The hype that has built around Miami's recruiting efforts during the national quarantine has been unlike anything Cane fans have seen in recent memory (for many reasons). The 2021 class is currently headlined by James Williams, a true five star athlete, and a handful of guys who are in the argument for the next best in the class, and the potential additions of more five star players seems more and more possible each day. While Miami has been able to secure a handful of top talents over the past 15 or so years after the glory days of the early 00s, the truly elite prospects have been few and far between. Even less consistent was the ability of the coaches over that period to pull the most out of these premier prep talents.
We went through the top recruits from each of the last 20 classes and assigned the players a grade (see below) based on how their Miami careers turned out. You'll see a fairly wide array of performances, from truly great Canes all the way to some who barely played a snap at UM. The average of those scores became the trio's grade, and we ranked them up accordingly.
*Disclaimer: We used 247's composite ratings when possible, so there were some odd situations we needed to iron out. For the earliest classes, namely 1998-2000, we just had to make our best guess as to who were considered the best based on what info we could find (we straight up asked Ethenic Sands who the best guys in his class were).
*Disclaimer 2: We only included players who signed their LOI with Miami as HS recruits, so no Greg Olsen, but yes on Seantrel because he was technically let out of his initial one by USC. We also decided to NOT include players who never made it to campus, so the legendary Latwan Anderson won't be on the list either. We figured that some of them were taken as known long shots (aka Shady).
Grading:
6- Elite player
5- Very good player, long time starter
4- Above average starter, consistent contributor
3- Below average starter, short time contributor
2- Backup level player or short career with some contributions
1- Backup level player with little to no contributions
*We are ONLY ranking the top three recruits in each class. It’s all about how the “top recruits” panned out, because this 21 class is looking like it will have the best top 3 recruits in quite some time.
1. 1999
Top 3 Average: 5.0 (National Class Rank: NA)
OL Vernon Carey-The Miami native started games at right tackle and left guard during his career, earning 2nd Team All-Big East twice. He was also a 3rd team All-American in 2003.
RB/WR Jason Geathers- Made an impact as both a wide receiver and a running back. Caught the game winning TD against FSU in 2002.
WR Andre Johnson- One of the most prolific wide receivers in Miami history. Tied for 3rd in Canes history with 20 receiving TDs.
2. 2001
Top 3 Average: 4.7 (National Class Rank: #8)
LB Leon Williams- A two year start at middle linebacker. Was a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award in 2005.
DB Antrel Rolle- The 2004 All-American turned in his best performances shutting down both Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald in the same year.
DL Orien Harris- The Delaware native was the first from his state to play on scholarship at Miami. He totaled 145 tackles and 11 sacks in his career.
3. 2000
Top 3 Average: 4.3 (National Class Rank: #7)
LB DJ Williams- The former #1 overall recruit lived up to the hype. He earned All-Big East honors in both 2002 and 2003.
RB Willis McGahee- Had the greatest single season performance in 2002 rushing for 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns. He finished 4th in the Heisman voting.
WR Willie Dixon- The former 5 star didn’t record a single catch in his career.
4. 1998
Top 3 Average: 4.3 (National Class Rank: NA)
LB Chris Campbell- The 30 game starter was rock solid playing next to Vilma and DJ Williams.
QB/WR Ethenic Sands- A selfless player, Sands did whatever the team needed whether that was being the backup QB, wide receiver, or returner.
DL William Joseph- A starter on the ‘01 championship team, and one of the best DL of his era.
5. 2002
Top 3 Average: 4.3 (National Class Rank: #5)
WR Ryan Moore- The former 5-star never lived up to the hype after being a Freshman All-American in 2003. Moore dealt with injuries early in his career and subpar QB room later in his career.
DB/WR Devin Hester- One of the most electrifying players ever to play at the U. His return ability will likely never be matched.
OL Eric Winston- After switching from TE to OL, Winston excelled at his new position before and after dealing with with an ACL tear his junior year.
6. 2014
Top 3 Average: 4.0 (National Class Rank: #12)
DL Chad Thomas- After finally being put in a scheme that played to his strengths, Thomas lived up to his potential in 2016 and 2017.
