2013 Recruiting Class - What Will This Class Be Known For?

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CanesLaw

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D$ asked me to post this here. Below is an article I wrote yesterday for canestailgating.com My humble thoughts about NSD and our 2013 Recruiting Class. I hope to be writing about all things tailgating related in the future...

Miami Recruiting Class 2013: What Will This Class Be Known For?

It’s only the beginning of February. Yet, according my internal clock, it seems like we should only be days away from kicking off against FAU on August 31st. Why am I so far off? In part because of the time I have invested in following the NCAA’s own lack of “institutional control” regarding the Miami investigation. In part because Miami self-imposed sanctions and forfeited playing in both a bowl game and the ACC Championship Game, thus by definition making this off-season longer for Canes fans than our bowl-bound rivals. But mostly, because recruiting this year simply wore me out.

I cannot remember a year with more recruiting ups and downs. I cannot remember a year where more 4 and 5 star (for those star whores out there) kids committed and subsequently decommitted to Miami and/or had us waiting on their National Signing Day announcements. As you may recall last year, Miami received verbal commitments from its star-studded class well in advance of signing day. Tracy Howard’s commitment on NSD was simply the cherry on top. This year, Canes fans were left twisting in the wind over top rated recruits such as Alex Collins (4* RB), Matthew Thomas (5* LB), Denver Kirkland (4* OL), Jaynard Bostwick (4* DL), Keith Bryant (4* DL), Jermain Grace (4* OLB), Stacy Coley (4* WR), Augustus Edwards (3* FB), etc., etc., etc. Add to this the fact that Kirkland’s Miami scholarship was pulled and then reissued days before signing day. Add to this the fact that Keith Bryant tweeted “salute the hoot” just before getting thrown off FAU’s campus on an official visit. Yes you read that right, FAU. Add the fact that despite announcing on live television his intentions to play for Arkansas just 2 days ago, Alex Collins has not yet signed his LOI (A four letter station reported that his mother drove off with his letter to prevent him from signing). You can’t make this stuff up.

When the fog settled, the following young men made the decision to become Canes and take their talents to one of the finest academic and athletic institutions in the country:

Artie Burns (4* DB)

Al-Quadin Muhammad (4* DE)

Alex Figueroa (2*LB)(enrolled)

Augustus Edwards (3* FB)

Alex Gall (3* OL)

Beau Sandland (4* TE)(enrolled)

Devante Bond (3* LB)

Hunter Knighton (3* OL)(enrolled)

Jamal Carter (4* S)

Jermaine Grace (4* OLB)

Kevin Olsen (4* QB)

Ray Lewis III (3* ATH)

Sonny Odogwu (2* OL)(enrolled)

Stacy Coley (4* WR)

Standish Dobard (3* TE)(enrolled)

Ufomba Kamalu (2* DL)

While it is fine to be upset that so many top rated athletes holding Miami in their top 2-3, chose to attend other schools, one cannot be upset with the class of athletes that decided to come to Miami. Sure, there will always be talk of the “fish that got away”, but at the end of the day, Miami is bringing a solid class of athletes to The U. Best of all, the kids that chose Miami WANTED to be Canes. They saw through the NCAA investigation. They saw through the threat of future sanctions. They endured negative recruiting. And yet they chose to be Canes. It takes a special person to come to Miami. Not everyone can wear the U. Not everyone can take the pressure of playing for the hometown team.

Unlike 2008, this recruiting class will not be known for being the No. 1 class in the nation. That being said, after 4 years at The U, it has the potential to be known for something better. Only time will tell…now, if only the season opener was only days away…

Recruiting Class of 2013, Welcome to The U.

#Canesfam

Special thanks goes out to CanesInsight.com for their NSD coverage. Their chat feature was a trip.
 
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Goldens already spoiling us. I remember when top kids wouldn't even talk about us because Randy wouldn't even reach out to them. Now even if we miss on them all you hear is that Miami is recruiting them the hardest. Those top kids that we ended up making it to be one of their final choices but they didn't pick us, once the NCAA crap is done Golden will close them! 2014 is gonna be CRAZY good!!
 
