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Welcome to the fourth 2019 edition of the column I like to call “The Freshman 15”. If you’re a first time reader, this will be a focus on the rankings and the order of the top 15 uncommitted (to Miami) recruits the coaching staff is pursuing. At this time, players without offers will not be considered for the board.
The order will be based mainly on:
Let’s get into the board for June.
1. Evan Neal, OT/OG, Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy) (Last: 1)
Ht 6-7 | Wt 375 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #43 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Neal is the prototypical top player on this board, thanks to his combination of talent, Miami’s need on the line, and the fact that he has family ties to the program. At 6’7” 375 pounds, I just call him “The Wall”. Neal has gone up against numerous top defensive linemen at various events and they were all hopelessly outmatched against him. He’s too big to get around and can overwhelm power rushers that try and go through him, while he is also quick enough to stone speed rushers.
In The Mix: In his most recent chat with us, Neal named Miami, FSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia as some schools chasing him hard.
Latest: Getting Neal on campus with his family two weeks back was huge for UM, no doubt about it. The coaching staff showed Neal and his parents a lot of love in his 1-on-1 visit, and I think this trip will go a long way to assuring the Neal family that Miami is the place for the talented lineman. There is still work to be done with Neal, though, as he won’t make an early decision and every school in the country will be coming after him. Still, the Canes are sitting pretty right now in this recruitment. Since he’s hard to get a hold of for interviews, it will be interesting to see what Neal’s saying in-person at the Opening Finals in Texas in two weeks.
2. Michael Johnson Jr., QB, Eugene, Oregon (Sheldon) (Last: 2)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #219 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Point blank, QB is the most important position in every class and the coaches have identified Johnson Jr. as their top target at gun-slinger. A true dual-threat, Johnson Jr. is electric on the ground by any usage of the word and can leave any defender in the dust. Through the air, he possesses a live arm that can make any throw on the field.
In The Mix: Johnson Jr.’s top 7 is Miami, FSU, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Penn State, LSU, and NC State.
Latest: Now that schools like Oregon and Nebraska are out of the picture after having taken other QB’s over Johnson Jr., UM feels like the outright leader here right now thanks to Johnson Jr.’s long-standing relationship with the Richts. He’s been on an east coast official visit tour this week, hitting NC State, Miami, and FSU back-to-back-to-back. Johnson Jr. went to PSU earlier this month on an OV as well. As he wants to make a decision in late June-early July, and with the dead period coming up next week, it seems like his choice will come down to those four schools. Unless he is truly and completely blown away by one of the other three contenders that much more than Miami, the Canes are in the best position to land his commitment. It’s also telling that, going into this week, Johnson Jr. has maintained he will still be at Paradise Camp, which will be held in late July.
3. Mark-Antony Richards, RB/DB, West Palm Beach, FL (Wellington) (Last: 3)
Ht 6-1 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #83 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Running back, safety, receiver, quarterback, kicker, don’t matter. The book on Richards is simple: get him on the roster, figure out his position later. He’s that good. His speed and football instincts will play anywhere, and he loves offense, but Richards looks like an impact safety to me.
In The Mix: Miami, Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Ohio State, and others are making Richards think.
Latest: The Canes are still in a very good spot with Richards, and he was on campus two weekends back for the 7-on-7 camps. This will be a recruitment that will go to the very end, though, as Richards maintains he wants to give schools like Auburn and Florida a fair shot. While I was skeptical if Richards would end up at Miami and would ultimately decide to blaze his own path, the more I talk with him, the more I get the feeling that he’s simply doing his due diligence and making the most of the process. I am very confident right now that he signs with UM in the end, which will likely be in December.
4. Tyrique Stevenson, CB/S, Miami, FL (Miami Southridge) (Last: 4)
Ht 6-2 | Wt 200 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #78 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Stevenson just smothers receivers in the passing game and has that rare ability to take half the field away from an opposing offense. The South Dade star runs well for his size and features elite closing speed, while also showing potential as a rangy safety prospect.
In The Mix: This is all Miami and Georgia, with Alabama also making a push for Stevenson’s signature.
Latest: Stevenson has made about a hundred trips to UM over the past few months and it seems like he pops up on campus every other weekend. I would caution to not look too hard into all these visits, though; Stevenson knows all there is to know about Miami by now and these trips are simply about hanging out with his friends on the team and around the program, plain and simple. I believe Georgia should be considered the slight front-runner for Stevenson at this time and he is also coming off a three day visit to Athens this past weekend. I was told he is currently looking at the next four years like a business decision and, the more he views things in that perspective, the farther it will pull him from the personal and emotional ties he has to UM. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if he woke up and picked Miami tomorrow, it’s that close. Watch out for Bama getting more involved as things progress as well.
