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Local coaches, prospects thrilled with Richt & UM staff after changes to recruiting; Marlins/A-Rod; Heat/Bosh; Dolphins | Sports Buzz
Local coaches, prospects thrilled with Richt & UM staff after changes to recruiting
Local high school coaches and prospects are raving about Mark Richt and his staff and the changes they’ve made in UM’s approach with South Florida recruiting. And the efforts have paid off, with the recent addition of several local prospects, including four-star Columbus cornerback Trajan Bandy.
“They are doing a terrific job sending the right coaches after the kids they’re recruiting,” said Booker T. Washington coach Tim Harris, who was on Al Golden’s UM staff. “It’s a matter of time before they are going to be able to keep all the kids in South Florida that they want. Coach Richt’s record speaks for itself in terms of the character and integrity that he has and walking into a household with families that can trust he is going to take care of their son.”
Plantation American Heritage coach and former Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain put it this way: “The guy won at Georgia and guys respect that. He has a plan and guys want to follow that plan. He’s getting recruits that in past years were going to Florida State and Florida; he’s getting those kids to stay home. He’s bringing an SEC mentality, getting big up front on the lines. The skill guys will [always] come.”
Local coaches cite a few changes that Richt has made from Golden.
For starters, “I see the coaches around much more than the previous staff,” Fort Lauderdale Dillard coach Lorenzo Davis said. “And they come in droves, the maximum you can bring at a time – at least three.”
Central’s Navaughn Donaldson, a UM oral commitment rated the nation’s No. 4 guard and 80th best prospect by Rivals, committed to UM when Golden was coach but said the new staff “is more aggressive, more into it. They do things different. They want me coming out to the U, to spend time with the team. That makes me feel [wanted]. I like it.”
Miami Southridge coach Billy Rolle praised Richt for his novel idea of making regular appearances at youth football leagues in local parks, cultivating future relationships. “I haven’t seen a coach do that,” Rolle said. “I don’t even do that! Everyone was impressed.”
Another change: Richt held five seven-on-seven camps on campus this summer. Golden had only one (in 2015), none before.
“Their summer camp set up is more advantageous to the kids [than the previous one],” Columbus coach Chris Merritt said. “The past staff had different philosophies with the camps but I like the idea of not traveling all over the entire state to go to 7 on 7 competitions when I can go down to Coral Gables a couple of times during the summer.
Richt's recent Paradise Camp for high school prospects, which lured star assistant coaches (Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, among others) “was impressive,” Dillard’s Davis said. “You had guys who played at the highest level of football.”
What’s more, Dillard high-end defensive line prospects Jon Ford (Rivals’ No. 22 strongside defensive end who is orally committed to UM) and Jordan Wright (who’s strongly considering UM) are convinced that the new staff’s defensive philosophy will get UM better defensive linemen.
When the previous staff recruited Ford, he said he wasn’t interested because “the defensive scheme wasn’t my type, just sitting on the line and reading [and reacting]. I like to get to the quarterback as soon as possible and make a play in the backfield. I like their [new] attacking style; no waiting. I see a big change coming into Miami; I just know Miami will be the Miami it used to be.”
Bottom line, Central coach Roland Smith said, is Richt and his staff are “doing a phenomenal job, starting out on the right foot. He comes across as truthful. You can tell when you talk to him he’s a spiritual guy and guy who’s trustworthy.”
• Donaldson said there’s a better “than 70 percent” chance he will stick with UM, though UF and FSU are pushing hard.
Local coaches, prospects thrilled with Richt & UM staff after changes to recruiting
Local high school coaches and prospects are raving about Mark Richt and his staff and the changes they’ve made in UM’s approach with South Florida recruiting. And the efforts have paid off, with the recent addition of several local prospects, including four-star Columbus cornerback Trajan Bandy.
“They are doing a terrific job sending the right coaches after the kids they’re recruiting,” said Booker T. Washington coach Tim Harris, who was on Al Golden’s UM staff. “It’s a matter of time before they are going to be able to keep all the kids in South Florida that they want. Coach Richt’s record speaks for itself in terms of the character and integrity that he has and walking into a household with families that can trust he is going to take care of their son.”
Plantation American Heritage coach and former Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain put it this way: “The guy won at Georgia and guys respect that. He has a plan and guys want to follow that plan. He’s getting recruits that in past years were going to Florida State and Florida; he’s getting those kids to stay home. He’s bringing an SEC mentality, getting big up front on the lines. The skill guys will [always] come.”
Local coaches cite a few changes that Richt has made from Golden.
For starters, “I see the coaches around much more than the previous staff,” Fort Lauderdale Dillard coach Lorenzo Davis said. “And they come in droves, the maximum you can bring at a time – at least three.”
Central’s Navaughn Donaldson, a UM oral commitment rated the nation’s No. 4 guard and 80th best prospect by Rivals, committed to UM when Golden was coach but said the new staff “is more aggressive, more into it. They do things different. They want me coming out to the U, to spend time with the team. That makes me feel [wanted]. I like it.”
Miami Southridge coach Billy Rolle praised Richt for his novel idea of making regular appearances at youth football leagues in local parks, cultivating future relationships. “I haven’t seen a coach do that,” Rolle said. “I don’t even do that! Everyone was impressed.”
Another change: Richt held five seven-on-seven camps on campus this summer. Golden had only one (in 2015), none before.
“Their summer camp set up is more advantageous to the kids [than the previous one],” Columbus coach Chris Merritt said. “The past staff had different philosophies with the camps but I like the idea of not traveling all over the entire state to go to 7 on 7 competitions when I can go down to Coral Gables a couple of times during the summer.
Richt's recent Paradise Camp for high school prospects, which lured star assistant coaches (Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, among others) “was impressive,” Dillard’s Davis said. “You had guys who played at the highest level of football.”
What’s more, Dillard high-end defensive line prospects Jon Ford (Rivals’ No. 22 strongside defensive end who is orally committed to UM) and Jordan Wright (who’s strongly considering UM) are convinced that the new staff’s defensive philosophy will get UM better defensive linemen.
When the previous staff recruited Ford, he said he wasn’t interested because “the defensive scheme wasn’t my type, just sitting on the line and reading [and reacting]. I like to get to the quarterback as soon as possible and make a play in the backfield. I like their [new] attacking style; no waiting. I see a big change coming into Miami; I just know Miami will be the Miami it used to be.”
Bottom line, Central coach Roland Smith said, is Richt and his staff are “doing a phenomenal job, starting out on the right foot. He comes across as truthful. You can tell when you talk to him he’s a spiritual guy and guy who’s trustworthy.”
• Donaldson said there’s a better “than 70 percent” chance he will stick with UM, though UF and FSU are pushing hard.
