When it came to recruiting All-American cornerback Tracy Howard, nobody was quicker on the draw than the hometown Miami Hurricanes.

“UM was the first team to offer me,” Howard recalled last week. “I think it was the summer after my sophomore year. I can’t even remember who it was that offered me. I know he’s not there anymore.”

The Hurricanes – once first in the chase for the senior widely considered the No. 1 cover corner in the country – are now hoping they can pull off a last-second, come-from-behind victory for Howard’s services.

The top remaining uncommitted recruit in the South Florida area – who wasn’t considering UM until two weeks ago – will make his much-anticipated decision at approximately 9:50 a.m. Wednesday on ESPNU, the first day high school football players can sign National Letters of Intent and fax them over to colleges.

The talk around town Tuesday was that after a strong, last-ditch effort by the Canes – along with much prodding from close friends Duke Johnson (Miami Norland running back), Malcolm Lewis (Miramar receiver) and Deon Bush (Miami Columbus safety), who are all Coral Gables-bound – UM has pulled in front of the once-favored Florida Gators for Howard.

But last Wednesday, two days before he took his last official recruiting trip to UM, Howard gushed over the Gators and his relationship with UF defensive backs coach Travares Robinson. Word out of Gainesville though on Monday was Gators coaches were no longer confident Howard was heading their way.

“I didn’t really think it was going to be this hard,” Howard said. “Honestly, I’m not going to put any pressure on myself.

“They say if I don’t go to Miami, Miami fans are going to be acting crazy and all that. Or if I don’t go to Florida, those guys are going to be mad. I honestly don’t care. They really don’t know me. They weren’t with me when I was there doing all the things I needed to do to get to where am.

“This is a selfish decision. You have to do what’s best for you at the end of the day.”

OTHER STORYLINES

Regardless where Howard ends up, Wednesday will be an action-packed day for high school and college football fans throughout South Florida and the rest of the of country. Here are the big storylines to follow:

• In Miami-Dade, only three of the Top 25 recruits remain uncommitted, and they will announce their decisions on campus. Miami Beach defensive back Ricardo Louis will choose between Auburn and Florida State at 1 p.m. The Tigers are considered favorites. South Miami cornerback A.J. Leggett will choose between Marshall and Tennessee at 10 a.m. And Northwestern defensive end Eric Kinsey will choose between West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati at 9 a.m.

• In Broward, aside from Howard, the top uncommitted players are Northeast offensive lineman Kameron Davis and Chaminade tight end Orlando David. Davis will choose between USF, East Carolina and West Virginia. David is choosing between Cincinnati and Miami of Ohio. Both are expected to make announcements before noon.

It’s debatable who has the best class in the state according to experts, but it’s clear both Florida (ranked 4th by Rivals and ESPN) and Florida State (3rd by ESPN, 7th by Rivals) will finish among the 10 best in the nation. Both programs could climb even higher should a few nationally prized recruits, still undecided, choose them on Wednesday. UM isn’t far behind and FIU has built arguably its best class ever.