Miami Early Departees Flop On Draft Weekend

An article like this might be fun for a non-Cane, or even an unbiased party simply in the mood to play, “I told you so”, but as a supporter of Miami football, the mistakes and harsh lessons learned by a handful of early departees has to rank up there with seeing your kids fail, or standing by them as they live through their mistakes.

There’s nothing enjoyable about any of this.

There’s been a lot of talk these past few months regarding the five Hurricanes who gave up their remaining eligibility to enter this year’s NFL Draft — running back Lamar Miller, wide receiver Tommy Streeter, offensive lineman Brandon Washington, defensive end Olivier Vernon and defensive tackle Marcus Forston.

Head coach Al Golden and staff helped all of the above submit paperwork to the NFL Draft advisory board, an official request for feedback in effort to gauge where there names would be called on Draft Day.

Unfortunately, the effort was nothing more than an exercise in going through the motions as all chose to declare before the paperwork was even returned and professional estimations made.

In the end, these twentysomethings had their minds made up and there was no turning back. In their hearts, they felt they were ‘ready’, despite no real frame of reference regarding what the NFL and real world will throw back at them as their degree of life experience isn’t in tandem with the huge decisions they all made.

For some, yes, money – or lack thereof – is a real issue and was a motivator.

Last November, Washington emphatically stated that he would return for the 2012 season. He praised the coaching staff, the change in the program’s direction and how teammates are buying into the new regime.

Weeks later, Washington tweeted, “Ever been scared to check ya bank account…” and days later, he announced his intentions to bypass his senior year.

Those who have never been poor truly cannot comment on “what they’d do” if in that situation. Being broke isn’t a hypothetical situation. You either have, or you have not. The feeling can’t be replicated.

Still, there’s right versus wrong. There’s hard work versus taking the easy out. There are good decisions and there are bad ones and there is the life lesson regarding hard work, effort, patience, perseverance and paying one’s dues in order to reach one’s goals.

There’s also that point when theory becomes reality, which was the case this weekend when all five early Miami departees plummeted down the big board, as many experts predicted they would.

The decisions of Miller, Streeter, Washington, Vernon and Forston have been discussed here often since December, but there was always a wait-and-see theme.

A hope-for-the-best approach, while making it clear for those who read between the lines to expect the worst.

I prefer to save my energy for when things happen. I’m not the type to tweet my frustrations during the first quarter of a four-quarter game, I don’t agree with calling for coaches’ firings midway through a season and in line with that, I’ve held back from chastising this current group of Hurricanes for their decision to leave a year (or two) of eligibility on the table.

Across the board, I’m not a fan of sophomores or juniors walking away from college in effort to cash in on the riches of the NFL. Money can buy a lot of things, but it can’t buy back lost time or missed experiences.

Yes, there are sure-fire kids who would be foolish to not take that first-round money and yes, the plight of an inner-city athlete versus that of a Matt Leinart, Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley, white quarterbacks from middle class to affluent families, afforded the opportunity to ‘play’ for another year, soaking up the college experience, while others are forced to provide for their families.

That’s not the point here.

This is about a good decision versus a bad one, as well as sacrifice, putting in the work, trusting the process and reaping the reward when it’s time, but not before.

The most diehard fan, or the biggest rival would probably give you a similar take on Miller, Streeter, Washington, Vernon and Forston, barring they both had comparable knowledge on the situation.

It has nothing to do with being a bleeding heart or a hater, either. Fact is fact and truth be told, all five of these Hurricanes could’ve greatly improved their draft stock for next year by returning for another season. Forget what their efforts would do for their teammates, even if the motivation was purely selfish, the best decision for all would’ve been one more year.

You can make an individual case for each as to why they felt the time was now.

Vernon seemed to have checked out on the college game at some point in the process, like so many before him.

Suspended six games last season for his dealings with Nevin Shapiro, Vernon’s suspension was the harshest of the punished Hurricanes as the violations were said to have happened during his recruitment.

In other words, money was a distraction before even stepping foot on UM’s campus.

As predicted by some, Vernon was the first Cane off the board – the ninth pick of the third round and 72nd overall.

At 6-foot-3 and 262 pounds, despite missing half of last season, Vernon proved to be another case where one’s athleticism and potential weighed heavier than overall production.

ESPN Draft analyst Todd McShay called Vernon the “most intriguing” Cane of this crop, stating that quickness, build and strength are all in his favor and if the work ethic is there, a real impact could be made at the next level.

Vernon played in eleven games as a freshman (2009), started two, and finished the season with twenty-five tackles. The following year he played in thirteen, started eleven and finished with thirty-nine tackles.

After missing the first half of 2011, Vernon finished the season with eighteen tackles.

