Miami, which has three commits in from Palm Beach County in the 2016 class and is angling for another from just north of the county, could sign its highest number of Post-area locals in four years. UM feels it will go better than last time it had that many. The Hurricanes’ list of current commits includes linebacker Zach McCloud, of Santaluces High, running back Travis Homer (Oxbridge Academy) and receiver Ahmmon Richards (Wellington). UM is also hoping to snag defensive end Patrick Bethel (Vero Beach), whose father, Randy, played for the Hurricanes from 1987-90.
The last time UM signed four Palm Beach County players was 2012, when it landed West Boca Raton receiver Robert Lockhart and linebacker JaWand Blue, and Palm Beach Central receiver Angelo Jean-Louis and linebacker Gabe Terry. None of them are still with the program; Blue and Terry were dismissed for off-the-field conduct, and Lockhart transferred. Jean-Louis, who was recently dismissed from Marshall, didn’t qualify at UM.
Coach Al Golden feels that scenario won’t repeat itself again. In a sit-down with the Post last month, Golden said he feels more a part of the South Florida culture than ever as he enters his fifth season at UM — and as a result, is identifying and attracting better players. “When you pop down and take over a program and you start recruiting, that’s when all your relationships start,” Golden said. He cited freshman running back Mark Walton, from Miami-Booker T. Washington High, as an example of a player he’s had years to recruit. I watched him grow up,” Golden said. “He was in the ninth grade when we offered him. He’s been over I don’t know how many times. Work backwards: the guys that are the oldest had the least interaction with me. These guys that are sophomores and juniors, they got me for three years when they were coming up in high school, then they’ve had me for two or three years here.”
Whether stronger bonds turns into more wins on the field remains to be seen. But UM feels better about its recruiting in general now than it did in the first three years of Golden’s tenure. His recruiting classes from 2011-13 (ranked 33rd, 10th and 14th nationally by 247Sports’ composite ratings). Combined, Golden’s 2014 and 2015 classes, ranked 12th and 27th, have seen only one player leave via transfer (though attrition is natural as players advance in their college careers) and none for off-the-field trouble. The entire 2015 enrolled at UM.
The 2016 Canes class, which has 21 commits, is rated No. 8 by Rivals and No. 10 by 247Sports’ composite ratings. Fifteen of the 21 commits are from Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach Counties. Only one player, Baltimore/D.C.-area defensive tackle Izon Pulley, does not attend high school in Florida (receiver/tight end/H-back Michael Irvin II, who grew up near Dallas, recently transferred to his father’s alma mater, Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas).
UM’s Palm Beach and Treasure Coast commits are considered the top talents in their area. The most recent PBGametime Big Board, posted in April, has Richards and McCloud ranked No. 1 and 2. Homer is No. 6, but his star has risen and he’s a sure bet to move up when the new Big Board is released later this month. Since Vero Beach is outside the Post‘s coverage area, Bethel is not ranked.
ESPN West Palm has all Canes at the top, ranking McCloud, Richards and Homer 1-2-3 on its board. Bethel, who is also reportedly considering LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Florida, is No. 4. Even if Bethel opts to go elsewhere, the Hurricanes could have their best haul in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast since 2014, when they signed offensive tackle Kc McDermott (Palm Beach Central), safety-turned-linebacker Marques Gayot (Park Vista) and receiver Darrell Langham.
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The last time UM signed four Palm Beach County players was 2012, when it landed West Boca Raton receiver Robert Lockhart and linebacker JaWand Blue, and Palm Beach Central receiver Angelo Jean-Louis and linebacker Gabe Terry. None of them are still with the program; Blue and Terry were dismissed for off-the-field conduct, and Lockhart transferred. Jean-Louis, who was recently dismissed from Marshall, didn’t qualify at UM.
Coach Al Golden feels that scenario won’t repeat itself again. In a sit-down with the Post last month, Golden said he feels more a part of the South Florida culture than ever as he enters his fifth season at UM — and as a result, is identifying and attracting better players. “When you pop down and take over a program and you start recruiting, that’s when all your relationships start,” Golden said. He cited freshman running back Mark Walton, from Miami-Booker T. Washington High, as an example of a player he’s had years to recruit. I watched him grow up,” Golden said. “He was in the ninth grade when we offered him. He’s been over I don’t know how many times. Work backwards: the guys that are the oldest had the least interaction with me. These guys that are sophomores and juniors, they got me for three years when they were coming up in high school, then they’ve had me for two or three years here.”
Whether stronger bonds turns into more wins on the field remains to be seen. But UM feels better about its recruiting in general now than it did in the first three years of Golden’s tenure. His recruiting classes from 2011-13 (ranked 33rd, 10th and 14th nationally by 247Sports’ composite ratings). Combined, Golden’s 2014 and 2015 classes, ranked 12th and 27th, have seen only one player leave via transfer (though attrition is natural as players advance in their college careers) and none for off-the-field trouble. The entire 2015 enrolled at UM.
The 2016 Canes class, which has 21 commits, is rated No. 8 by Rivals and No. 10 by 247Sports’ composite ratings. Fifteen of the 21 commits are from Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach Counties. Only one player, Baltimore/D.C.-area defensive tackle Izon Pulley, does not attend high school in Florida (receiver/tight end/H-back Michael Irvin II, who grew up near Dallas, recently transferred to his father’s alma mater, Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas).
UM’s Palm Beach and Treasure Coast commits are considered the top talents in their area. The most recent PBGametime Big Board, posted in April, has Richards and McCloud ranked No. 1 and 2. Homer is No. 6, but his star has risen and he’s a sure bet to move up when the new Big Board is released later this month. Since Vero Beach is outside the Post‘s coverage area, Bethel is not ranked.
ESPN West Palm has all Canes at the top, ranking McCloud, Richards and Homer 1-2-3 on its board. Bethel, who is also reportedly considering LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Florida, is No. 4. Even if Bethel opts to go elsewhere, the Hurricanes could have their best haul in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast since 2014, when they signed offensive tackle Kc McDermott (Palm Beach Central), safety-turned-linebacker Marques Gayot (Park Vista) and receiver Darrell Langham.
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