- Joined
- Mar 14, 2013
- Messages
- 3,490
With the departure of Dye, I decided to take a closer look at our 2009 recruiting class.
Did Randy Shannon’s 2009 recruiting class get lost in the transition to the Golden Era? Only 4* (Green, Porter, Wheeler, Highsmith) of the 19 original signees from the 6th ranked class remain on the 2013 Miami Hurricanes as 5th year seniors. They have bought in and survived the transition from the Shannon to Golden Era. The class was filled with talent and potential as evidenced by the #6 ESPN class ranking with only 19 signees and the 6 players who are already getting their shots at the NFL. However, much of that talent was under developed or utilized in college. Below is a complete look at the class of 2009.
Here is the press release on the 2009 recruiting class:
“The Hurricanes brought in the No. 7 rated recruiting class, and the top-rated in the ACC. The class includes 19 members, six in the Top 150. Featured in the group is safety Aravious "Ray Ray" Armstrong from Seminole High School (Fla.). “
Their Record:
2009 9-4 (Shannon)
2010 7-6 (Shannon)
2011 6-6 (Golden)
2012 7-5 (Golden)
2013 ?
Here is the list of the 19 signees with bios:
The class rankings after signing day?
Rivals #1 1, Scouts #1 9, ESPN #6
Good Start…
The class started off well with 6 early enrollees in December.
-Brandon McGee DB 5-11 180
-Olivier Vernon DL 6-2 247
-Jermaine Johnson OL 6-6 304
-Curtis Porter DL 6-0 344
-Mike James RB 5-11 220
-Brandon Washington OL 6-4 354
Everyone was impressed with the maturity and athleticism that they brought to team. Washington and Johnson were big physically and coming from an extra year of prep school both seemed ready to contribute right away. However, only Washington contributed from day 1, playing in all 13 games and making 2 starts. 5 out of the 6 players were called upon to help right away and did not redshirt. Mike James was physically ready and contributed in all 13 games at fullback as a true freshman and eventually became a team leader and starter by his senior year. Curtis Porter played in 8 games in 2009 as true freshmen, but only 7 in the next 3 years combined. Vernon also played in 11 games as a true freshmen starting in 2 of them. McGee played in 10 games as well as a true freshman contributing primarily on special teams.
What should have been…
The class included the #1 and 2 Prep OL in Jermaine Johnson and Brandon Washington who were going to help solidify the OL along with Malcolm Bunche, Jared Wheeler, and long term projects Corey White and Stephen Plein.
Bunche didn’t qualify and ended as up as a member of the 2010 class. Johnson showed signs of potential early on but never adjusted under golden and left the team during his 3rd year. Neither of the projects panned out as Plein left the team after 2009 with a medical hardship and Corey bounced between OT an TE and never got any significant playing time before graduating and finishing his career at FIU. Washington was a solid starter for 2 years but decided to leave early for the NFL after his Junior year, he was not drafted until the 6th round. Wheeler is the last member of that class on the team along with Bunche but has been nothing more than a backup his whole career.
On defense this class was supposed to have a "Machine" along with a future NFL back field with 1 Army All-American (McGee) and 3 UA All-Americans (Reid, Armstrong, Kent). Only 2 of them got a shot at the NFL and one is now a LB. Kent never made it to UM and Reid left the team after not seeing the field in 2 years at the U. McGee struggled most of his career but developed into a solid starter for his Senior year. Ray Ray show glimpses of his talent as a true freshmen but never got a chance to develop and was suspended most of his last 2 years at the U.
The distractions…
Did not qualify: Malcolm Bunche and Prince Kent had to go the prep route.
Suspensions: Ray Ray (4), Vernon (6), Dye (4), Ray Ray and Dye both lost their final year due to the scandal
NFL: Washington, Miller, Vernon all left with eligibility remaining
Injuries: Porter, Green, Plein, White all missed seasons due to injuries.
What Happened? Billy Sanders. Jamal Reid
In the end:
Only 7* of the 19 players who signed with Miami in 2009 will complete their careers here with a degree.
Almost half of the class will get their shot to reach their full potential in the NFL.