RB Joe Yearby- He was a 1,000 yard rusher in 2015 and a solid contributor during his career, but he never became the star the Canes envisioned.
OL KC McDermott- Started 34 games during his career and was one of the most reliable OL in recent memory.
7. 2003
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #4)
QB Kyle Wright- A consensus top prospect in his class, Wright’s career at Miami ended as a disappointment. Up and down play, changes in OC, and minor injuries derailed his career.
RB Tyrone Moss- Moss ended his career with 1942 yards and 26 TDs, numbers that would have been much higher if not for injuries.
DL Bryan Pata- Started 23 games and was just starting to come into his own before his senseless murder in November of 2006.
8. 2009
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #16)
DB Brandon McGee- While he was 2 year starter, McGee never developed into what was expected coming out of HS.
DB Ray Ray Armstrong- Dismissed from the program after 2 years. The exceptional athlete earned 2nd team All-ACC honors in 2010.
RB Lamar Miller- The speedster broke out in 2011 rushing for 1,272 yards and 9 touchdowns.
9. 2015
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #27)
RB Mark Walton- As a sophomore, Walton scored 14 TDs. His injury as a junior would basically end his career in a Hurricane uniform.
DB Jaquan Johnson- The leader of the defense for 2 years, Johnson was a 2nd team All-American in 2017.
OL Bar Milo- Saw very little game action during his career. Mainly served on the scout team.
10. 2005
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #9)
OL Reggie Youngblood- Injuries and inconsistency plagued his career. Started a good amount of games, though he wasn’t able to play up to the 5 star ranking.
DB Kenny Phillips- Another name in the great safety tradition of this program. The Carol City product was a Freshman All-American and 2x 1st Team All-ACC.
TE Dajleon Farr- Did not live up to expectation as next in line at “TEU”. Transferred to Memphis after only 10 receptions.
11. 2012
Top 3 Average: 3.3 (National Class Rank: #10)
RB Duke Johnson- The Miami Hurricanes all-time leading rusher passed Ottis Anderson during his third (and final) year.
DB Tracy Howard- Playing in Al Golden’s scheme did no favors to Howard who didn’t become the shutdown corner many expected.
DL Jelani Hamilton- After being a backup for 2 seasons and seeing marginal playing time, Hamilton transferred to Akron.
12. 2010
Top 3 Average: 3.3 (National Class Rank: #14)
OL Seantrel Henderson- The mountain of an offensive lineman started games all 4 years while at Miami after signing late with the Canes.
RB Storm Johnson- Spent 1 year at Miami before transferring to the UCF.
OL Brandon Linder- The 2013 2nd Team All-ACC selection was also named team Offensive MVP, a rare honor for an offensive lineman.
13. 2008
Top 3 Average: 3.3 (National Class Rank: #1)
LB Arthur Brown- Played 2 years for Randy Shannon before transferring to Kansas State. Brown was named in the Nevin Shapiro report as allegedly taking impermissible benefits.
DL Marcus Forston- Injuries and a lack of development held Forston back from being the monster in the middle many imagined when the 5 star committed to the Canes.
DB Brandon Harris- The underrated Harris tacked up multiple awards during his career: 1st Team All-ACC and 2nd Team All-American (Sports Illustrated) in 2009, 2nd Team All-ACC in 2010.
14. 2016
Top 3 Average: 3.0 (National Class Rank: #22)
WR Sam Bruce- Never appeared in a game before being dismissed from the program.
LB Shaq Quarterman- The 4 year starter was Mr. Reliable in the middle during his time at Miami.
WR Ahmmon Richards- The explosive playmaker beat The Playmaker’s freshman record for receiving yards in a season. A neck injury prematurely ended Richards’ career.
15. 2013
Top 3 Average: 2.7 (National Class Rank: #14)
DL Al-Quadin Muhammad- The NJ native was suspended for the entire season in both 2014 and 2016. He was later dismissed from the program. His 2015 showed promise with 5 sacks.
WR Stacy Coley- Ended his career as #2 in career receptions with 166 and #5 in yards with 2,218.
QB Kevin Olsen- Dismissed from the program after a DUI arrest during his redshirt freshman year.
