Wide receiver Tommy Streeter and defensive tackle Marcus Forston are forgoing their senior seasons and are declaring for the 2012 NFL Draft.
Without getting too deep on the subject, let’s just say this – very curious to see where both wind up.
Head coach Al Golden advised Streeter to return, as did his father Tommy Sr. As for Forston, an underwhelming, injury-plagued career at Miami – and nothing resembling the breakout season Streeter had, you have to wonder if the big man will even get drafted.
Forston only played three games in 2011 before injury, though was singled out by Golden as having become a team leader over this past year.
Streeter had a breakout season, finishing at Miami’s top receiver and hauling in 47 catches for 811 yards and eight touchdowns.
Both Streeter and Forston have signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus, as have Miami and former Northwestern teammates Sean Spence and Jacory Harris. This Bulls crew came in together and stated they wanted to go out together, which they have. The remaining Canes of that 2008 Northwestern class; Brandon Washington, Ben Jones and Kendal Thompkins return in 2012, with Washington being the lone standout.
Also moving on, former Bulls and Canes wideout Aldarius Johnson, part of the 2008 class but dismissed by Golden prior to the 2011 season or unspecified reasons. Johnson is working out in effort to impress NFL scouts, despite missing his senior season.
Again, not the time to rail on these kids, who came to UM with high expectations, amassed at 29-22 at ‘The U’ and are now moving on, a few bailing early. That said, a bad decision is a bad decision and everything about this stinks.
On one hand, grown men who have every right to make their own decisions – but in the grand scheme of life, still little boys yet to experience the world and with no concept of time. Honestly, what is one more year in college in the bigger overall picture?
For Streeter he could be trading first round money for a third or fourth round payday, while Forston could go sixth or seventh round (or undrafted!) versus second or third round with a productive senior year.
With both of these guys the best and looking forward to seeing who Golden and staff end up reeling in with the available scholarships.
IN OTHER NEWS : Miami landed Fort Scott Community College cornerback Ladarius Gunter over the weekend. Gunter is out of Montgomery, AL but didn’t have the test scores to qualify for a major university at the time, so he headed to a Kansas junior college.
Gunter is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back that can player corner or safety, but will most-likely wind up at corner, with the departures of Mike Williams and Lee Chambers.
According to Rivals.com, Gunter is a three-star talent. Check out his highlight reel and welcome him to The U. Miami needs depth and immediate-impact kids in the secondary, so here’s hoping Gunter gets busy quickly.