Let’s throw it at the wall and see what sticks…

Signing Day. Finally here. Partially exciting because a slew of new Canes will be born. Officially the ‘greatest thing ever’ as it means terms like “my source”, “all signs point to”, “officially a lock” and several more will finally be retired until next year.

The off-season has become almost as brutal as the day-to-day of a 5-7 campaign. No news is welcome and everything is up for debate. Someone has a tip from a ‘source’ and throws it up online? It’s torn apart within seconds and a one’s virtual credibility is shredded by opinionated folk for hours.

Everyone thinks they know, but at day’s end… nobody has a clue.

Seriously.

Big time sites will push their ‘breaking news’ and inside scoop, but what does that really mean? Only one person knows. The kid in question. Outside of that, maybe mom and dad know what’s up – but aren’t in the business of leaking info.

Hell, they enjoy the game as much as their college bound teenage student athlete.

Coaches and teammates? Clueless. How could they when most future signees are still flip-flopping up until Signing Day?

Oral commitments are meaningless. Until coach gets them to sign on the line that is dotted, you can choose to believe… but don’t act surprised when a kid does a 180. It’s part of the game if you get roped in. All fan bases endure it. Welcome to the hell that is recruiting.

26 kids are all but official for Miami. Signatures are forthcoming for others, while over half dozen kids enrolled early and counted towards 2007’s lot.

Before going any further, something needs to be acknowledged. Randy Shannon, Micheal Barrow and Clint Hurtt recruited their asses off – as did the rest of the Miami staff.

A lot of you are going to piss and moan tomorrow about the ones who got away – instead of giving thanks that thirtysomething new Canes in the fold after buying into this staff’s message on the heels of 5-7 and 7-6. Not to mention, two assistants let go in the off-season, two added within weeks and recruiting didn’t miss a beat.

At day’s end, one of the nation’s top classes will sign with Miami. Whether it grades out #1 or #8 at day’s end – keep things in perspective. These coaches already overachieved if they didn’t sign another kid tomorrow.

For those who miss it or chose to ignore it, Miami spent the past two years in the toilet. How many other 5-7 teams are threatening to land a top-rated class?

Nada.

The Canes take a giant leap forward on Wednesday. One step closer to being significant again.

This class is the building block – similar to that 1999 class which sparked a return to prominence. Guys like Ken Dorsey, Philip Buchanon, Vernon Carey, Andre Johnson, Bryant McKinnie, Clinton Portis, etc. Those kids came aboard to rebuild and be part of something special.

Say the same for this class of 2008.

Entering tonight, I figured there were 10 kids who were on the fence and legitimate options for Miami tomorrow. The number dropped to nine when Gavin Hardin announced for the Canes a few hours ago. Hardin chose Miami over Ole Miss.

A three-star at 6’5″ and 225 lbs. Grew up loving the Canes.

One down and nine to go. Based on my earlier assessment that no one really has a clue what these kids will do, let’s just throw some predictions at the wall and see what sticks. Anyone can play along. We’ve all read every hype article Scout and Rivals produced. Any bone they’d throw to spike page views – it became a hot topic.

Matt Patchan was a hotter topic than Britney going 5150 and on lockdown.

Regarding these final nine, here’s my two cents. Take it our leave it. No bull. Just predictions. No inside scoop. I’ve read everything y’all have everywhere I could, I processed it, I watched how the class filled up and with only a few scholies remaining, here’s how I think it shakes down:

T.J. Bryant – Four-star CB out of Lincoln (Tallahassee). Once a Nole lock, Bryant started thinking Miami and the Canes are thought to be the silent front runner. Miami doesn’t usually pull Lincoln kids, though a few do slip through the cracks and find South Florida. Especially with Shannon running the show. Bryant heads to Coral Gables and Cane coaches improve those northern Florida inroads. – The Pick: Miami

Ramon Buchanan – A Canes lock for over half a year, the four-star safety was won over by the “charm” or Urban Myth on a recent recruiting trip. Still, Buchanan took an official visit to The U last weekend. Word is mom wants UiF and RB wants to be a Cane. Does son respect mom’s wishes and follow her heart, or does mom let son make the decision he feels is right. It’s been Florida for 2 weeks… it was Miami for nine months. R-Buch comes back to his senses. – The Pick: Miami