16. 2011
Top 3 Average: 2.7 (National Class Rank: #33)
DL Anthony Chickillo- Playing out of his natural position and asked to gain weight in Al Golden’s system denied him his full potential. Chick started 47 games at Miami and ended with 15.5 sacks.
DL Jalen Grimble- Seeing minimal playing time after 2 years, Grimble transferred to Oregon State.
RB/DB Dallas Crawford- Played 2 years at running back before switching to safety. Turned in a memorable performance vs UNC in 2013 with 33 carries, 137 yards, and 2 TDs.
17. 2007
Top 3 Average: 2.7 (National Class Rank: #13)
DL Allen Bailey- A physical freak on the DL, Bailey was 1st Team All-ACC in 2009 and 2nd Team All-ACC in 2010.
DB Doug Wiggins- Transferred to Western Michigan in 2007. A non-factor on the field.
QB Robert Marve- After being replaced by Jacory Harris at the end of his RS-Freshman year, Marvie transferred to Purdue.
18. 2017
Top 3 Average: 2.3 (National Class Rank: #12)
WR Jeff Thomas- The production never matched the physical talent. Thomas quit the Canes only to come back and have a very “meh” 2019 season.
OL Navaughn Donaldson- A Freshman All-American, Donaldson has regressed the last few years. A redshirt season is coming for 2020 after a leg injury with the hopes for a comeback in 2021.
DL DJ Johnson- Transferred to Oregon after his freshman season. Played mostly special teams.
19. 2006
Top 3 Average: 2.3 (National Class Rank: #12)
RB/LB Kylan Robinson- A special teams contributor, only started 2 games at LB.
WR/DB Ryan Hill- Transitioned from WR to DB his junior year and started 11 games as a senior. Won the Unsung Hero Award in 2010.
WR/DB Sam Shields- A productive WR during his first 3 years. He made the move to DB his senior year.
20. 2004
Top 3 Average: 2.3 (National Class Rank: #3)
LB Willie Williams- One of the all-time busts in Miami history. After transferring from UM, Williams spent time at 2 JUCOs before ending up at Louisville in 2007.
WR Lance Leggett- A decent season in 2006 provided hope but Leggett struggled with drops throughout his career along with poor QB play.
RB Charlie Jones- Started for the injured Tyrone Moss in 2005. After 3 games in 2006, he lost the starting job to Javarris James. Transferred to Memphis in 2007.
We went through the top recruits from each of the last 20 classes and assigned the players a grade (see below) based on how their Miami careers turned out. You'll see a fairly wide array of performances, from truly great Canes all the way to some who barely played a snap at UM. The average of those scores became the trio's grade, and we ranked them up accordingly.
*Disclaimer: We used 247's composite ratings when possible, so there were some odd situations we needed to iron out. For the earliest classes, namely 1998-2000, we just had to make our best guess as to who were considered the best based on what info we could find (we straight up asked Ethenic Sands who the best guys in his class were).
*Disclaimer 2: We only included players who signed their LOI with Miami as HS recruits, so no Greg Olsen, but yes on Seantrel because he was technically let out of his initial one by USC. We also decided to NOT include players who never made it to campus, so the legendary Latwan Anderson won't be on the list either. We figured that some of them were taken as known long shots (aka Shady).
Grading:
6- Elite player
5- Very good player, long time starter
4- Above average starter, consistent contributor
3- Below average starter, short time contributor
2- Backup level player or short career with some contributions
1- Backup level player with little to no contributions
*We are ONLY ranking the top three recruits in each class. It’s all about how the “top recruits” panned out, because this 21 class is looking like it will have the best top 3 recruits in quite some time.
1. 1999
Top 3 Average: 5.0 (National Class Rank: NA)
OL Vernon Carey-The Miami native started games at right tackle and left guard during his career, earning 2nd Team All-Big East twice. He was also a 3rd team All-American in 2003.
RB/WR Jason Geathers- Made an impact as both a wide receiver and a running back. Caught the game winning TD against FSU in 2002.
WR Andre Johnson- One of the most prolific wide receivers in Miami history. Tied for 3rd in Canes history with 20 receiving TDs.
2. 2001
Top 3 Average: 4.7 (National Class Rank: #8)
LB Leon Williams- A two year start at middle linebacker. Was a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award in 2005.
