I can’t stand it anymore. This whole obsession with recruiting has gotten completely out of hand. Like you, I log on to the recruiting sites to see how our beloved Canes are doing and instantly realize those are precious moments of my life that I’ll never get back.
Other than a few televised games I’ve caught, I haven’t seen much high school football as of late and I’ll guess that most of you are in that same boat. For the most part, all we know about what these kids is what we read online – which is the equivalent of reading a bunch of medical journals and telling your doctor that his diagnosis is off.
The art and science of recruiting athletes goes way beyond those fabricated and dreaded stars.
Crazy to think we once ripped Larry Coker for just recruiting off of lists – chastising him and his staff for not doing their homework and just taking those four- and five-star guys. Now after a few decommitments (Teddy Bridgewater and Albert Louis-Jean) and some verbals from guys that are “only” three-star players, the sky is suddenly falling … again.
For those keeping score, remember that Ed Reed, Santana Moss, Dan Morgan and guys of that ilk were NOT five-star players.
How often do you find yourself watching other teams, amazed at how their great offense or defense is playing, yet you don’t recognize many names from those revered recruiting lists? That’s because if given time, players blossom. You don’t want a five-star recruit that leaves as a three-star player. (Lance Leggett, anyone?) You want a three-star that works his way up to a five-star.
The problem with many of the overhyped five-star athletes is that they waltz into town with an ego the size of Texas and a sense of entitlement. They’ve been given five-star treatment their entire lives and often times look at college as a holding grounds before making the leap to the NFL. Sure, some highly-touted players live up to the hype, the the Scout or Rivals ranking is hardly a ‘guarantee’.
Looking back at Miami’s highly-rated 2008 recruiting class, Arthur Brown and Marcus Forston were the only five-star kids in that class. Brown never saw the field and eventually transferred, so we’ll leave him out, but what about Forston? Has the junior defensive tackle lived up to his pre-college ranking? He’s certainly a solid player, but has he proven elite?
Meanwhile fullback Pat Hill was a two-star player that year, but has absolutely become the unsung hero on offense. Go ask anyone on that side of the ball who their MVP would be this season and they’ll tell you it’s No. 30, who’s proven invaluable as a blocker. Miami absolutely got more from Hill than you’d expect out of a two-star.
I’ve spoken with no less than a dozen people this past week regarding Al Golden and everyone comes back to one thing; that this is one of the best recruiters in the nation. You add Brennan Carroll into the mix, as well as his guys from the northeast and the South Florida guys retained an in time this staff will get the job done.
IN OTHER NEWS: I just received conformation that a few old school Canes will be joining us at our Sun Bowl watch party this Friday at the Titanic Brewery & Restaurant, next door to allCanes. Former tight end Gerard Daphnis will be my co-host and he’ll have Earl Little and Duane Starks on board, as well.
U Family members in tow and a ‘buy one, get one half off’ sale next door at allCanes during and after the game? Can’t think of a better way to watch Miami / Notre Dame on New Years Eve.
Before we get to Friday, we have this year’s final Wednesday night edition of allCanes Radio, live from allCanes. Tonight’s show will feature former UM athletic director Sam Jankovich – who had some very “interesting” things to say about Miami’s rivalry with Notre Dame. We’ll also have Malcolm Grant, Tamara James, Krystal Saunders, Aubrey Hill and former nose tackle Tony Fitzpatrick.
Tune in at 7pm ET, log on through the iPhone app or listen live via allCanes.com.