Breaking down the numbers.
Miami is well on its way to building a roster that has the talent and depth of a national championship caliber program. In order to get all the way to that level, Miami needs to continue its recent recruiting success. Here is the complete breakdown, by the numbers, of what Miami needs in this 2019 class.
Quarterback- 1
Malik Rosier is a redshirt senior so just to keep the depth you have right now you need a player in this class. Even if Rosier was not leaving the team after this year, it’s a general recruiting rule that you take one QB in every recruiting class. This would leave Miami with 4 QB’s, all of whom would be freshmen or sophomores.
Running Back- 2
While this is a position in which Miami could take more players than they need, you need at least two in this class. Trayone Gray is the only player guaranteed to not be on the roster next year, which would leave you with five players. If Travis Homer has a big year, he may decide to leave early for the draft. Whether Homer stays or leaves early, six or seven running backs is a good number.
Wide Receiver- 3
Both Darrell Langham and Dayall Harris will officially be alumni next year, making two new receivers necessary. If they have a strong year, juniors Ahmmon Richards and Lawrence Cager could both test the NFL waters after this season. For this reason, three would be an ideal number, but getting two guys would not be terrible if they are the right guy. This would leave Miami with nine or ten players in 2019, which is a good number.
Tight End- 2
Miami is not losing anybody to the NFL or graduation after 2018, but there is still a need at the position. Miami will go through the 2018 season with only four tight ends, and there is a good case to be made that only two of those guys are Miami caliber. For this reason, Miami wants to continue to load up with another great tight end class, taking two recruits just as they did in 2018.
Offensive Line- 3
Miami will lose Seniors Tyler Gauthier, Tyree St. Louis, and Jahair Jones to graduation or the NFL after this upcoming season. This means from a pure replacement standpoint, Miami would need three players. Miami has been getting younger and more athletic on the offensive line over the past two years, and you want that to continue. Taking four players would not be the end of the world, they just need to be the right guy.
Defensive Tackle- 3
Fifth year senior Gerald Willis and graduate transfer Tito Odenigbo are both finishing up their eligibility this upcoming season. That leaves five guys coming back for their second season. Mix in the need at the position and the talent throughout the state, this is a year Miami should take at least three players.
Defensive End- 3
Demetrius Jackson will be a 5th year senior entering his last season of eligibility. While Demetrius is the only player guaranteed to leave, you have to believe Joe Jackson will test out the NFL waters if he has a strong season. Miami has hybrid linebacker/defensive end type players, but needs to stack up on true defensive ends. If Joe Jackson leaves early, Miami will only return three players in 2019. This is a position where taking four guys would not be a bad idea, but we need at least three.
Linebacker- 4
Mike Smith, Charles Perry, and Terry McCray are all entering their last season with the Hurricanes. Right there you need three recruits just to stay even with numbers. Then you have to take into account the fact that Mike Pinkney and Shaw Quarterman could leave early for the NFL if they have a strong junior season. That is a lot of guys to replace. Luckily, South Florida has a ton of really good linebackers this class. Miami needs four linebackers this cycle, but could take up to five.
Cornerback- 3
Jhavonte Dean and Mike Jackson are both seniors this year. There are no juniors on the roster at cornerback so that’s all that Miami will have to replace. Because of the depth at the position, it would still be a good idea to take three players instead of two. You also want to spread out your numbers more evenly.
Safety- 3
Miami will lose seniors Sheldrick Redwine and Jaquan Johnson to graduation after this season. Juniors Robert Knowles and Romeo Finley are not going to be leaving early for the draft, but they are not the caliber of safety that Miami is looking for. For this reason, Miami could take up to three safeties in 2019.
*Miami will return its scholarship punter and kicker in 2019, so no spots in this class will be taken by special teams players. Miami also will not recruit a true fullback after taking Realus George in 2018.
Recap
That puts the total number at 27 for this class. You could see more, or less, being taken at positions like linebacker, receiver, or offensive line. Ten of that 27 comes in the front seven of the defense. The front seven is Miami’s biggest area of need for 2019. Luckily, this is the most loaded South Florida has been in the front seven in a very long time. Due to a lack of need on offense, Miami will likely only take around 11 players. With that being said, the guys they do take will be studs.
