We're about to enter the heart of recruiting season for the next three months. Here is the latest from the Hecht:

- While Texas A&M should be considered the favorite, Miami remains in contact with OT Mark Matthews (St. Thomas Aquinas). The Canes are also in contact with OT Oluwasemilore Olubobola (Jersey City, NJ). Both of those situations could move fast.

- In terms of the big name guys, communication is particularly strong with CB Gabe Osborne (Oklahoma City, OK) and DT David Folorunsho (Chicago, IL).



- One name trending for the Canes that the staff loves- DT Ezekiel Ayangbile (Houston, TX). He is the son of former Pro Bowler Duane Brown.



- The Canes are looking for a second TE to pair with Demarcus DeRoche (Cardinal Gibbons). Things have cooled with Anthony Cartwright (Detroit, MI) and Jaxon Dollar (Charlotte, NC) remains a longshot. One name to know- 6'5, 220-pounder Jordan Karhoff (Columbus, OH).



- Ty Keys (Poplarville, MS) and Brennen Lacey (Dallas, TX) remain the names to know at running back.

- Two hyper-athletic, multisport names at LB that have Coach Hetherman's attention: AJ Randle (Raleigh, NC) and Jarrell Chandler (Knoxville, TN).



- The Canes hit at West Boca last year with Javian Mallory, and are looking to go back to the well. DT Jamar Thompson remains a strong option, and the staff loved their in-person view of CB Loia Valade, who moved to South Florida from Tennessee. He is a legit 5'11, 180 with verified 4.4 speed. Keep an eye on that name.



- The Canes continue to big-game hunt at DE. All the top names remain in play, with Jabarrius Garror (Mobile, AL) recently joining the mix. They are looking to make a splash at this spot.

 

I look at the Matthews situation, where everything seemed to be in Miami favors and he still went to A&M, as the issue with our specific pitch and programs strengths to some high school kids. If it is true that those intangibles at A&M mattered that much to him, a lot of these portal guys don't give a s*** about that anymore. They've experienced it and now in their 2nd and 3rd years what matters is going to a team that just played for a national championship and the development because the NFL is just a moment away.

I think our program is built for portal guys and very specific players from high school, very specific in their mind sets. Look at Bain, Look at Toney, look at Cici. We're going to get you ready for the NFL and that's what every day is going to be about. It's not about walking around campus and creepy people smiling at you and knowing your name, or filling a stadium with 100,000 people. Can you get me ready for the NFL?

In some ways I think it's why A&M struggles so much, even with really good recruiting classes. I don't think that environment of being coddled and worshipped is great for building character. I think Notre Dame suffers from a similar issue.

I also wonder about the work ethic and the grind that Mario is putting our guys through now. Does it scare off some elite talents that maybe have coasted a bit up to this point due to their natural gifts? I'm not arguing we shouldn't do it. The work on Greentree is what fueled the dynasty.

Matthews has been an elite talent all through high school working at whatever intensity he is comfortable with and it has worked out well for him. He may not have the foresight to understand the importance of or the motivation to care about being the very best version of himself. Maybe he doesn't love football enough to even care about being a Hall of Fame tackle in the NFL or even a 1st round pick. Maybe he isn't self-motivated and the only way he is going to sign up to work like that is if he absolutely has to in order to reach whatever goal he has set for himself.

Mario only wants guys who want to achieve their highest potential and he puts the team through the necessary work to achieve it. He shows the croots the practices to weed out anyone who doesn't want to work. Totally possible that Matthews isn't with it right now. He might be totally fine being a starting tackle on a top 10 team that gets drafted in the 4th round and has an 8 yr NFL career where he makes 20 million dollars and then no one ever remembers his name. That's still an amazing career and he didn't have to kill himself for 3 yrs at Miami. It's like the "Heat Culture" thing what Mario does is not for everybody and it's not the only way to have a successful career.

I was a person with this mentality academically and it cost me a couple years of my life and taught me a valuable lesson that natural talent/intelligence alone can only get you so far. At some point you will always have to put in the real work if you want to make it. If he is passing on us because of how hard the practices are I hope he doesn't have to learn that lesson the hard way.

 

Who is the best recruiter(s) on our staff? Would this guy(s) be viewed the same at lets say Texas, ND, or OSU? It's something I've thought about for a while in regards to us always struggling around this time.

We may need a Seider-type recruiter to help out so that Mario can be more of a closer rather than the coach who seems to do most of the heavy lifting.

I think our staff may be better at developing than recruiting, seems like mario has prioritized more developmental type coaches too

 

I also wonder about the work ethic and the grind that Mario is putting our guys through now. Does it scare off some elite talents that maybe have coasted a bit up to this point due to their natural gifts? I'm not arguing we shouldn't do it. The work on Greentree is what fueled the dynasty.