Based on physique and God-given talent, with some hard work, Vernon could’ve played his way into the earlier rounds had he returned for his senior season. Instead he weighed his options and decided to roll the dice on a weekend at the combine, instead of a rigorous off-season and balls-out fall.

It’s the flip side to the path of senior safety Ray-Ray Armstrong, who missed four game last season, due to Shapiro, but decided to return for one more year in effort to boost his stock.

Armstrong has already been singled out by coaches for his leading by example, starting with sticking around campus to workout over the holidays, instead of going home.

Based on where this current crop of Canes landed over the weekend, one can assume that Armstrong would’ve gone somewhere in those later rounds. He wasn’t the head of this year’s class, nor was he the tail. It’ll be interesting to see where another year of putting in the work has him this time next April.

After Vernon, the next underclassmen to hear his named called was Miller, the second pick of the fourth round and 97th selection overall.

Some orange and green optimists sold themselves on the belief that Miller would sneak into the first round, but was realistically pegged as a best-case second rounder. In the end Miller was the eight overall back chosen.

Running backs are chewed up and spit out by the NFL, so based on position, Miller’s departure can be defended, but truth be told, with only one year as a starter, there simply proved to be too many question marks about decision-making, experience and durability.

Lamar may have been a household name in Miami, but nationwide there simply wasn’t a strong enough body of work to warrant teams taking a chance on him before Saturday morning, the third and final day of the Draft.

Miller carried 227 times last season, totaling 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. He opened 2011 with six-straight 100-plus yard game, before being held to 29 yards on 16 carries at North Carolina — the first of three-straight sub-100-yard outings.

Miller saved his longest run for the season finale; a 79-yard touchdown in a loss to Boston College, but the latter half of the year couldn’t hold a candle to the first six games. Miller looked invincible early. Down the stretch there were many moments where he looked mortal.

With a deeper, more accomplished body of work and some consistency, Miller could’ve played himself into a much higher round with another season in Miami.

Again, as a running back, the departure is more forgivable than other positions, but there’s no doubt that Miller slipped for a litany of reasons and his career path will be interesting to chart. The potential is there, but is the rest of the package?

Washington slipped to the sixth round – 200th overall – despite his personal belief that he was ready for the next level, while former Northwestern teammate, Forston, went undrafted.

Another head-scratcher, Forston missed the season opener at Maryland, due to dealings with Shapiro, played three games and sustained a season-ending injury. He also missed the majority of the 2009 season, earning a medical hardship, making him another Hurricane with a limited and inconsistent body of work.

A five-star prospect back in 2008, Forston never became that next-level player. The slide from one of the top-ranked defensive tackles on the high school level, to an up and down collegiate career — as well as the decision to bypass one final attempt to boost his stock — Forston wound up a free agent when he could’ve been so much more.

Despite the falls of the other four, the true tragedy of this Draft is Streeter.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound local product was taken in the sixth round – 198th overall – and was the twenty-seventh wide receiver drafted this weekend.

Streeter worked out for the Dolphins weeks back and not only was he passed up by Miami in the third and fourth rounds, where the hometown team picked up two former Hurricanes teammates in Vernon and Miller, when it finally was receiver time, the Dolphins nabbed Michigan State’s B.J. Cunningham early in the sixth round, fifteen slots before Baltimore eventually grabbed Streeter.

Streeter missed the 2008 season with a wrist injury and played minimally in 2009 and 2010, having been, for one reason or another, in the doghouse of former head coach Randy Shannon.

In two seasons combined, Streeter had six receptions for 156 yards over the course of nineteen games. Last year, Streeter started twelve games and totalled 811 yards on forty-six receptions, with eight touchdowns.

Entering his final season at ‘The U’, Streeter had one lone touchdown – a forty-two yard reception that came during garbage time against Notre Dame in a bowl loss.

Streeter announced his intentions of going pro early December after a long meeting with Coach Golden. At the time, the Miami Herald’s Manny Navarro stated that first-year head coach had apparently, “swayed Streeter enough to make him wonder” after walking out of the meeting.

UM coaches told Streeter they believed he’d be drafted in the fourth or fifth rounds and while the physically-impressive receiver was said to be “confused” regarding staying or going, in the end he too felt ready to make the leap. His father, Tommy Streeter Sr., supported the decision, though he personally wanted Junior to return to UM for one more year.

One can never question another parent’s love for their child and there’s absolutely no doubt regarding how much the Streeters love their son.

Unfortunately, sometimes love means making those hard decisions and where your child lacks the life experience and understanding to know what’s truly in his or her best interest, forcing you to make the call for them, no matter how much they resent you in the moment.

