Part 2 of a series: Analysts offer tips on how UM can solve a problem hurting program
Part 2 of a 3-part series
You don’t need a postgraduate degree to understand that the University of Miami Hurricanes need to win more — a lot more — to be able to challenge Alabama, Clemson, UF, LSU and Ohio State for the top South Florida recruits.
But there are other things Miami can be doing beyond that, as it tries to bolster a 2020 class with just four of Rivals.com’s top 16 local prospects and a 2021 class in which the top five local recruits remain uncommitted and top local offensive lineman (University School’s Marcus Tate) is already committed to Clemson:
▪ Add another quality recruiter or two to the staff, says the top two local recruiting analysts, Larry Blustein and Charles Fishbein:
Blustein said it’s vital. “A [great recruiter with local ties] would help,” Blustein said. “This is not an opinion. It’s a fact. Do they have a coach who can go into inner city living rooms? Parents are not going to relate to some of these coaches.
“[Cornerbacks coach] Mike Rumph didn’t get [Alabama and former St. Thomas Aquinas] cornerback Pat Surtain. He hasn’t gotten [a lot of the top kids]. Trajan Bandy loved the program; that’s why he came.
“They don’t have a guy who can sit in a living room and pull in these kids,” Blustein continued. “We’ll see with the Northwestern juniors; they will try to get [four-star Class of 2021 Miami Northwestern outside linebacker] Terrence Lewis but I doubt they will get him. Alabama, UF have more on the table” in terms of winning, attendance and other appealing assets.
Fishbein agrees: “Manny is going to have to make changes to his staff.”
Blustein said: “Why not hire [Miami Central High coach] Roland Smith? He’s a consummate pro, a former Miami Hurricane. He has that presence to go into living rooms. You’ve got to play to the strengths of your team. They’re missing out on a lot of guys.”
▪ Get on players earlier:
Multiple players say UM didn’t offer early enough, and that’s why they never strongly considered UM.
The top 2020 recruit in Broward — Georgia-bound St. Thomas Aquinas receiver Marcus Rosemy — said he would have considered Miami more seriously if the Canes had pursued him earlier, like other schools did.
St. Thomas Aquinas three-star offensive tackle Marlon Martinez said he committed to LSU early in the process because Miami hadn’t offered him; the Canes have tried recently to get him to be part of their 2020 class but without success.
And Hollywood McArthur three-star linebacker Ruben Hyppolite said he committed to Maryland earlier because Miami wasn’t seriously recruiting him; the Canes reportedly later offered him but then stopped contacting him.
▪ Look in other regions of the country for offensive linemen:
Several of the local additions have failed to live up to expectations, with Navaughn Donaldson and Kai-Leon Herbert among the recent examples.
“Maybe go into different states for offensive linemen where they’re not battling the stigma like they are down here,” Blustein said.
▪ Look elsewhere more in general:
One UM person who has no authority in recruiting said with the Canes not winning enough to attract more of the elite local players, he’s not sure the Canes should be pursuing, say, the 11th best cornerback in South Florida instead of the top cornerback from another state.
Diaz has made clear that South Florida will remain the recruiting priority, with players from other regions also targeted.
▪ The Clemson question:
Fishbein said before making an offer to any player, this question must be asked: “Will this kid help us beat Clemson? If not, you shouldn’t pursue him. This is UM. We’re not going to accept mediocrity.”
▪ Consider a spread offense:
This is something we’ve heard from local coaches, and Blustein said “you have athletes down here to go spread. Miami has skill kids and plenty of speed.”
One local coach said: “I don’t know that Miami can get away” with Diaz’s new policy that nonbinding commitments are at risk of having their offers pulled if they visit other schools after the summer before their senior season.
One change that UM is making which has some merit: Trying to avoid players with baggage or off-field issues and gravitating toward players with stable upbringings.
Blustein said it’s understandable that patience is running thin.
“People say it’s going to take time; they don’t have time,” Blustein said. “They just wasted five years. Dan Mullen came into Florida and turned this around in two years. There’s no more time for this. Manny has been part of the regime for four years. It has taken 18 years to be relevant. It’s not that hard to win in the ACC and yet they can’t.”
Here’s part 1 of the series on why Miami has struggled to consistently land most of the elite players in South Florida.
Coming in part 3: Where UM stands with the top local recruits
Here’s my Thursday Dolphins 6-pack, including what GM Chris Grier told Raekwon McMillan, a St. Thomas Aquinas player added and more.
Here’s my Thursday Dolphins notebook with another reason Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting ahead of Josh Rosen, and Mel Kiper Jr.’s “home run” idea for the Dolphins.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 5:24 PM.
