MessiahChild
Redshirt Freshman
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2012
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South Florida prospects talk Miami Hurricanes
By Gerry Hamilton
COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- When the top prospects get together at an even such as the Pylon 7-on-7, there are always a number of interesting topics on the recruiting front to be discussed. In particular, last weekend’s 7-on-7 featured many of the top skill prospects in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties and that meant the Miami Hurricanes were a topic of discussion.
When talking about Miami in it’s current state, the main question is when or if The U will be back among the nation's elite.
After a 9-4 season in 2013, the Hurricanes took a step back in 2014, finishing 6-7, albeit with a talented freshman quarterback in Brad Kaaya who certainly provides Miami fans hope for 2015 and beyond. That means the 2015 season is a make-or-break one for Al Golden and staff with the rival Florida State Seminoles winning and recruiting at a very high level and the Florida Gators sure to get the recruiting bounce in 2016 after a coaching change and the ability to sell a vision for the future to top prospects in the Sunshine State.
While the Hurricanes finished with the No. 23 class in 2014, Miami is expected to finish in the top 10 annually since it sits in the most talented area in the country. The Class of 2016 is off to a great start with eight ESPN Junior 300 verbals and has the early look of a potential top-5 class, it will be the 2015 season that tells the story on how the class will finish.
On Saturday, RecruitingNation asked a number of top prospects from the area what the Hurricanes have to do get “back,” and improve the chances of landing some of the top prospects in the area. Answers varied as expected.
Trayvon Mullen, CB
ESPN junior ranking: No. 14
Mullen is the top-ranked prospect in the area in 2016, and his voice is one to be heard. The uber-talented cornerback is taking a patient approach to the process, and provides a hint as to what he is looking for from Miami.
“They are in it with me, a hometown team and a good school. They just have to keep coming hard. Just have everything together, have everything right when kids come visit. That’s about it.”
Dionte Mullins, WR
ESPN Junior 300 ranking: No. 55
The Miami commitment didn’t mince words when asked what the Hurricanes have to do to get back in people's eyes.
“Just got to play Miami football. Recruit the right guys. Recruit the guys that are hungry. Recruit kids from Miami that are dedicated to playing for Miami and bringing it back.”
Devin Bush Jr., ILB
ESPN Junior 300 ranking: No. 207
What does Miami have to do to get back?
“Show me this year what you can do when so much pressure is on. All the talk about firing your coach, how do you bounce back and make things positive from a negative.”
What hurts Miami the most with area prospects?
“Unstable coaching staff, rumors about Coach Golden getting fired, coaches leaving, players not wanting to go there and it’s not interesting like it used to be.”
Binjimen Victor, WR
ESPN Junior ranking: No. 274
Victor said it’s all about the love, and seeing how the offense is going to look this season.
“They’ve got to come hard. There are a lot of schools coming after me, and I want to experience everything. I want to see how they run their offense this year.”
For Victor, it’s not about wins as much as the feeling of development.
“It’s not about the wins, but developing me as a man and player.”
Joshua Hammond , WR
ESPN 300 ranking: N/R
Hammond has quickly become one of the top prospects in the area at Hallandale. The 2016 Under Armour All-America Game selection was offered by the hometown Hurricanes Jan. 25, well after the likes of LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and a number of others. While Hammond is just now seeing his stock go through the roof, he offers a different take than others who have been heavily recruited for over a year.
“If they had a different approach to recruiting kids it would help. They didn’t start recruiting me until later. They have to start recruiting kids early on because if they were my first offer I would probably be committed right now. They came in so late, it’s like they don’t really want me there or don’t know what they want.”
The overall impression received on Saturday was that each and every prospect from the area knows the Hurricanes have the makings of a terrific 2016 class with the 2015 season looming large. Kids hear the rumors and chatter, but at the same time they have respect for the level of players committed in 2016. Miami is in a very similar situation to Florida headed in the 2014 season. If the Hurricanes have an ascending season on the field and answer questions about the future, they'll regain momentum and likely sign a top-5 class.