DB Antrel Rolle- The 2004 All-American turned in his best performances shutting down both Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald in the same year.
DL Orien Harris- The Delaware native was the first from his state to play on scholarship at Miami. He totaled 145 tackles and 11 sacks in his career.
3. 2000
Top 3 Average: 4.3 (National Class Rank: #7)
LB DJ Williams- The former #1 overall recruit lived up to the hype. He earned All-Big East honors in both 2002 and 2003.
RB Willis McGahee- Had the greatest single season performance in 2002 rushing for 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns. He finished 4th in the Heisman voting.
WR Willie Dixon- The former 5 star didn’t record a single catch in his career.
4. 1998
Top 3 Average: 4.3 (National Class Rank: NA)
LB Chris Campbell- The 30 game starter was rock solid playing next to Vilma and DJ Williams.
QB/WR Ethenic Sands- A selfless player, Sands did whatever the team needed whether that was being the backup QB, wide receiver, or returner.
DL William Joseph- A starter on the ‘01 championship team, and one of the best DL of his era.
5. 2002
Top 3 Average: 4.3 (National Class Rank: #5)
WR Ryan Moore- The former 5-star never lived up to the hype after being a Freshman All-American in 2003. Moore dealt with injuries early in his career and subpar QB room later in his career.
DB/WR Devin Hester- One of the most electrifying players ever to play at the U. His return ability will likely never be matched.
OL Eric Winston- After switching from TE to OL, Winston excelled at his new position before and after dealing with with an ACL tear his junior year.
6. 2014
Top 3 Average: 4.0 (National Class Rank: #12)
DL Chad Thomas- After finally being put in a scheme that played to his strengths, Thomas lived up to his potential in 2016 and 2017.
RB Joe Yearby- He was a 1,000 yard rusher in 2015 and a solid contributor during his career, but he never became the star the Canes envisioned.
OL KC McDermott- Started 34 games during his career and was one of the most reliable OL in recent memory.
7. 2003
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #4)
QB Kyle Wright- A consensus top prospect in his class, Wright’s career at Miami ended as a disappointment. Up and down play, changes in OC, and minor injuries derailed his career.
RB Tyrone Moss- Moss ended his career with 1942 yards and 26 TDs, numbers that would have been much higher if not for injuries.
DL Bryan Pata- Started 23 games and was just starting to come into his own before his senseless murder in November of 2006.
8. 2009
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #16)
DB Brandon McGee- While he was 2 year starter, McGee never developed into what was expected coming out of HS.
DB Ray Ray Armstrong- Dismissed from the program after 2 years. The exceptional athlete earned 2nd team All-ACC honors in 2010.
RB Lamar Miller- The speedster broke out in 2011 rushing for 1,272 yards and 9 touchdowns.
9. 2015
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #27)
RB Mark Walton- As a sophomore, Walton scored 14 TDs. His injury as a junior would basically end his career in a Hurricane uniform.
DB Jaquan Johnson- The leader of the defense for 2 years, Johnson was a 2nd team All-American in 2017.
OL Bar Milo- Saw very little game action during his career. Mainly served on the scout team.
10. 2005
Top 3 Average: 3.7 (National Class Rank: #9)
OL Reggie Youngblood- Injuries and inconsistency plagued his career. Started a good amount of games, though he wasn’t able to play up to the 5 star ranking.
DB Kenny Phillips- Another name in the great safety tradition of this program. The Carol City product was a Freshman All-American and 2x 1st Team All-ACC.
TE Dajleon Farr- Did not live up to expectation as next in line at “TEU”. Transferred to Memphis after only 10 receptions.
11. 2012
Top 3 Average: 3.3 (National Class Rank: #10)
RB Duke Johnson- The Miami Hurricanes all-time leading rusher passed Ottis Anderson during his third (and final) year.
DB Tracy Howard- Playing in Al Golden’s scheme did no favors to Howard who didn’t become the shutdown corner many expected.
DL Jelani Hamilton- After being a backup for 2 seasons and seeing marginal playing time, Hamilton transferred to Akron.
