Friday report: Several UM recruits says UM needs to win big games (like Saturday's) to firm up their commitment; 10 Dolphins tidbits; Heat
FRIDAY BUZZ COLUMN
Winning big games such as Saturday’s against Nebraska isn’t merely important in returning this UM program to national relevance. These types of games are also critical in solidifying UM’s oral commitments and snagging uncommitted recruits.
Several Miami targets in the 2016 class have told me that UM’s performance this season, especially in big games, will make a difference in their decision. Essentially, UM needs success to keep this 22-member recruiting class (ranked ninth by ESPN) from losing key pieces.
Columbus three-star linebacker and UM oral commitment Joshua Uche is being heavily courted by Alabama and UF and said Miami absolutely must win this season to firm up his commitment. “I’m not going to say any specific number, but just some success to show progress,” he said.
Same with Hallandale’s Zack Moss, rated the nation’s 31st-best running back prospect by Rivals.
“I want to see them have a good year, win at least 9 or 10 games, have a bowl appearance,” Moss said, adding that UM also must win big games. “If they have a great year, I think they’ll keep all the 2016 commitments.”
Moss said Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida have essentially told him that “the U doesn’t have it this year” and suggested that Al Golden might lose his job.
“I don’t worry about Golden,” Moss said. “They’re stacked everywhere. They have too much talent not to win.”
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas four-star receiver Sam Bruce, perhaps UM’s most-coveted recruit, chose to attend UF’s opener instead of UM’s and always prefaces his comments by saying “as of now” he’s committed to UM.
So does UM need to win to keep him? “I am looking at it as Miami is going to win 10 games,” he responded. But he also suggested he would look elsewhere if Golden is fired, so UM must win to keep him.
Among the top uncommitted players, UM’s won/loss record is vitally important.
Incoming UM quarterback Jack Allison has said Coconut Creek four-star receiver Binjimen Victor is the player he would most love to add to this 2016 class. But Victor said it’s “most definitely important” that UM wins this year, especially marquee games.
Victor -- who has been heavily linked to UF and Ohio State -- said he is “kind of” worried about the state of the Hurricanes program: “I want a team that wins and a great program that fits my skills.”
His Coconut Creek teammate, four-star Trayvon Mullen --- rated the nation’s No. 6 cornerback --- said UM “is recruiting me hard” but “they’ve got to win more games.” He recently visited FSU.
Uncommitted Flanagan four-star prospect Devin Bush, rated the sixth-best inside linebacker in the 2016 class, said UM “isn’t on my list as much” now because of uncertainty about Golden’s future. And “when they’re not winning as much, it’s a factor. Nobody likes to lose.”
Surprisingly, Bush cited UM’s switch to Adidas as a negative: “They’ve been a Nike school forever and the change to Adidas kind of messed me up a bit. Miami has that tradition of hard-nosed football, Nike, beat you before the kickoff. They kind of changed that mentality. The stature of the team has changed.”
Bush’s top three: Auburn, FSU and Michigan.
Bush’s Flanagan teammate, four-star safety Devin Gil, said myriad factors contributed to him flipping from UM to Michigan in June. Among them: Golden’s job security: “I chose Jim Harbaugh because he just got there and all the big things he accomplished.”
Because of NCAA penalties, UM can give recruits tickets to only one game a year. "This is the game we’re all coming to,” four-game linebacker/oral commitment Shaquille Quarterman told Canesport.com.
Among top uncommitted players expected at Saturday's game, according to Rivals: five-star Georgia-based cornerback/running back Mecole Hardman, who's rated No. 16 overall by Rivals in the 2016 class. UM will be his first visit; he also has scheduled trips to Michigan and Mississippi.
UM can firm up wavering recruits and perhaps add a couple of high-end uncommitted ones by winning more of these big games (Nebraska, FSU, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech). Saturday would be a good start.
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Welp it's been nice knowing you
