The Latest at The U…

Many apologies for my post-season disappearing act. Canes305 welcomed a baby girl into the world on December 2nd and as many of you can attest, it turns your world upside down.

There hasn’t been time to sleep, let alone to blog efficiently. During that time, a lot going on at ‘The U’ and time to play catch up. Let’s delve in.

… on the recruiting front, Randy Shannon and staff press on. The latest, two big time offensive line recruits – Brandon Linder and Jermaine Barton of St. Thomas Aquinas. Linder is a four-star who chose Miami over Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, etc. Barton is a three-star with a basketball background, but said to have a tremendous upside.

The Canes currently have twenty-five commitments and another top ten class is being put together. This will be the third full class on The Shannon Era, with tremendous focus on the offensive line, running back, defensive back and defensive end.

Miami has a shot to go 10-3 on the season with a win against Wisconsin on Tuesday, which would all but ensure a top ten preseason ranking next fall, as well as being the ACC frontrunner. Are the Canes “back”? Not yet, but one or two more classes and you can absolutely bank on it.

Running back commit Eduardo Clements (Booker T. Washington) is calling the 2010 class the “takeover class”, according to an articles on Rivals.com. Let’s see if he proves right.

The Herald’s Manny Navarro asked if Linder could be the key to an Aquinas pipeline. Will the floodgates open, a la national champion Northwestern in early 2008? Time will tell. Over the years, the Canes have gotten the occasional St. Thomas baller, with many of the bigger names heading north or leaving the state. With Linder, Barton defensive back Keion Payne locked up, who’s next? Do the Canes pull a signing day landslide regarding last year’s national champs? Stay tuned.

With Dedrick Epps, Jimmy Graham, Richard Gordon and Tervaris Johnson all moving on, Miami is in need of some tight end help.

Steven Plein and Billy Sanders are two current freshmen looking to make a splash in ’10, but the Canes continue to build depth at the position. Belle Glade’s Clive Walford verballed a few months back and the latest addition is JUCO transfer Chase Ford, out of Kilgore, TX.

Ford is a 6-foot-6, 245 pound prospect who brings experience to the table and will vie for immediate playing time.

A lot of fans were up in arms over Northwestern defensive tackle Todd Chandler verballing to South Florida a few weeks back. Chandler had been a Miami commit and changed his pledge due to the standard, “they’re not showing me enough love” excuse, given by many high school seniors during the season.

Chandler has been a Miami commit since his junior season and I’m in agreement with Navarro when I say I’ll believe this kid is gone come signing day.

How many times has Miami been on the other end of this type situation? Some big time kid flirts with Miami and in the end, chooses elsewhere or sticks with his hometown team?

It’s hard to imagine a Northwestern prospect and Cane-lover like Chandler going elsewhere. He’s been pro Miami from day one and he has a slew of former Bulls currently playing for The U.

Either way, doesn’t make much sense to get up in arms over this with signing day a month and a half away. Ride this one out.

Congrats to Brandon Harris for earning All-America honors a few weeks back. Harris was an All-ACC First Team selection and led the conference in break ups (14) and passes defended (16). No. 1 tied fifth nationally regarding passes defended per game and finished the season with 52 tackles. Harris is the first Cane to earn All-America honors since Kenny Phillips in 2007. Solid growth for the sophomore who looks to lead the secondary as a junior in 2010.

I have some thoughts on Florida State to the Gator Bowl, but thanks to a hectic December, there hasn’t been time to write about it. Expect some Bobby Bowden-related thoughts after the New Year.

Thankfully Miami wound up with an in-state bowl game, but there’s still no excuse for a 6-6 Florida State squad to bump the Canes from a New Years Day bowl game. I don’t care if it’s Bowden’s swan song (honestly, haven’t the last few years been a farewell tour?)

If Bowden is truly the class act everyone says he is, it’d have been nice to see him turn down a bowl game he knows his team didn’t earn. ACC runner up Clemson is shuffled off to Nashville this evening for the Music City Bowl, yet Florida State is in Jacksonville on January 1st. What a farce.

A lot of talk hovering around Wisconsin running back John Clay and what he’ll do to the Miami defense. We’ll discuss that further in Tuesday’s Champs Sports Bowl preview, but on the surface it’s sort of a shock to see a back getting so much love while the Canes run defense is ignored.

Clay is a very solid back and has had a banner year (1,396 yards and 16 touchdowns), but hasn’t exactly torn up top-flight competition. His biggest efforts this season came against the likes of Minnesota, Michigan, Hawaii and Fresno State. Against Iowa, a 75-yard showing and a paltry 59-yard effort against Ohio State.

Miami’s defense has allowed an average of 96 yards over the final seven games, as well as two rushing touchdowns over that duration. The Canes allowed 3.3-yards-per-carry during the past nine games and held an explosive Georgia Tech rushing attack to 95 yards on 39 carries. Miami held Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer to a mere 7 yards on five carries.

Clay may or may not have a big time game against the Canes, but the lack of respect for Miami’s run defense has been rather shocking as media folk look to hype this contest.

Lastly, sounds like a current Cane spent some time watching Rakontur’s “The U” documentary as a challenge has been issued. Redshirt freshman safety Vaughn Telemaque has publicly called out Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien.

“I want to come out aggressive and show (Tolzien) that I want them to throw the ball,” Telemaque said. “I want to challenge them and if they’re up for the challenge, then we’ll go back at it like that.”

It’s not quite Alonzo Highsmith’s “I ain’t scared of you, bitch” pregame jarring with Brian Bozworth, but it’s a little attitude leading up to a mid-tier bowl game, which doesn’t hurt.

“I feel like we are ready (to be an elite team),” said Telemaque. “The team knows that this could be the game for us to do that.”

A ten-win season is on the line, as is a top ten preseason ranking for 2010. Hopefully a little early smack-talk results in an effective win… and Telemaque’s first pick of the year.

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