12. 2010
Top 3 Average: 3.3 (National Class Rank: #14)
OL Seantrel Henderson- The mountain of an offensive lineman started games all 4 years while at Miami after signing late with the Canes.
RB Storm Johnson- Spent 1 year at Miami before transferring to the UCF.
OL Brandon Linder- The 2013 2nd Team All-ACC selection was also named team Offensive MVP, a rare honor for an offensive lineman.
13. 2008
Top 3 Average: 3.3 (National Class Rank: #1)
LB Arthur Brown- Played 2 years for Randy Shannon before transferring to Kansas State. Brown was named in the Nevin Shapiro report as allegedly taking impermissible benefits.
DL Marcus Forston- Injuries and a lack of development held Forston back from being the monster in the middle many imagined when the 5 star committed to the Canes.
DB Brandon Harris- The underrated Harris tacked up multiple awards during his career: 1st Team All-ACC and 2nd Team All-American (Sports Illustrated) in 2009, 2nd Team All-ACC in 2010.
14. 2016
Top 3 Average: 3.0 (National Class Rank: #22)
WR Sam Bruce- Never appeared in a game before being dismissed from the program.
LB Shaq Quarterman- The 4 year starter was Mr. Reliable in the middle during his time at Miami.
WR Ahmmon Richards- The explosive playmaker beat The Playmaker’s freshman record for receiving yards in a season. A neck injury prematurely ended Richards’ career.
15. 2013
Top 3 Average: 2.7 (National Class Rank: #14)
DL Al-Quadin Muhammad- The NJ native was suspended for the entire season in both 2014 and 2016. He was later dismissed from the program. His 2015 showed promise with 5 sacks.
WR Stacy Coley- Ended his career as #2 in career receptions with 166 and #5 in yards with 2,218.
QB Kevin Olsen- Dismissed from the program after a DUI arrest during his redshirt freshman year.
16. 2011
Top 3 Average: 2.7 (National Class Rank: #33)
DL Anthony Chickillo- Playing out of his natural position and asked to gain weight in Al Golden’s system denied him his full potential. Chick started 47 games at Miami and ended with 15.5 sacks.
DL Jalen Grimble- Seeing minimal playing time after 2 years, Grimble transferred to Oregon State.
RB/DB Dallas Crawford- Played 2 years at running back before switching to safety. Turned in a memorable performance vs UNC in 2013 with 33 carries, 137 yards, and 2 TDs.
17. 2007
Top 3 Average: 2.7 (National Class Rank: #13)
DL Allen Bailey- A physical freak on the DL, Bailey was 1st Team All-ACC in 2009 and 2nd Team All-ACC in 2010.
DB Doug Wiggins- Transferred to Western Michigan in 2007. A non-factor on the field.
QB Robert Marve- After being replaced by Jacory Harris at the end of his RS-Freshman year, Marvie transferred to Purdue.
18. 2017
Top 3 Average: 2.3 (National Class Rank: #12)
WR Jeff Thomas- The production never matched the physical talent. Thomas quit the Canes only to come back and have a very “meh” 2019 season.
OL Navaughn Donaldson- A Freshman All-American, Donaldson has regressed the last few years. A redshirt season is coming for 2020 after a leg injury with the hopes for a comeback in 2021.
DL DJ Johnson- Transferred to Oregon after his freshman season. Played mostly special teams.
19. 2006
Top 3 Average: 2.3 (National Class Rank: #12)
RB/LB Kylan Robinson- A special teams contributor, only started 2 games at LB.
WR/DB Ryan Hill- Transitioned from WR to DB his junior year and started 11 games as a senior. Won the Unsung Hero Award in 2010.
WR/DB Sam Shields- A productive WR during his first 3 years. He made the move to DB his senior year.
20. 2004
Top 3 Average: 2.3 (National Class Rank: #3)
LB Willie Williams- One of the all-time busts in Miami history. After transferring from UM, Williams spent time at 2 JUCOs before ending up at Louisville in 2007.
WR Lance Leggett- A decent season in 2006 provided hope but Leggett struggled with drops throughout his career along with poor QB play.
RB Charlie Jones- Started for the injured Tyrone Moss in 2005. After 3 games in 2006, he lost the starting job to Javarris James. Transferred to Memphis in 2007.