CRAZY YEAR FOR SURE

THE COLLINS MAMA EPISODE
KEEF'S ESCAPADES
KIRKLAND DEBACLE

PEOPLE SAY WE WENT 0-3 ON THOSE GUYS BUT THOSE ISSUES RAISED SOME REF FLAGS TO ME

I LOVE THE CLASS THAT WAS BROUGHT IN AND AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THOSE "LOSSES"
 
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If you're looking for recipes, brand reviews, photos and anything related to Canes tailgating, check out CLaw's site at www.canestailgating.com and Twitter @canestailgating. He's always looking for pics so if you have any good ones send them over and he'll put them up.
 
This class will be known mostly as a recruiting learning experience for Al Golden. Getting a taste of some dirty SoFla coach's with selfish intentions, and realizing the importance of over-signing a bit to give himself options. We had a small class with some legit talent, but I'll remember this mostly as a learning experience for Al. Coley and Cristobal will have a HUGE effect on this in the future.
 
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The class will be remember for the offensive skill positions the good and the bad. Olsen Sandland Coley Dobard were great gets but the one miss Collins was a huge loss.
 
Think it'll be known for solidifying an elite secondary with Deon, Tracy, Rayshawn, Carter, Burns, Gunter, Dortch, and Crawford.

UM SEC AIN'T NOTHIN' TO F*** WITH :neonu:
 
Playmakers and Pass Rushers.



We got playmakers all over the place. Coley and Sandland will be making plays right away on offense. Coley will get a shot at punt and/or kick returns I'm sure. As should Artie Burns. I expect alot of these kids to be making some nice hits and blocks on kick coverages also.



We should finally have some pass rush this upcoming season. Add guys like Bond and Muhammad to a bigger and stronger Tyriq McCord and we should actually have some pass rush. It should make for a better rotation too so hopefully Chick can not be overworked and can be free to make more plays.
 
CRAZY YEAR FOR SURE

THE COLLINS MAMA EPISODE
KEEF'S ESCAPADES
KIRKLAND DEBACLE

PEOPLE SAY WE WENT 0-3 ON THOSE GUYS BUT THOSE ISSUES RAISED SOME REF FLAGS TO ME

I LOVE THE CLASS THAT WAS BROUGHT IN AND AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THOSE "LOSSES"

keef's escapades only worked if you cared what that fat **** did
 
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How will the class be remembered? Well after reading a replay of what we all experienced and read throughout the day and were well aware of...the big payoff...."only time will tell"....Wow! I mean to think that this guy's hard-hitting and provocative analysis is being hidden in the obscure confines of CanesInsight.com...what a shame....smh...UMcanesfan420 actually did a much better job of succinctly and accurately answering the question of how it will be remembered. Playmakers and Pass Pass Rushers and Social Media Shenanigans. Boom. That's it. CanesLaw, less is more. Your entire 'piece' was ground that had already been plowed...too death.. Be ORIGINAL, it's so much more interesting to the reader.
 
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While everybody else is sitting here analyzing what already happened, Toby Johnson, the number 1 JUCO DT out of powerhouse Hutchinson, is still available, with a Miami offer. He is worth trying to make a late push for.
 
Not yet mentionrd, but worth noting, as stated by LexZapata, above, T. Johnson and the two Louisanna guys -- the fact that this class is not yet closed. The late bell has not yet rung!

Of more import, Al has started to turn the corner on ROSTER MANAGEMENT. He very nicely filled in all the needed positions [sans DT], and started to build quality redshirt depth. Finally, we will have some talented bodies, to go with last year's 'shirts, to develop for the future. Olsen, Gall,Lewis,Knighton, Odogwu, Dobard, and possibly Grace and Kamalu, like good wine, all aging, learning and gettin' ready for the future.

It's a process! It's working!
 
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