The Miami Hurricanes picked up their tenth commitment for the 2009 recruiting class when West Charlotte (NC) High DT Curtis Porter chose The U over the likes of Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and a few others.
Porter joins Fort Pierce’s Luther Robinson as the second – and last – defensive tackle in next year’s class, as the Canes were only looking for two guys and two are now committed, making Columbus’ Antwan Lowery the odd man out.
Lowery has been flirting with the Canes for months and was set to make a commitment on August 1st, choosing between Miami and Rutgers. He’s since backed off his self-imposed date and he’s added Florida to his short list, as well.
Randy Shannon is again doing what’s best for the program, getting kids on board who are ready to commit, instead of being jerked around by guys caught up in the recruiting game.
You have to believe Miami will still take Lowery if he commits soon enough and there’s still a scholie available, but the days of the Canes being passive and on the recruitee’s schedule are long gone.
In other recruiting news, Miami offered TE Sheldon Richardson, the state of Missouri’s top prospect. Richardson was committed to the hometown Tigers, but has since backed off that commitment and has always dreamed of playing for The U.
Richardson took matters into his own hands, calling Miami coaches and discussing his interest level and by the end of the call, the four-star prospect had reeled in an offer.
It will be interesting to watch this play out as the Canes have also been courting Plant High (Tampa) TE Orson Charles. The four-star prospect is checking out Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and LSU, but Miami is also on the radar big time.
With Richardson now on the radar, does that push Charles another direction or does he embrace the competition? Time will tell.
I’ve seen some reporters complaining about Shannon no longer allowing reporters locker room access after games. Instead, Miami players will be available to the media in a post-game press conference-type setting – but not in the locker room.
Shannon’s reasoning was players being uncomfortable with female coeds being in the locker room, but I don’t buy that for a minute. I’ve been around my share of NCAA locker rooms and can tell you first hand that players could care less who’s in there. Modesty is not a trait of many male student athletes.
This excuse is a smoke screen and simply put, Shannon is trying to eliminate another distraction. He doesn’t seem to be a fan of the media and prefers they get their post-game quotes in a different setting. So be it.
The sports media world has become such an oversaturated circus, you can hardly blame Shannon for not wanting to play the game and trying to nip this thing in the bud.
Fans concerned about the well-being and immediate future of defensive end Allen Bailey can take some solace in Shannon saying his recovery from a torn pectoral muscle is “ahead of schedule”. Bailey should be ready for the season opener, but coaches aren’t going to push his return if he’s not ready. Miami opens with Charleston Southern on August 28th (Thursday) and 10 days later treks to The Swamp, where Bailey’s efforts are necessary if the Canes have any shot at upsetting the Gators.
In linebacker news…. Gulliver’s Brandon Marti has been given the OK from the NCAA Clearinghouse and will report to campus on Thursday. Marti isn’t expected to redshirt and should immediately see some special teams action this fall.
Troubled linebacker Zach Kane is supposedly headed to Milford Prep, along with a handful of Canes who didn’t make the grade. Kane was charged with aggravated assault this past June, after allegedly breaking a bottle over someone’s head at a house party.
Kane is facing criminal charges and will not be allowed to report until the situation is cleared up. Being that this could take a while, prep school seems the best option. He’ll either get it together up at Milford, or the wheels will fall off and Shannon will have no choice but to cut bait. Either way, it doesn’t make any sense for Kane to be at The U this fall.
The new roster was released this morning and someone emailed me a copy. A few standouts and newbies: Brandon Harris is #1. Glenn Cook traded in #55 and is now sporting #3. Aldarius Johnson got #4. Arthur Brown is #11. Jermaine McKenzie got a very un-wide receiver-like #15. Thearon Collier will sport #28. JUCO transfer Patrick Hill is #30. Sean Spence will rock #31. New kicker Jake Wieclaw is representing #40. Ramon Buchanan is #45. Laron Byrd is #47, a great number for any Miami wideout. Jordan Futch is #58 and Gavin Hardin got #59. Marcus Forston is holding down #99, the number his idol Warren Sapp wore in the NFL.
An interesting side note regarding Plant’s Orson Charles, the tight end.
It was he who “accidently” knocked over and broke the gaytors championship tropthy during a Gaynesville visit a few months back.
A Cane if I ever saw one.
Didn’t get an e-mail response to this so I will drag it in here:
Are there any plans to make the “No Excuses” wristbands available for public consumption??
If not,,, who can we pester to help make that happen?
thanks
It’s always a beautiful thing to get Cane news from other Cane backers. I’m glad Miami is not waiting for any recuits. Either get on board because you want to be part of the climb back up to greatness, or get out of the way and join some other program. We’ve been screwed over by too many kids over the years trying to be dramatic and we get left holding the bag. So I applaud the new aggressive approach. We’ve been seemingly thin at DL over the past few years due to injuries or numbers or whatever, so maybe taking 3 in this class is good. Is it just me or does it seem like we’re targeting a slew of DB’s? I guess I am focusing on the other side of the ball more because we’ve been lacking there for a few seasons. I hope you do a piece before the season starts on the feel you have for this year’s team and how you think things will play out. I know you have said that things should really begin to rebound in ’09 and ’10, but I am focused on ’08 at this point, and can’t wait to see this year’s squad on the field. It’s almost time!!!
-Columbus Cane
Didn’t get an e-mail response to this so I will drag it in here:
Are there any plans to make the “No Excuses” wristbands available for public consumption??
If not,,, who can we pester to help make that happen?
Hey, I wrote you back last week (I guess it didn’t go through) and let you know we were looking into a ‘No Excuses’ tee and would look into bracelets as well.
Not sure what can be pulled off, what the admin at The U will allow, etc. but we’re definitely look into it.
One more area that really needs to improve this year that sometimes gets overlooked is the kicking game. These guys really need to step up. Missed FG’s, weak kick-offs and bad punts really hurt us last year and cost us the NC State game, just to name one game. Why can we not get a strong legged kicker in here that can send the ball passed the 15 yeard line. Too many time last year, our opponents started in good field position after fielding the ball at the 10 or 15. We also need better accuracy on field goals, and more power in the punting game. I know coverage plays a factor as well but I am just talking about ball distance right now. These kickers really need to step up. This area can make or break a young team in all these ACC games this year. We need to turn things around and be on the right end for once.
-Columbus Cane
Like that Randy is keeping reporters OUT of the locker room. IMHO, Shalala should keep ESPN off campus 24/7/365 FOREVER.
Nothing good can come of letting these clowns hang around and try to find something negative they can overhype. Good riddance!
I watched a video by Obama on National Security and his vision to bring about change in our nation. I don’t get to caught up into politics but he sure had me convince his plan would work.
Just as I am convinced that Randy’s plans will work. All of our comments and concerns say the old way was broke but that was then and this is now. Now we have a better way of doing things. We have new attitude. Better coaches, better players, better staff and better fans.
Obama did not win the candiacy by himself. He had a slew of people backing and supporting and cheering him on. So if that means no women in the locker room, “NO EXCUSE’ wristbands, limited press conferences; bringing in tops recruits I say let’s go Canes.
“YES WE CAN”