By Gerry Hamilton
COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- When the top prospects get together at an even such as the Pylon 7-on-7, there are always a number of interesting topics on the recruiting front to be discussed. In particular, last weekend’s 7-on-7 featured many of the top skill prospects in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties and that meant the Miami Hurricanes were a topic of discussion.
When talking about Miami in it’s current state, the main question is when or if The U will be back among the nation's elite.
After a 9-4 season in 2013, the Hurricanes took a step back in 2014, finishing 6-7, albeit with a talented freshman quarterback in Brad Kaaya who certainly provides Miami fans hope for 2015 and beyond. That means the 2015 season is a make-or-break one for Al Golden and staff with the rival Florida State Seminoles winning and recruiting at a very high level and the Florida Gators sure to get the recruiting bounce in 2016 after a coaching change and the ability to sell a vision for the future to top prospects in the Sunshine State.
While the Hurricanes finished with the No. 23 class in 2014, Miami is expected to finish in the top 10 annually since it sits in the most talented area in the country. The Class of 2016 is off to a great start with eight ESPN Junior 300 verbals and has the early look of a potential top-5 class, it will be the 2015 season that tells the story on how the class will finish.
On Saturday, RecruitingNation asked a number of top prospects from the area what the Hurricanes have to do get “back,” and improve the chances of landing some of the top prospects in the area. Answers varied as expected.
Trayvon Mullen, CB
ESPN junior ranking: No. 14
Mullen is the top-ranked prospect in the area in 2016, and his voice is one to be heard. The uber-talented cornerback is taking a patient approach to the process, and provides a hint as to what he is looking for from Miami.
“They are in it with me, a hometown team and a good school. They just have to keep coming hard. Just have everything together, have everything right when kids come visit. That’s about it.”
Dionte Mullins, WR
ESPN Junior 300 ranking: No. 55
The Miami commitment didn’t mince words when asked what the Hurricanes have to do to get back in people's eyes.
“Just got to play Miami football. Recruit the right guys. Recruit the guys that are hungry. Recruit kids from Miami that are dedicated to playing for Miami and bringing it back.”
Devin Bush Jr., ILB
ESPN Junior 300 ranking: No. 207
What does Miami have to do to get back?
“Show me this year what you can do when so much pressure is on. All the talk about firing your coach, how do you bounce back and make things positive from a negative.”
What hurts Miami the most with area prospects?
“Unstable coaching staff, rumors about Coach Golden getting fired, coaches leaving, players not wanting to go there and it’s not interesting like it used to be.”
Binjimen Victor, WR
ESPN Junior ranking: No. 274
Victor said it’s all about the love, and seeing how the offense is going to look this season.
“They’ve got to come hard. There are a lot of schools coming after me, and I want to experience everything. I want to see how they run their offense this year.”
For Victor, it’s not about wins as much as the feeling of development.
“It’s not about the wins, but developing me as a man and player.”
Joshua Hammond , WR
ESPN 300 ranking: N/R
Hammond has quickly become one of the top prospects in the area at Hallandale. The 2016 Under Armour All-America Game selection was offered by the hometown Hurricanes Jan. 25, well after the likes of LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and a number of others. While Hammond is just now seeing his stock go through the roof, he offers a different take than others who have been heavily recruited for over a year.
“If they had a different approach to recruiting kids it would help. They didn’t start recruiting me until later. They have to start recruiting kids early on because if they were my first offer I would probably be committed right now. They came in so late, it’s like they don’t really want me there or don’t know what they want.”
The overall impression received on Saturday was that each and every prospect from the area knows the Hurricanes have the makings of a terrific 2016 class with the 2015 season looming large. Kids hear the rumors and chatter, but at the same time they have respect for the level of players committed in 2016. Miami is in a very similar situation to Florida headed in the 2014 season. If the Hurricanes have an ascending season on the field and answer questions about the future, they'll regain momentum and likely sign a top-5 class.