Matthews has been an elite talent all through high school working at whatever intensity he is comfortable with and it has worked out well for him. He may not have the foresight to understand the importance of or the motivation to care about being the very best version of himself. Maybe he doesn't love football enough to even care about being a Hall of Fame tackle in the NFL or even a 1st round pick. Maybe he isn't self-motivated and the only way he is going to sign up to work like that is if he absolutely has to in order to reach whatever goal he has set for himself.

Mario only wants guys who want to achieve their highest potential and he puts the team through the necessary work to achieve it. He shows the croots the practices to weed out anyone who doesn't want to work. Totally possible that Matthews isn't with it right now. He might be totally fine being a starting tackle on a top 10 team that gets drafted in the 4th round and has an 8 yr NFL career where he makes 20 million dollars and then no one ever remembers his name. That's still an amazing career and he didn't have to kill himself for 3 yrs at Miami. It's like the "Heat Culture" thing what Mario does is not for everybody and it's not the only way to have a successful career.

I was a person with this mentality academically and it cost me a couple years of my life and taught me a valuable lesson that natural talent/intelligence alone can only get you so far. At some point you will always have to put in the real work if you want to make it. If he is passing on us because of how hard the practices are I hope he doesn't have to learn that lesson the hard way.

I also wonder how much the transfer portal existing allows these guys a little more comfort in being torn between schools. In theory, if you like two schools, you could play for both by the end of your career and make that your plan.

 

Players in the South have heard their whole lives how the sec is where the real players go. Some kids no matter how good Miami is will go to the SEC. Keep recruiting players from the Midwest and North that don't give two craps about the sec. We have cleaned up in Midwest. Keep it going.

Can confirm. From the Midwest and tired of hearing about the SEC

 

Can confirm. From the Midwest and tired of hearing about the SEC

I'm in Missouri and can't stand the sec narrative. Hope Miami keeps recruiting the midwest

 

youre correct
the crazy part is that the recent misses
is giving cover for the lack of movement with the elite DTs
the DT recruiting has been completely mid since scott
at least we landed cantwell last year
cant keep missing the elite talent on Dline

Stancil is mid?

 

Stancil is mid?

yea theres a big gap between scott and stancil as prospects

 

Stancil is mid?

Stancil is good but he aint that 5 star we targeting from Chicago, at least not yet. Two way different films

 

I also wonder how much the transfer portal existing allows these guys a little more comfort in being torn between schools. In theory, if you like two schools, you could play for both by the end of your career and make that your plan.

I doubt most of these kids are thinking that far ahead. It may be a calculus for some but for the most part I don't think anyone is signing with the intent they'll transfer. But it can't be ruled out since essentially now every off season everyone is an unrestricted free agent.

 

I doubt most of these kids are thinking that far ahead. It may be a calculus for some but for the most part I don't think anyone is signing with the intent they'll transfer. But it can't be ruled out since essentially now every off season everyone is an unrestricted free agent.

I look at Alabama qb situation and there has to be a transfer. Keelon Russell is a RSFR, Austin Mack, Jett thomalla might redshirt and theyre adding trent seaborn and Elijah haven thats going to be interesting log jam down the road.

 

I'm in Missouri and can't stand the sec narrative. Hope Miami keeps recruiting the midwest

Does Missouri count as Midwest? Never sure with them. I know here in Ohio is pretty stereotypical Midwest

 

Does Missouri count as Midwest? Never sure with them. I know here in Ohio is pretty stereotypical Midwest

Most Missourians consider themselves southerners.

 

Does Missouri count as Midwest? Never sure with them. I know here in Ohio is pretty stereotypical Midwest

Yes Missouri is as Midwest as it gets. Literally smack dab in the middle of the country. Also the arch is the gateway to the west.

 

Most Missourians consider themselves southerners.

Midwest boundaries are weird. Pittsburgh is pretty stereotypical Midwest but is not in a Midwest state.

 

Yes Missouri is as Midwest as it gets. Literally smack dab in the middle of the country. Also the arch is the gateway to the west.

Makes sense. Them being in the SEC probably made me think South, but then again…San Francisco is Atlantic Coast now

 

Midwest boundaries are weird. Pittsburgh is pretty stereotypical Midwest but is not in a Midwest state.

that i agree
pittsburgh is completely different than philly
closer to chicago

 

Most Missourians consider themselves southerners

Does Missouri count as Midwest? Never sure with them. I know here in Ohio is pretty stereotypical Midwest

Lived here for 47 years and would never call myself a southerner. But I'm sure some people

Makes sense. Them being in the SEC probably made me think South, but then again…San Francisco is Atlantic Coast now

Yeah Using college conferences for geography lessons will make your head explode

 

that i agree
pittsburgh is completely different than philly
closer to chicago

Grew up not far from Pittsburgh (in Youngstown) and live near Cleveland now. Not much of a difference other than I apparently have an accent that isn’t typical NE Ohio

 

yea theres a big gap between scott and stancil as prospects

No 5* = mid?

 

No 5* = mid?

To me
When it comes to dts yea
it’s one position where it’s much more rare to play beyond your rankings
It happens but you can’t keep banking on being an outlier