Streeter felt ready and his parents chose to support that, despite coaches, analysts and other professionals all singing the same tune regarding a return to the college game and one more year.

The elder Streeter was quoted days before the draft, in a seeking-silver-lining moment, clinging to hope that his son could defy the odds.

“Two years ago, where did they think [Tim] Tebow was going? Didn’t they say he was going in the fourth or fifth round? He ended up in the first round. So, you never know,” Streeter Sr. said.

“They can slot you here, they can slot you there and someone can surprise you and pick you up. Jimmy Graham was going in the fourth or fifth round. He went in the third. I look at it based on the need of the team. If you’re there when that team is up and that team needs you and you’re high on their board, they’re going to snatch you. So, I really don’t care what any experts say.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t even matter what the experts said. Proof came in the fact that twenty-six receivers were taken before Streeter.

Despite the size, speed, smarts, upside and the potential, the consensus still felt Streeter’s skills set was undercooked and that another year would be beneficial. As for the Miami coaches who predicted a fourth or fifth round selection, they now look generous with their projection.

Simply put, Streeter’s one good year and sixth round draft position proved that NFL head coaches and general managers didn’t feel the risk wasn’t worth the reward. In the end there were simply too many other wide receiver prospects with a greater all around package, with more experience and consistency.

In a pre-Draft interview, Streeter Sr. still went on to say that no matter where his son was eventually drafted, would be a blessing. He stated that the decision was 100-percent correct, no matter what. No looking back. No “what if” moment regarding the possibility of being a first rounder. Bringing up the possibility of injury, as well as re-bringing up the point made by many of these Northwestern kids who came in at the same time, all going out together.

To Mr. Streeter’s point, the fact his son was drafted and will play in the NFL is absolutely a blessing – and as a family, it’s time to exhale and celebrate. But to emphatically state that it was the right decision and to use the ‘potential injury’ card to sell the point – it all comes off as somewhat defensive and an oversell.

A collegiate career that was off-the-radar for three seasons, culminating with a solid junior campaign — it should’ve result in one thing and one thing only for Streeter; an ass-busting off-season and renewed vigor towards an off-the-charts senior year.

Forget a 6-6 season and the fact that Miami will have its struggles in this coming year, Streeter needed to return to better himself, even if his teammates were an afterthought.

Weeks back NFL analyst Mike Mayock stated he was stunned that Streeter left early. Mayock said that after looking at tape, he didn’t like Streeter’s game at all.

Mayock questioned Streeter’s route running and ability to bring his 4.4 speed to the game. He also said that as a route runner, all Streeter runs are verticals and gos – one on one stuff, outside the numbers.

That’s not to say Streeter can’t be another in a long line of college underachievers who eventually find NFL success, but regardless of where he goes at the next level, it’s still not the point.

Returning for a senior season shouldn’t have been a suggestion to Streeter, it should’ve all but been a demand as the writing was on the wall had he chosen to heed the advice of elders and wise football minds who have been around the game decades longer than him.

Beyond that, Streeter didn’t have to look too far for examples, best case scenarios and comparisons. One was right under his nose, in the form of a Miami receiver who walked a similar path two years ago.

Leonard Hankerson was taken in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft – 79th overall – and while he did little as a freshman or sophomore, he rededicated himself to his craft the off-seasons before his junior and senior campaigns.

Hankerson, a young father thrust into family life earlier than most, decided that his best path to the NFL was to work with a legend in order to get his fundamentals and skills next-level ready, so he spent his final two collegiate summers working with legendary Miami Dolphins receiver, Mark Duper.

As a junior, Hankerson led the Canes with 801 receiving yards, on forty-five receptions. He was also the team leader with six receiving touchdowns.

When faced with the chance to enter the 2010 NFL Draft, Hankerson chose to stick around and spent his second straight summer in the South Florida heat and humidity, running crisp routes and catching tennis balls in order to improve hand/eye coordination.

The result; a career-high 1,156 receiving hards and a team-high, seventy-two receptions. Hankerson also hauled in thirteen touchdowns and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player his senior season. The Canes still stumbled as a program, going 7-6, but Hankerson did right by himself and his teammates with his return.

Hankerson’s successful return made him the third player in Miami history to record a 1,000-plus-yard season – and the first to have 2,000 yards for a career.

His twenty-two receiving touchdowns put him at third all-time in Miami history, behind Michael Irvin (26) and Lamar Thomas (23). He also became one of only three receivers at UM to have put together back-to-back 800-plus-yard seasons; the others, Irvin and Andre Johnson.

Hankerson’s decision to return proved to be an enormous success, yet he still only went in the third round – 79th overall – and saw limited action in four NFL games last season, totaling thirteen receptions for 163 yards. His last action coming on October 23rd at Carolina, months before Streeter made the decision to not follow his predecessor’s footsteps.

