Mike Rumph is excited about the cornerbacks UM signed, Trajan Bandy and JUCO arrival Jhavonte Dean.
“I think we finished pretty well, we got two really good corners who love the University of Miami,” Rumph said. “They’re selfless corners, all about the team.”
He adds that “You can pay attention to the four stars and the rankings, but you can’t measure those kids’ hearts. Us being in South Florida and really listening and learning about these kids, it showed us they’re kids with big hearts that want to be successful here. We’re excited to have them.”
Asked about Bandy, Rumph said, “I think he’ll be able to play different positions whether it’s nickel or corner. He has a big passion for the game, a lot of the locker room is familiar with him because he’s been around a good amount. He’s going to fit us well.”
Of Dean, Rumph said, “he’s a mature corner, great athleticism. He’s going to fit in real good because he’s from here, the corners know him, and he’s a confident kid. It’ll make our room more mature and confident.”
Rumph also says Dean’s mentality “is like a throwback Sean Taylor, Frank Gore - just `coach, I don’t fear anyone, I just want to play ball, I just want to win.’ I said `Wow, you sound like the throwbacks I used to play with.’”
Of course, Brian Edwards and CJ Henderson are the ones that got away.
“It came down to two days before signing (day) and they don’t know what they want to do,” Rumph said. “It’s just confusing to me. I wish the parents were a little more involved. When you’re making a big decision, for him to have his first decision about the rest of his life, I wish the parents would be more involved., but it was just very tedious and nerve-racking, I can tell you that up until the phone call I got at 12 (a.m. from Dean committing).”
Rumph says he’s learned from the recruiting losses.
“I always tell the high school kids it’s a business, go with your hearts, (but) I really want kids to consider to come here and not flake out on us at the last minute,” he said. “We’ll learn from when we do lose. When they finally tell me `Okay, I want to go here, I’m not going to Miami (I asked) `What was it, what can we do better the next time?’ And now I have some idea of different ways we can pursue things.”
Rumph says that he’s “already had” those conversations with Edwards and Henderson.
“I just wish more people would talk to them about their decisions, think about it more,” Rumph said, adding that an emphasis will be “just more pressure to make sure you land the kids you were recruiting for the year.”
At the end of the day the two misses didn’t take the shine off UM’s signing day.
“I’m so happy - as of now we’re just happy, excited to get some quality kids,” Rumph said.
Thoughts??