5. Khris Bogle, DE, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Cardinal Gibbons) (Last: 5)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 210 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #81 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Bogle makes his living in the opponent backfield and it’s tough for offensive linemen to square up on him with his speed off the edge. While he needs to add weight for the next level, Bogle’s first step is devastating and he has the potential to be a dynamic pass rusher for whichever team lands his services.
In The Mix: Here I go - Miami, FSU, Florida, Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Oregon, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Georgia (whew) make up Bogle’s Final Four…teen.
Latest: The Canes remain in a good place with Bogle, who is planning on taking his recruitment until the very end in February. He showed up on campus last weekend at UM’s “Miami Nights” event and enjoyed himself. While some thought other in-state schools like FSU or Florida would be the biggest hurdle for Miami to overcome, we’re hearing it is actually Tennessee that is the program that has made a real move with Bogle and will challenge UM. Bogle is coming off an official to Rocky Top two months back and had huge praise for the program. The gameplan has always been the same with Bogle: stay in his ear for as long as possible to survive and outlast the other contenders.
6. Braylen Ingraham, DT, Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas) (Last: 6)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 260 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #336 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Ingraham is the type of hybrid prospect the Canes love, with the ability to play both inside and outside on the D-Line. The Hurricanes would likely move him to DT as he continues to grow to allow his speed and athleticism to become a mismatch against slower offensive guards.
In The Mix: Miami is Ingraham’s leader, with Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Oregon, and Kentucky in the game.
Latest: Ingraham has not been shy to list UM as his leader in the past and he joined the rest of a loaded crew at “Miami Nights” last weekend. He also saw Oklahoma in April for his first official visit and took a second official to Kentucky earlier this month. Now that he’s gone on some trips and seen some other sights, Ingraham has something to compare to Miami. We’d feel better if he just pulled the trigger for UM sooner rather than later instead of dragging it out, but this is Miami’s one to lose for now.
7. Kenny McIntosh, RB, Fort Lauderdale, FL (University School) (Last: 10)
Ht 6-1 | Wt 205 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #172 Overall
Behind The Ranking: McIntosh has good burst through line of scrimmage to rip through arm tackles and attacks the second level. He runs with plus effort every time he touches the ball and always keeps his feet moving at first contact.
In The Mix: Miami is running in front, with Notre Dame, UF, and Oklahoma also involved.
Latest: Things continue to move in a positive direction for McIntosh and Miami, and he was in Coral Gables for “Miami Nights” last weekend. Schools like Notre Dame, UF, and Oklahoma will hang around, but the Canes are expecting McIntosh in this class to pair with Marcus Crowley. I think that will be the two-man RB class, and of course if a five-star talent like Trey Sanders wants in, you take him no questions asked.
The order will be based mainly on:
- How likely a recruit is to commit to Miami at the time
- Skill level
- Miami's need at their position
Let’s get into the board for June.
1. Evan Neal, OT/OG, Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy) (Last: 1)
Ht 6-7 | Wt 375 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #43 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Neal is the prototypical top player on this board, thanks to his combination of talent, Miami’s need on the line, and the fact that he has family ties to the program. At 6’7” 375 pounds, I just call him “The Wall”. Neal has gone up against numerous top defensive linemen at various events and they were all hopelessly outmatched against him. He’s too big to get around and can overwhelm power rushers that try and go through him, while he is also quick enough to stone speed rushers.
In The Mix: In his most recent chat with us, Neal named Miami, FSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia as some schools chasing him hard.
Latest: Getting Neal on campus with his family two weeks back was huge for UM, no doubt about it. The coaching staff showed Neal and his parents a lot of love in his 1-on-1 visit, and I think this trip will go a long way to assuring the Neal family that Miami is the place for the talented lineman. There is still work to be done with Neal, though, as he won’t make an early decision and every school in the country will be coming after him. Still, the Canes are sitting pretty right now in this recruitment. Since he’s hard to get a hold of for interviews, it will be interesting to see what Neal’s saying in-person at the Opening Finals in Texas in two weeks.
2. Michael Johnson Jr., QB, Eugene, Oregon (Sheldon) (Last: 2)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #219 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Point blank, QB is the most important position in every class and the coaches have identified Johnson Jr. as their top target at gun-slinger. A true dual-threat, Johnson Jr. is electric on the ground by any usage of the word and can leave any defender in the dust. Through the air, he possesses a live arm that can make any throw on the field.
In The Mix: Johnson Jr.’s top 7 is Miami, FSU, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Penn State, LSU, and NC State.
Latest: Now that schools like Oregon and Nebraska are out of the picture after having taken other QB’s over Johnson Jr., UM feels like the outright leader here right now thanks to Johnson Jr.’s long-standing relationship with the Richts. He’s been on an east coast official visit tour this week, hitting NC State, Miami, and FSU back-to-back-to-back. Johnson Jr. went to PSU earlier this month on an OV as well. As he wants to make a decision in late June-early July, and with the dead period coming up next week, it seems like his choice will come down to those four schools. Unless he is truly and completely blown away by one of the other three contenders that much more than Miami, the Canes are in the best position to land his commitment. It’s also telling that, going into this week, Johnson Jr. has maintained he will still be at Paradise Camp, which will be held in late July.
