights. clearly, the kid is a superior athlete so hopefully he will surprise us.

M
mwmorris08

Dec 6, 2012

I have enough confidence in the Golden One to go ahead and say that we shant worry about where this kid fits class wise. I am quite excited to see another kid that already bleeds the orange & green, with athleticism and ferocity, committed to the Canes early and reliably. I also love to see an under recruited kid fight his way into the lime light and take advantage. No qualms with this pickup at all.

T
Torocane

Dec 6, 2012

TotesMagotes said:
Anyone else relieved when they saw he was black?

Why??

B
btcane

Dec 6, 2012

Assuming that Buchannan returns, can either Figueroa or M. Thomas break into the 2 deep? I assume we would not RS either because of special teams.

AllbouttheU

Dec 6, 2012

btcane said:
Assuming that Buchannan returns, can either Figueroa or M. Thomas break into the 2 deep? I assume we would not RS either because of special teams.

Matt Thomas is going be used on defense for sure from day one. I think a kid like Alex could use a RS. That's if Cookie stays though.

S
Skinsfan

Jan 2, 2013

Plzwork4 said:
Kid's a bonafide beast. Not good for the rest of the ACC...straight Concussion Cannon.[/QUOTE
I went to highschool with him, I remember i was standing by the concession stands one time and saw him save a tackle at the 1 yard line. Hit the kid so hard, he flew out almost to the track... no b.s. and don't know why it isn't on the highlights.

Cash

Jan 2, 2013

Cookie has already stated he's not coming back

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LB Alex Figueroa Commits to Miami

LB Alex Figueroa Commits to Miami

Comments (194)

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