Graham was taken first (third round to New Orleans – 95th overall), followed by Sharpton (fourth round to Houston – 102nd overall), Fox (fourth round to Detroit – 128th overall) and Epps (seventh round to San Diego – 235th overall).
Available Canes not taken were Javarris James, Sam Shields, AJ Trump, Eric Moncur, Joe Joseph, Tervaris Johnson and Randy Phillips. Some of which have since signed on as free agents. (James to Indy… Shields to Green Bay… Trump to Pittsburgh… Joseph to Houston… Johnson to Kansas City.)
As much as I want to turn this into a rant – building a case for why Miami football has fallen into the lurch it’s in, I’ll avert the temptation to ‘go there’. The proof is in the war room; where Hurricanes haven’t been in the tips of many GMs tongues in a while.
Four Canes drafted in 2010 is the most since five Canes went in 2007. Three went in 2008, with Kenny Phillips the last Miami first rounder. In 2009, back up linebacker Spencer Adkins was UM’s only pick; a sixth rounder. The last time a lone Cane was drafted? Cornerback Gene Coleman in 1980.
2009 proved to be the draft day low, just as 2007 was where Miami football, as we know it, bottomed out. Many gripe about that 5-7 start for Randy Shannon, on the heels of a 7-6 run that got Larry Coker fired. The new guy did worse than the old guy. Some couldn’t get past that, but looking back Shannon lost out on three first rounders – Brandon Meriweather, Jon Beason and Greg Olsen – two of which have become Pro Bowl caliber players.
Addition by subtraction is part of the recipe when rebuilding, seeing players from yesteryear moving on while young, hungrier players awaited their turn. Four years back, Miami lacked the depth to replace superstars. These days the Canes are stockpiling the stars of tomorrow, the old regime now completely fazed out.
A program that’s seen twenty-six first rounders since the millennium eventually got to a point where this year’s first Cane off the board was a former-basketball-player-turned-tight-end with one year playing experience. That’s not a knock on Graham in the least. It’s simply proof how far a once mighty program has fallen, not to mention how easy a thirteen-year streak can be taken for granted.
Miami has a sure-fire first rounder in Allen Bailey next spring, while some others could play their way into a higher spot. One is a far cry from the six first round Canes seen in 2004 – but every journey starts with that initial step.
The on-the-mend Canes of the late 90s started with one. After a 9-3 season in 1998, Edgerrin James was the fourth pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. A year later Daniel “Bubba” Franks went number fourteen to Green Bay.
The Canes rolled to 11-1 in 2000 and sent four first rounders to the league months later – Dan Morgan, Damione Lewis, Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne. (It would’ve possibly sent two more had Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie declared, as they were ready to before Butch Davis asked them to stay and win a title… before himself bolting.)
Five first rounders in 2002, four in 2003, a half dozen in 2004 and back to one in 2005. One in 2006. Three in 2007. One in 2008 (fittingly the final pick of the first round). None in 2009 or 2010.
Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas had 29 total players drafted this year; ten in the first round. For those keeping score, that’s two national champions and two runner ups.
Even more telling, the Sooners went from title game front runner to 8-5 after losing future first rounders Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham front runners.
Merriweather, Beason and Olson may not have been as valuable as a Heisman-winning quarterback, but it helps justify a 7-6 to 5-7 slide in that Coker to Shannon transition. Though once a ‘gimmie’, first round talent is nothing to take for granted.
Congrats to the four drafted Canes, as well as the five who signed free agent contracts. This is your moment. Make the most of it.
The corner has been turned and after last year’s draft day snoozer, Miami took one step closer to relevancy. Next spring a new first round streak begins.
Finally.
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Congrats Fellas!!! Good to see you guys carrying on the legacy of NFLU.
Good stuff! This is the beginning of the resurgence. Bailey will go top ten. Hank will also go 1st round if he can improves even just slightly on his junior year. Berry should go early also, but it all depends on his ability to pass block. Question: Does j-12 leave if he "somehow" wins the Heisman (yeah I know I'm reaching now, right?)
There are 2 issues here: talent and player development.
You can say that Randy was left with nothing (although he was recruiting many of those "no talent" players), but you can also say that he did a terrible job in player development.
Which players got better as their careers went on? Maybe Sharpton, but the rest got worse.
Whose fault is that?