Miami is well on its way to building a roster that has the talent and depth of a national championship caliber program. In order to get all the way to that level, Miami needs to continue its recent recruiting success. Here is the complete breakdown, by the numbers, of what Miami needs in this 2019 class.
Quarterback- 1
Malik Rosier is a redshirt senior so just to keep the depth you have right now you need a player in this class. Even if Rosier was not leaving the team after this year, it’s a general recruiting rule that you take one QB in every recruiting class. This would leave Miami with 4 QB’s, all of whom would be freshmen or sophomores.
Running Back- 2
While this is a position in which Miami could take more players than they need, you need at least two in this class. Trayone Gray is the only player guaranteed to not be on the roster next year, which would leave you with five players. If Travis Homer has a big year, he may decide to leave early for the draft. Whether Homer stays or leaves early, six or seven running backs is a good number.
Wide Receiver- 3
Both Darrell Langham and Dayall Harris will officially be alumni next year, making two new receivers necessary. If they have a strong year, juniors Ahmmon Richards and Lawrence Cager could both test the NFL waters after this season. For this reason, three would be an ideal number, but getting two guys would not be terrible if they are the right guy. This would leave Miami with nine or ten players in 2019, which is a good number.
Tight End- 2
Miami is not losing anybody to the NFL or graduation after 2018, but there is still a need at the position. Miami will go through the 2018 season with only four tight ends, and there is a good case to be made that only two of those guys are Miami caliber. For this reason, Miami wants to continue to load up with another great tight end class, taking two recruits just as they did in 2018.
Offensive Line- 3
Miami will lose Seniors Tyler Gauthier, Tyree St. Louis, and Jahair Jones to graduation or the NFL after this upcoming season. This means from a pure replacement standpoint, Miami would need three players. Miami has been getting younger and more athletic on the offensive line over the past two years, and you want that to continue. Taking four players would not be the end of the world, they just need to be the right guy.
Defensive Tackle- 3
Fifth year senior Gerald Willis and graduate transfer Tito Odenigbo are both finishing up their eligibility this upcoming season. That leaves five guys coming back for their second season. Mix in the need at the position and the talent throughout the state, this is a year Miami should take at least three players.
Defensive End- 3
Demetrius Jackson will be a 5th year senior entering his last season of eligibility. While Demetrius is the only player guaranteed to leave, you have to believe Joe Jackson will test out the NFL waters if he has a strong season. Miami has hybrid linebacker/defensive end type players, but needs to stack up on true defensive ends. If Joe Jackson leaves early, Miami will only return three players in 2019. This is a position where taking four guys would not be a bad idea, but we need at least three.
Linebacker- 4
Mike Smith, Charles Perry, and Terry McCray are all entering their last season with the Hurricanes. Right there you need three recruits just to stay even with numbers. Then you have to take into account the fact that Mike Pinkney and Shaw Quarterman could leave early for the NFL if they have a strong junior season. That is a lot of guys to replace. Luckily, South Florida has a ton of really good linebackers this class. Miami needs four linebackers this cycle, but could take up to five.
Cornerback- 3
Jhavonte Dean and Mike Jackson are both seniors this year. There are no juniors on the roster at cornerback so that’s all that Miami will have to replace. Because of the depth at the position, it would still be a good idea to take three players instead of two. You also want to spread out your numbers more evenly.
Safety- 3
Miami will lose seniors Sheldrick Redwine and Jaquan Johnson to graduation after this season. Juniors Robert Knowles and Romeo Finley are not going to be leaving early for the draft, but they are not the caliber of safety that Miami is looking for. For this reason, Miami could take up to three safeties in 2019.
*Miami will return its scholarship punter and kicker in 2019, so no spots in this class will be taken by special teams players. Miami also will not recruit a true fullback after taking Realus George in 2018.
Recap
That puts the total number at 27 for this class. You could see more, or less, being taken at positions like linebacker, receiver, or offensive line. Ten of that 27 comes in the front seven of the defense. The front seven is Miami’s biggest area of need for 2019. Luckily, this is the most loaded South Florida has been in the front seven in a very long time. Due to a lack of need on offense, Miami will likely only take around 11 players. With that being said, the guys they do take will be studs.
