Posted on Wed, Feb. 06, 2008

Booker T. Washington cornerback Brandon Harris said he woke up Wednesday morning knowing his heart was going to lead him to the University of Miami.

But before a nation of Hurricanes fans sweated out a few tense moments and Harris made his announcement on ESPNU shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, the nation's No. 3 cornerback, according to Rivals.com, figured he would have a little fun.

''I decided to play a joke with [Miami Booker T. Washington receiver] Davon [Johnson] and the rest of the guys this morning,'' Harris said. ``I didn't come to school, so I dressed up in different school gear and took pictures on my cellphone, and I sent it to everybody. Nobody had any idea where I was going . . . but once I got here and saw the environment and everyone, UM was just in my heart.''

Harris wasn't the only highly touted and uncommitted recruit whose heart led them to the Canes. He was the cherry on top of a spectacular class of 33 signees coach Randy Shannon referred to as ``a foundation to build on.''

AMONG THE BEST

Experts have ranked UM's class as one of the nation's best. Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN.com each moved UM up in the top 5 of their respective polls by Wednesday evening, a direct result of a few surprises UM enjoyed earlier in the day.

In addition to reeling in Harris, UM nabbed highly touted Northwestern stars Tommy Streeter (who was thought to be leaning toward leaving South Florida) offensive tackle Ben Jones (who was considering Clemson) and receiver Kendal Thompkins (who skipped his official visit to UM last weekend to go to Nebraska).

But, perhaps, the biggest steal of the day was Melbourne Palm Bay linebacker/safety Ramon Buchanon. Once a Canes commitment, Buchanon -- the nation's hardest-hitting safety, according to Rivals.com -- switched his commitment from UM to Florida three weeks ago before deciding to sign with UM on Wednesday morning.

''You have to sell your program,'' said Shannon, who credited UM President Donna Shalala as the program's ``Recruiting MVP.''

``Most of the kids, student-athletes, we recruited this year, they came to the University of Miami for one thing: because we're family. They really believe in that. If you talk to those kids . . . it wasn't a sales pitch. We had administrators and people take them around campus who were themselves. We're going to sell what we have -- and that's family.''

FILLING NEEDS

Shannon didn't have much to sell recruits after UM's 5-7 season beyond an opportunity to see the field quickly and to help rebuild the five-time national champions. Apparently, though, it was more than enough to help Miami fill needs at quarterback, receiver and linebacker. Miami signed eight linebackers -- topped by Arthur Brown of Wichita, Ka., considered by many to be UM's top recruit. Miami also pulled in Long Beach Poly, Calif., safety Vaughn Telemaque and linebacker Zach Kane of Toms River, N.J.

But where UM picked the majority of its recruits was in South Florida, an area Shannon said he wanted to make UM's primary focus when he took over for Larry Coker last year. A collection of 11 are from national powers and local state champion Miami Northwestern and Booker T.

''`You look at the depth at the skill positions, we have a lot of skill position guys [in this class] as far as receivers, defensive backs, linebackers, fullbacks,'' Shannon said. ``Will all 33 of these guys play next year? I don't think so, but most of them should play. You have eight on campus now, they'll go through summer conditioning, practice, they should play. There'll be five or six, more that come in, skill guys that can contribute right away, maybe one defensive lineman that can give you 20 plays. It's a foundation that you build on.''