It's obvious that one of the main themes in the 2014 recruiting class is the emphasis of South Florida kids in the class, which was completely expected considering how deep and strong the talent pool is this year. Looking closer at the situation, I discovered an interesting trend. This is a class where Miami has landed recruits from multiple schools they haven't had success at in some time. For example...
Booker T. Washington
The trio of Demetrius Jackson, Nigel Bethel II, and Chad Thomas is the first time Miami has landed a kid from the school since 2010 (Eduardo Clements). Quinton Dunbar was committed to the Canes early before flipping to UF. 4-star Lynden Trail also wound up at UF before transferring to Norfolk State. DT Elkino Watson chose USF over Miami in 2011, and last year's struggles at the school have been well-documented.
Carol City
Allen Hurns in 2010 was the first Carol City prospect to sign with Miami since Kenny Phillips in 2005. Trayone Gray now becomes the first Chief since Hurns to pick Miami. Carol City hasn't exactly been loaded over the past few years, but the Carol City area is always loaded. Carol City has been losing a lot of kids to Miramar over the past five years.
Pompano Blanche Ely
Blanche Ely has been an LSU pipeline over the last 5 years starting with Patrick Johnson (Peterson) in '08. Since then, 2012 WR Avery Johnson (Peterson's brother), and 4-star CB Rashard Robinson (2013) have ended up at LSU. This is a crazy stat, but if new Miami commitment Terry McCray ends up signing with the 'Canes, he would be the first Blanche Ely prospect to sign with the 'Canes since Tyrone Moss, Andrew Bain, Cyrim Wimbs, and Teraz McCray all chose Miami in 2003.
Dillard
Dillard is a school that has been loaded with talent in the past. In the last 10 years, five Dillard prospects have signed with Auburn or LSU, one with Stanford (Wayne Lyons - 2011), and one with Florida State (Beau Reliford - 2008). If Dennis Turner signs with Miami, he would be the first Dillard prospect to sign with Miami since 1997 (Leonard Myers)
Champagnat
Champagnat has only had a football program since 2010, but Travonte Valentine is the first prospect from the school to ever choose the 'Canes. Champagnat is absolutely loaded over the next few years and if their current staff stays in place, I expect them to become a school that churns out top prospects every year.
This trend goes deeper than the numbers because obviously these schools don't have Miami-caliber prospects every year so the staff won't just take them to fill a quota, but it is definitely interesting that all of this happens to coincide during the same recruiting class, one year after Coach Golden and staff were heavily criticized for "not recruiting South Florida". 15 of the 24 current commitments are from Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach.
**Couple more schools that fall under the trend are Hialeah and Santaluces. Although Alin Edouard won't likely end up in the class, he would be the first Hialeah Cane since Adewale Ojomo in '07. Miami has lost out on top DL prospects from the school in Corey Liuget (2008) and Corey Lemonier (2010). Santaluces is not really a school that produces a whole lot of D-1 talent, but Darrell Langham would be the first Miami signee from there since Vince Wilfork in 2000.
Booker T. Washington
The trio of Demetrius Jackson, Nigel Bethel II, and Chad Thomas is the first time Miami has landed a kid from the school since 2010 (Eduardo Clements). Quinton Dunbar was committed to the Canes early before flipping to UF. 4-star Lynden Trail also wound up at UF before transferring to Norfolk State. DT Elkino Watson chose USF over Miami in 2011, and last year's struggles at the school have been well-documented.
Carol City
Allen Hurns in 2010 was the first Carol City prospect to sign with Miami since Kenny Phillips in 2005. Trayone Gray now becomes the first Chief since Hurns to pick Miami. Carol City hasn't exactly been loaded over the past few years, but the Carol City area is always loaded. Carol City has been losing a lot of kids to Miramar over the past five years.
Pompano Blanche Ely
Blanche Ely has been an LSU pipeline over the last 5 years starting with Patrick Johnson (Peterson) in '08. Since then, 2012 WR Avery Johnson (Peterson's brother), and 4-star CB Rashard Robinson (2013) have ended up at LSU. This is a crazy stat, but if new Miami commitment Terry McCray ends up signing with the 'Canes, he would be the first Blanche Ely prospect to sign with the 'Canes since Tyrone Moss, Andrew Bain, Cyrim Wimbs, and Teraz McCray all chose Miami in 2003.
Dillard
Dillard is a school that has been loaded with talent in the past. In the last 10 years, five Dillard prospects have signed with Auburn or LSU, one with Stanford (Wayne Lyons - 2011), and one with Florida State (Beau Reliford - 2008). If Dennis Turner signs with Miami, he would be the first Dillard prospect to sign with Miami since 1997 (Leonard Myers)
Champagnat
Champagnat has only had a football program since 2010, but Travonte Valentine is the first prospect from the school to ever choose the 'Canes. Champagnat is absolutely loaded over the next few years and if their current staff stays in place, I expect them to become a school that churns out top prospects every year.
This trend goes deeper than the numbers because obviously these schools don't have Miami-caliber prospects every year so the staff won't just take them to fill a quota, but it is definitely interesting that all of this happens to coincide during the same recruiting class, one year after Coach Golden and staff were heavily criticized for "not recruiting South Florida". 15 of the 24 current commitments are from Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach.
**Couple more schools that fall under the trend are Hialeah and Santaluces. Although Alin Edouard won't likely end up in the class, he would be the first Hialeah Cane since Adewale Ojomo in '07. Miami has lost out on top DL prospects from the school in Corey Liuget (2008) and Corey Lemonier (2010). Santaluces is not really a school that produces a whole lot of D-1 talent, but Darrell Langham would be the first Miami signee from there since Vince Wilfork in 2000.