3. Mark-Antony Richards, RB/DB, West Palm Beach, FL (Wellington) (Last: 3)
Ht 6-1 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #83 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Running back, safety, receiver, quarterback, kicker, don’t matter. The book on Richards is simple: get him on the roster, figure out his position later. He’s that good. His speed and football instincts will play anywhere, and he loves offense, but Richards looks like an impact safety to me.
In The Mix: Miami, Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Ohio State, and others are making Richards think.
Latest: The Canes are still in a very good spot with Richards, and he was on campus two weekends back for the 7-on-7 camps. This will be a recruitment that will go to the very end, though, as Richards maintains he wants to give schools like Auburn and Florida a fair shot. While I was skeptical if Richards would end up at Miami and would ultimately decide to blaze his own path, the more I talk with him, the more I get the feeling that he’s simply doing his due diligence and making the most of the process. I am very confident right now that he signs with UM in the end, which will likely be in December.
4. Tyrique Stevenson, CB/S, Miami, FL (Miami Southridge) (Last: 4)
Ht 6-2 | Wt 200 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #78 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Stevenson just smothers receivers in the passing game and has that rare ability to take half the field away from an opposing offense. The South Dade star runs well for his size and features elite closing speed, while also showing potential as a rangy safety prospect.
In The Mix: This is all Miami and Georgia, with Alabama also making a push for Stevenson’s signature.
Latest: Stevenson has made about a hundred trips to UM over the past few months and it seems like he pops up on campus every other weekend. I would caution to not look too hard into all these visits, though; Stevenson knows all there is to know about Miami by now and these trips are simply about hanging out with his friends on the team and around the program, plain and simple. I believe Georgia should be considered the slight front-runner for Stevenson at this time and he is also coming off a three day visit to Athens this past weekend. I was told he is currently looking at the next four years like a business decision and, the more he views things in that perspective, the farther it will pull him from the personal and emotional ties he has to UM. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if he woke up and picked Miami tomorrow, it’s that close. Watch out for Bama getting more involved as things progress as well.
5. Khris Bogle, DE, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Cardinal Gibbons) (Last: 5)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 210 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #81 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Bogle makes his living in the opponent backfield and it’s tough for offensive linemen to square up on him with his speed off the edge. While he needs to add weight for the next level, Bogle’s first step is devastating and he has the potential to be a dynamic pass rusher for whichever team lands his services.
In The Mix: Here I go - Miami, FSU, Florida, Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Oregon, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Georgia (whew) make up Bogle’s Final Four…teen.
Latest: The Canes remain in a good place with Bogle, who is planning on taking his recruitment until the very end in February. He showed up on campus last weekend at UM’s “Miami Nights” event and enjoyed himself. While some thought other in-state schools like FSU or Florida would be the biggest hurdle for Miami to overcome, we’re hearing it is actually Tennessee that is the program that has made a real move with Bogle and will challenge UM. Bogle is coming off an official to Rocky Top two months back and had huge praise for the program. The gameplan has always been the same with Bogle: stay in his ear for as long as possible to survive and outlast the other contenders.
6. Braylen Ingraham, DT, Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas) (Last: 6)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 260 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #336 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Ingraham is the type of hybrid prospect the Canes love, with the ability to play both inside and outside on the D-Line. The Hurricanes would likely move him to DT as he continues to grow to allow his speed and athleticism to become a mismatch against slower offensive guards.
In The Mix: Miami is Ingraham’s leader, with Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Oregon, and Kentucky in the game.
Latest: Ingraham has not been shy to list UM as his leader in the past and he joined the rest of a loaded crew at “Miami Nights” last weekend. He also saw Oklahoma in April for his first official visit and took a second official to Kentucky earlier this month. Now that he’s gone on some trips and seen some other sights, Ingraham has something to compare to Miami. We’d feel better if he just pulled the trigger for UM sooner rather than later instead of dragging it out, but this is Miami’s one to lose for now.
7. Kenny McIntosh, RB, Fort Lauderdale, FL (University School) (Last: 10)
Ht 6-1 | Wt 205 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #172 Overall
Behind The Ranking: McIntosh has good burst through line of scrimmage to rip through arm tackles and attacks the second level. He runs with plus effort every time he touches the ball and always keeps his feet moving at first contact.
In The Mix: Miami is running in front, with Notre Dame, UF, and Oklahoma also involved.
Latest: Things continue to move in a positive direction for McIntosh and Miami, and he was in Coral Gables for “Miami Nights” last weekend. Schools like Notre Dame, UF, and Oklahoma will hang around, but the Canes are expecting McIntosh in this class to pair with Marcus Crowley. I think that will be the two-man RB class, and of course if a five-star talent like Trey Sanders wants in, you take him no questions asked.