I think NFL GM's love Quarterbacks who are Seniors but the fact that Jacory played in an NFL system doesn't hurt his cause. After watching what could've happend to Bradford's stock after he got injured EVERY college football player who had a solid junior year will surely leave. Just ask Taylor Mays if he regrets staying one more year.
If there's anyone other then Bailey who I could see be a 1st Rounder next year it's Brandon Harris.
There were games that the Canes lost this past season, because Jimmy Graham could not catch the damn ball.
And now he's going to be playing in the NFL?
I don't really get it.
If he's good enough, then most every other college player should be able to go pro.
There are 2 issues here: talent and player development.
You can say that Randy was left with nothing (although he was recruiting many of those "no talent" players), but you can also say that he did a terrible job in player development.
Which players got better as their careers went on? Maybe Sharpton, but the rest got worse.
Whose fault is that?
You say the 'rest' got worse, but it all depends when you feel the clock started ticking on Randy Shannon.
He was hired at the end of 2006 and Larry stuck around until the bowl game. Shannon's first non-Coker day of work was New Years Day 2007 - about a month before signing day, meaning THIS YEAR'S seniors were from the class that RS had to come in and 'save' -- getting Graig Cooper to recommit after a season at Milford Prep, getting Robert Marve to commit and getting Allen Bailey to commit.
His first full class are heading into their junior year. Over the next two seasons we can talk about player development regarding "Shannon's guys" and the kids he recruited.
Sam Shields. Darryl Sharpton. Jason Fox. Those were Coker's guys that Shannon inherited.
Regarding 'player development', you can only develop a player as much as they want to be developed. The athlete has to meet the coaches halfway.
Last year there was an off-season story about guys breaking down film. Specifically it was Vaughn Telemaque and Ray Ray Armstrong who were watching film FIVE days a week, pissed off that they couldn't break down film over the weekend when the film room was closed. Both were entering their sophomore years and 1000% Shannon guys.
Conversely, the story went on to say that Shields was watching film two days a week... entering his senior season after making the switch from wide receiver to cornerback. Shields was a Coker guy.
You have two Shannon guys who buy into the culture and his was of doing things, salivating at the prospect of watching copious amounts of film so they can get better... while on the other side you have a player who lived in hot water, switching to a new position with ONE LAST SHOT at getting it right - and he only wanted to watch film twice a week.
Let's look at the 2012 and 2013 drafts to see where Shannon's first two full classes go on draft day. At that point let's judge his ability to recruit and develop NFL-ready talent -- not today, when this 2010 class was chock full of Coker's kids.
Ironic that the highest rated Cane drafted was a one-and-done tight end with tremendous work ethic, who Shannon's staff absolutely developed in one season.
As for your take that Shannon was recruiting these 'no talent' players, that's wrong. Recruiting falls directly on the shoulders of the head coach. Coker took over the most loaded team in history and thanks to poor recruiting, put Miami in the toilet in a matter of years.
If Butch Davis gets all the credit for his success between 1995 and 2000. Larry Coker get the blame for the poor recruiting from 2001-2006.
Shannon has proven the past few years that when left in control of recruiting, he knows what the hell he's doing. Look at the caliber player he's brought on board the last three classes. Look at the personnel changes he's made. Coker was clueless. Old man didn't even have a recruiting coordinator and was enamored with five-star talent, unable to find those diamond in the rough, Miami-style players.
There were games that the Canes lost this past season, because Jimmy Graham could not catch the damn ball.
And now he's going to be playing in the NFL?
I don't really get it.
If he's good enough, then most every other college player should be able to go pro.
Willis, outside a rough outing against Virginia Tech, I though Graham showed a lot of potential this past season.
17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns. A big five-catch game down the stretch against Duke, with 73 yards on the day.
6'8" and 260 pounds with some toughness, solid character and serious upside/potential -- Graham was a solid third round pick for the Super Bowl champs. Seems like a great fit for him and them.
I'll take a kid with great physical attributes, upside and for all intents and purposes, a very solid "freshman" season. Also, Graham is 23 years old so on the maturity front, he should adapt quicker than your average 20-21 year old headed to the league.
I thoroughly enjoy the implication that even though randy has been here since 2001, he had 0 hand in recruiting until 07.. laughable at best. Guess you'll say anything to prop up mediocrity, it's almost sad.
The head coach has the final call on who to go after, who to sign, who to offer.... NOT THE ASSISTANTS! You're in dreamland if you think otherwise.
What about Randy Phillips has any team signed him?