Jamie Harper – Not a must-get for Miami thanks to a solid crop of high school backs for 2009, but a huge pick up. A four-star back out of JAX, Harper is said to be down to Miami, FSU, Clemson and Illinois – with UM and CU the leaders. I wouldn’t be shocked if Harper chose Miami, but I think The U came along late after the kid was already digging the situation at Clemson. If he picks Miami, it’ll be part of a banner day for Miami. I still think Tigers, though. – The Pick: Clemson

Brandon Harris – Mr. Harris could’ve made life a lot easier committing already, but he’s enjoying the game. It’s down to Ohio State or Miami, but UCF was recently mentioned. Harris is Cane coaches top priority and won’t get away if he even remotely wants to play for The U. Once PJ bailed for LSU, this was a must-get. Both sides realize the need. Harris stays home and faces the Buckeyes as a Cane in a few years. – The Pick: Miami

Ben Jones – Jones says it’s down to Clemson and Miami and said the school he’ll choose is family, coaches and players are close, etc. Sounds like the local product is staying local, but is it a smoke screen? A few kids talking Miami vs. Clemson – so it’s safe to expect a split. Jones is local, teammates are on board and coaches need him on the OL. They’ve been in his ear since Patchan chose the dark side and that’ll be too much to walk away from. – The Pick: Miami

Jeremy Lewis – Like Buchanan, very solid commitment for a long time but developed a wandering eye. I’m 50/50. If Lewis didn’t have doubts, he’d have made it more official by now. I think this is a game time decision and will come down to Miami or Clemson. In reading up on Lewis, it sounds like he’s wavering. I hope I’m wrong but something tells me this four-star might want to make a splash in a smaller pool as the Canes are on a roll and chock full of big names already. – The Pick: Clemson

Nick Perry – This is the ‘edge of my seat’ pick of the day. Perry is a baller, but I’m thinking of the feather in Shannon’s cap if he lured a solid Big Ten recruit to Coral Gables this late in the game. Shannon wowed in Detroit and Perry was won over. He’s fresh off a Miami visit, but was that enough? I don’t think Miami gets Perry. If so, I say the Canes will go on a tear landing them the #1 class. For now, it’s a Big Ten thing. – The Pick: Michigan

Tommy Streeter – Interesting storyline, to say the least. Streeter Sr. passes up Miami for Colorado years back and now Jr. is facing a similar scenario. Streeter could go as far as Oregon or Boston College. USF, South Carolina and Miami are others mentioned. Is MNW’s Streeter ready to go cross country and make his own splash? Maybe. Then again, maybe dad’s choice to leave years ago has son contemplating being different, staying and creating his own local legacy.- The Pick: Miami

Kendal Thompkins – The wild card here. I believe it’s Streeter or Thompkins after LaRon Byrd committed. Miami wants Streeter, but would take KT if he chose elsewhere. Thompkins seems to have a back up plan in Nebraska, but his heart is with Miami. My gut tells me the Canes have a banner day tomorrow and Thompkins could wind up odd man out. That said, if Miami has the space, Thompkins chooses Canes over Huskers, barring the scholarship is still available. – The Pick: Nebraska

Again, the name of the game is throwing it all at the wall and seeing what sticks. No one but the decision-maker himself knows where anyone will chose when it’s time to don that hat, put on that jersey or sign those papers.

Creating drama and suspense are the name of the game. It makes the process seem more important and draws even more awareness to the ever-growing sport (business) that is college football.

Hype is just that; hype. Don’t believe it. Recruiting sites trying to sell ad space is one thing. Making an educated guess is another. We all know what we ‘think’ will happen come Wednesday. Chime in below and tell us how you see this class shaping up.

.:Canes305:.

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C. Bello

Longtime Miami Hurricanes columnist. Wrote for CanesTime.com, Yahoo! Sports and former BleacherReport featured columnist. Founder of allCanesBlog.com no longer toeing any company line. Launched ItsAUThing.com to deliver a raw, unfiltered and authentic perspective of all things "The U".