If you said Belleview 4-star OT Michael Tarquin had seen a few of schools during his recruiting process, that would be an understatement. In fact, before he stopped at Miami this past weekend, he was going to see one more, flying all the way to Oklahoma to take in the Sooners’ campus on an official visit 2 weeks back. Returning home from Norman, Tarquin decided he had seen enough: he was a Miami Hurricane. The big 6’5” 280 pounder committed to the coaching staff on his visit to Coral Gables on Saturday, becoming the Canes’ 11th commit in Surge19.
“Well, it was pretty cool because coach Baez kind of knew earlier on in the visit and he sat down with coach Richt,” Tarquin said on his big moment. “Coach Richt was not expecting it so he got really excited, and it just kind of hit him. I told him how I’ve been everywhere, how I know Miami is a place that I’m committed to. Coach Searels, he started clapping.”
Tarquin saw plenty of campuses near and far, visiting 15+ schools in the time his recruitment has been active, so he’s done his due diligence and then some. But, at the end of the day, it was Miami that stuck out the most to him and the only place he truly felt 100% comfortable at.
“I’ve already seen any other school I was interested in enough,” Tarquin said. “I’ve done my research, I already know everything about Miami. There’s one school I’m at peace with and that’s Miami.”
While for many recruits committing to a school early is merely a declaration of a leader ahead of trips to other programs, Tarquin has no doubt that the process has come to a conclusion for him.
“I’m done. I already know where I’m going,” Tarquin said. “I’m just trying to focus on my high school season.”
So, just what are the Canes adding to the roster with Tarquin?
“A guy who’s tough, smart, and loves football,” Tarquin said. “I’m a big lineman that’s physical and moves very well.”
The Canes won’t have to wait long for their new prized prospect to hit campus: Tarquin plans on signing in December, graduating from high school early, and enrolling at Miami in time for 2019 spring ball.
“I’m going to get there in January,” Tarquin said. “I’m just going to work, work very hard, do everything I can, have a good spring, soak in all the information I can, get in the weight room with Gus (Felder). I want to get there as soon as possible. I’ve already met with coach Felder, he gave me some good stuff for lifting.”
Getting Tarquin on board is significant not only from a talent perspective, but also because OT is the position on the team that is struggling the most right now. With starting LT Tyree St. Louis graduating after the 2018 season, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Tarquin could walk right into a spot on the two deep and even push for a starting role in his freshman season at UM.
“Of course I want to get playing time, fight for a starting job,” Tarquin said. “I actually want to play as early as possible, who doesn’t? I’m going to work to get to that. If I redshirt, I believe it’s the best thing for me, whatever coach Searels says, but I’m just going to work to get on the field.”
With his commitment in the books, Tarquin can finally relax a bit and start getting to know his Surge19 classmates better. He’s already been talking to one of his fellow O-Line commits and sees himself becoming a leader in the class that will try and convince others to join him at UM.
“Yeah, I’ve been talking to Kingsley (Eguakun). We text sometimes. He’s a very good player, moves very well, just a really good player,” said Tarquin. “I’ve talked to the coaches and they’ve told me who else they want. There’s some guys on Twitter like Mark-Antony Richards, I talk to him. I talk to Will Putnam. There’s some other guys who I’m going to start talking to too.”
What’s his take on where Putnam’s leaning at the moment?
“Putnam, it’s kind of hard to get a read off of him,” Tarquin said. “He’s still unsure on where he wants to go, but I’d love for him to join Surge19.”
Tarquin’s been putting the work in over the off-season to continue taking his game to new heights and the lineman is ready to see how the effort pays off in his senior year on the field at Belleview.
“I’m most excited because I’ve put in so much work,” Tarquin said. “This is the hardest I’ve ever worked, the most developed I’ve ever been, in terms of my technique and my knowledge about the position. I’ve been in the weight room. It’s going to be the best season I’ve ever had and I can’t wait.”
And his message to the Canes fans out there now that he’s a part of the family?
“I’m very excited to be a part of ‘the U’. Can’t wait to get there. I’m going to give it everything I have and I want to go win another national championship.”
“Well, it was pretty cool because coach Baez kind of knew earlier on in the visit and he sat down with coach Richt,” Tarquin said on his big moment. “Coach Richt was not expecting it so he got really excited, and it just kind of hit him. I told him how I’ve been everywhere, how I know Miami is a place that I’m committed to. Coach Searels, he started clapping.”
Tarquin saw plenty of campuses near and far, visiting 15+ schools in the time his recruitment has been active, so he’s done his due diligence and then some. But, at the end of the day, it was Miami that stuck out the most to him and the only place he truly felt 100% comfortable at.
“I’ve already seen any other school I was interested in enough,” Tarquin said. “I’ve done my research, I already know everything about Miami. There’s one school I’m at peace with and that’s Miami.”
While for many recruits committing to a school early is merely a declaration of a leader ahead of trips to other programs, Tarquin has no doubt that the process has come to a conclusion for him.
“I’m done. I already know where I’m going,” Tarquin said. “I’m just trying to focus on my high school season.”
So, just what are the Canes adding to the roster with Tarquin?
“A guy who’s tough, smart, and loves football,” Tarquin said. “I’m a big lineman that’s physical and moves very well.”
The Canes won’t have to wait long for their new prized prospect to hit campus: Tarquin plans on signing in December, graduating from high school early, and enrolling at Miami in time for 2019 spring ball.
“I’m going to get there in January,” Tarquin said. “I’m just going to work, work very hard, do everything I can, have a good spring, soak in all the information I can, get in the weight room with Gus (Felder). I want to get there as soon as possible. I’ve already met with coach Felder, he gave me some good stuff for lifting.”
Getting Tarquin on board is significant not only from a talent perspective, but also because OT is the position on the team that is struggling the most right now. With starting LT Tyree St. Louis graduating after the 2018 season, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Tarquin could walk right into a spot on the two deep and even push for a starting role in his freshman season at UM.
“Of course I want to get playing time, fight for a starting job,” Tarquin said. “I actually want to play as early as possible, who doesn’t? I’m going to work to get to that. If I redshirt, I believe it’s the best thing for me, whatever coach Searels says, but I’m just going to work to get on the field.”
With his commitment in the books, Tarquin can finally relax a bit and start getting to know his Surge19 classmates better. He’s already been talking to one of his fellow O-Line commits and sees himself becoming a leader in the class that will try and convince others to join him at UM.
“Yeah, I’ve been talking to Kingsley (Eguakun). We text sometimes. He’s a very good player, moves very well, just a really good player,” said Tarquin. “I’ve talked to the coaches and they’ve told me who else they want. There’s some guys on Twitter like Mark-Antony Richards, I talk to him. I talk to Will Putnam. There’s some other guys who I’m going to start talking to too.”
What’s his take on where Putnam’s leaning at the moment?
“Putnam, it’s kind of hard to get a read off of him,” Tarquin said. “He’s still unsure on where he wants to go, but I’d love for him to join Surge19.”
Tarquin’s been putting the work in over the off-season to continue taking his game to new heights and the lineman is ready to see how the effort pays off in his senior year on the field at Belleview.
“I’m most excited because I’ve put in so much work,” Tarquin said. “This is the hardest I’ve ever worked, the most developed I’ve ever been, in terms of my technique and my knowledge about the position. I’ve been in the weight room. It’s going to be the best season I’ve ever had and I can’t wait.”
And his message to the Canes fans out there now that he’s a part of the family?
“I’m very excited to be a part of ‘the U’. Can’t wait to get there. I’m going to give it everything I have and I want to go win another national championship.”