*Bunche does not count as he is a member of class of 2010. White does not count although he graduated from UM he will be finishing his playing career this year at FIU.
Did Randy Shannon’s 2009 recruiting class get lost in the transition to the Golden Era? Only 4* (Green, Porter, Wheeler, Highsmith) of the 19 original signees from the 6th ranked class remain on the 2013 Miami Hurricanes as 5th year seniors. They have bought in and survived the transition from the Shannon to Golden Era. The class was filled with talent and potential as evidenced by the #6 ESPN class ranking with only 19 signees and the 6 players who are already getting their shots at the NFL. However, much of that talent was under developed or utilized in college. Below is a complete look at the class of 2009.
Here is the press release on the 2009 recruiting class:
“The Hurricanes brought in the No. 7 rated recruiting class, and the top-rated in the ACC. The class includes 19 members, six in the Top 150. Featured in the group is safety Aravious "Ray Ray" Armstrong from Seminole High School (Fla.). “
Their Record:
2009 9-4 (Shannon)
2010 7-6 (Shannon)
2011 6-6 (Golden)
2012 7-5 (Golden)
2013 ?
Here is the list of the 19 signees with bios:
The class rankings after signing day?
Rivals #1 1, Scouts #1 9, ESPN #6
Good Start…
The class started off well with 6 early enrollees in December.
-Brandon McGee DB 5-11 180
-Olivier Vernon DL 6-2 247
-Jermaine Johnson OL 6-6 304
-Curtis Porter DL 6-0 344
-Mike James RB 5-11 220
-Brandon Washington OL 6-4 354
Everyone was impressed with the maturity and athleticism that they brought to team. Washington and Johnson were big physically and coming from an extra year of prep school both seemed ready to contribute right away. However, only Washington contributed from day 1, playing in all 13 games and making 2 starts. 5 out of the 6 players were called upon to help right away and did not redshirt. Mike James was physically ready and contributed in all 13 games at fullback as a true freshman and eventually became a team leader and starter by his senior year. Curtis Porter played in 8 games in 2009 as true freshmen, but only 7 in the next 3 years combined. Vernon also played in 11 games as a true freshmen starting in 2 of them. McGee played in 10 games as well as a true freshman contributing primarily on special teams.
What should have been…
The class included the #1 and 2 Prep OL in Jermaine Johnson and Brandon Washington who were going to help solidify the OL along with Malcolm Bunche, Jared Wheeler, and long term projects Corey White and Stephen Plein.
Bunche didn’t qualify and ended as up as a member of the 2010 class. Johnson showed signs of potential early on but never adjusted under golden and left the team during his 3rd year. Neither of the projects panned out as Plein left the team after 2009 with a medical hardship and Corey bounced between OT an TE and never got any significant playing time before graduating and finishing his career at FIU. Washington was a solid starter for 2 years but decided to leave early for the NFL after his Junior year, he was not drafted until the 6th round. Wheeler is the last member of that class on the team along with Bunche but has been nothing more than a backup his whole career.
On defense this class was supposed to have a "Machine" along with a future NFL back field with 1 Army All-American (McGee) and 3 UA All-Americans (Reid, Armstrong, Kent). Only 2 of them got a shot at the NFL and one is now a LB. Kent never made it to UM and Reid left the team after not seeing the field in 2 years at the U. McGee struggled most of his career but developed into a solid starter for his Senior year. Ray Ray show glimpses of his talent as a true freshmen but never got a chance to develop and was suspended most of his last 2 years at the U.
The distractions…
Did not qualify: Malcolm Bunche and Prince Kent had to go the prep route.
Suspensions: Ray Ray (4), Vernon (6), Dye (4), Ray Ray and Dye both lost their final year due to the scandal
NFL: Washington, Miller, Vernon all left with eligibility remaining
Injuries: Porter, Green, Plein, White all missed seasons due to injuries.
What Happened? Billy Sanders. Jamal Reid
In the end:
Only 7* of the 19 players who signed with Miami in 2009 will complete their careers here with a degree.
Almost half of the class will get their shot to reach their full potential in the NFL.
*Bunche does not count as he is a member of class of 2010. White does not count although he graduated from UM he will be finishing his playing career this year at FIU.
Last edited: