Six recruits headed to ‘The Opening’

We’re talking recruiting in July and verbal commitments, so much can change, but regardless of that, at least the Miami Hurricanes are being mentioned with the cream of the crop again.

“The Opening” is about to take place in Beaverton, Oregon. It’s a five-day event that kicked off today and on par with Texas, the Canes and Longhorns lead the pack each with six ‘commits’ attending the event, according to ESPN writer Corey Long.

Of the potential future Canes in Oregon this week, five are listed – linebacker Keith Brown, wideout Angelo Jean-Louis, athlete Randy Johnson, linebacker Raphael Kirby and cornerback Amos Leggett are listed on the roster.

If there’s a sixth, I can’t find him, having cross referenced the twenty current commits with the most recent attendee list. Either way, “The U” is representing. (Editor’s note: Vero Beach product and three-star defensive end Dwayne Hoilett appears to be the sixth future Cane attendee.)

Whenever talking recruiting in this blog, there’s always the caveat – good or bad – that we’re still over half a year from Signing Day and anything can happen. These are high school kids who have given their ‘word’ but haven’t inked anything and can change their minds a dozen times between now and February.

That said, you have to like what head coach Al Golden is doing with the process. His one-day camps have netted their share of verbals and out of state kids that might’ve chosen elsewhere in the past have been a big coup for Miami.

Eyebrows were definitely raised when Georgia product Kirby picked the Canes weeks back. With programs like Auburn, Florida State, Florida, Georgia and LSU in the mix, many thought the Stone Mountain linebacker would’ve stayed closer to home – but the fact he chose Coral Gables over something within driving distance, made the ‘gurus’ take note while giving Golden some credit for the pull.

Texas quarterback and three-star prospect Preston Dewey chose UM over some big time programs – and did so after the Canes already received verbal commitments from three-star Gray Crow and three-star, two sport athlete David Thompson. Golden is keying in on kids not afraid of competition and is building depth where UM has been weak in recent years.

A recent Miami visit nabbed back-to-back commitments, the first from three-star Jacksonville product Reggie Northrup. The linebacker from Gator Country chose Coral Gables over a handful of big programs and having grown up at Florida State fan, it was his relationship with legendary Cane and linebacker coach Micheal Barrow that sealed the deal. Hours later Tallahassee product Brandon Holifield committed to “The U”, potentially as a tight end, which would make use of his 6-foot-6 frame.

Some recent Golden football camps have produced on-the-spot commitments, while others have simply inched kids closer to a decision. Most recently, four-star Maryland running back Wes Brown listed the Canes as his number one, over almost three dozen other offers. Brown is slated to decide sometime soon, but his recent visit made UM the team to beat.

The would-be Canes in this week’s Nike event will include seven-on-seven competitions and while at the end of the day, “The Opening” is more bark than bite, it’s the landscape of the game and safe to say you’d rather your program leading the pack with the most attendees than not being on that list at all.

The proof will be in the pudding come Signing Day, but based on twenty verbals over six months out, you have to believe the recruiting culture in Coral Gables is getting back to where it belongs.

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