One can understand why today’s college athlete, or the parent of a talented player, is comfortable clinging to that best-case scenario, rolling the dice and sometimes making the wrong decision, putting too much focus on the future instead of living in the now.

In this case it was a handful of kids who decided to forego their final year (or two) of eligibility. Other times it’s the tired tale of of the coddled high school superstar who arrives on campus and after a year feels disrespected and underused, causing him to bolt for another program over a lack of playing time.

So many times the player and parents remain short-sighted, leaving out of spite and not seeing the bigger picture. Parents blindly backing their entitled kids, instead of using the experience as an example of hard work, perseverance and patience, paying off in due time.

The sports world is dominated by obscure stats and random success stories. A world where too many people – players, fans, critics – all point to the aberration and fluke, instead of what’s consistent and real. Over-the-top statistics and shot-in-the-dark scenarios are a go-to in an attempt to sell the fact that on any given day, anything can happen.

In an attempt to hold out hope that his son could be a first-day pick, the elder Streeter gave his example of Tebow defying the odds and sneaking in the first round a few years back – telling a tale of a fluke, instead of one rooted in logic.

There were a slew of reasons Tebow was picked when he was. National Champion. Heisman. Character. Leader. Not to mention hype, which sells tickets and excited a Denver fan base that hadn’t loved a quarterback since John Elway hung up his cleats.

Streeter Sr. cited that Tebow example the same way a fan of any squad with a stout defense, a sputtering offense and suspect quarterback play is quick to remind you that Trent Dilfer did his part in leading the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory a decade back, despite the fact that every team with a weak link under center has chewed up, spit out and eventually exposed since.

What makes the Streeter tale even more frustrating is seeing the handful of Canes who wound up as free agents, lacking that extra year of eligibility to improve their status.

A kid like Adewale Ojomo, who lost a season due to a locker room sucker punch years back, worked hard to bulk back up, applied for a sixth-year of eligibility, was denied and didn’t get the call this past weekend, or a Chase Ford, someone who came in as a JUCO transfer and only had two years to create a highlight reel and didn’t get a four-year opportunity at a big time university.

So many of Miami’s early departees stated that they loved the new coaching staff and direction of the program, yet in the end, not enough to return.

All these kids failed by the old staff, but given a second chance at success by Golden and staff last season, who benefitted more than Streeter? A kid who spent the majority of his career on the bench, flourished year one in a new system and most-certainly would’ve been “the guy” in 2012?

Streeter would’ve become an NCAA household name if he returned this fall had he followed the lead of an Armstrong, or even an Eduardo Clements, another doghouse victim, relegated to the bench before Golden arrived and a kid who has since become a shining example of hard work and effort, rededicating himself to his conditioning.

The entire program will be better year two under Golden and for Streeter, that alone could’ve been the difference between sixth round and second round money.

What’s done is done and in the end, you’re thankful that a handful of Hurricanes are getting a chance to live out their dream of playing in the NFL, but regardless, too many did themselves a disservice by leaving early.

Valuable coaching, quality mentoring and big game experience was left on the table, as was the opportunity for a lesson to be taught regarding patience and hard work eventually yielding rewards.

A hearty congratulations to all the NFL-bound Hurricanes, though for a handful there will always be some second-guessing and questions regarding what could’ve been.

For Coach Golden, another opportunity for a real-life example, based on the mistakes of others. This is simply another piece of a broken culture that needs fixing. Time to make sure that these present-day Canes don’t make the same mistakes as a handful who went before them.

This recent draft was as much a part of the process as anything else that’s happened to UM over the past year and a half and when this ship is finally righted, downer draft day experiences like this will be as much of the past as 6-6 seasons, God-willing. – C.B.

IN OTHER NEWS : As for the rest of the NFL-eligible Hurricanes and where they would up — Sean Spence was the first non-early departee off the board, going in the third round – 86th overall – to Pittsburgh. Next was receiver Travis Benjamin, who went in the fourth round – 100th overall – to Cleveland.

A handful of departed Canes were eventually picked up as free agents.

Ford is headed to Philadelphia and Forston is headed to New England, while Ojomo went to New York (G), as did JoJo Nicolas.

LaRon Byrd will get his shot in Arizona and Harland Gunn is Dallas-bound.

Micanor Regis and Tyler Horn are off to Atlanta, while Jacory Harris could be staying home in Miami, joining a roster that welcomed Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins’ first quarterback taken in round one since drafting Dan Marino in 1983. Harris has been invited both to Miami and Arizona and will attempt to sign with one of the two.

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