This article was written by Canespace blogger "Loco" and previously published on June 22, 2008 at www.theheismanrace.com
This is the first installment in a 3 part series breaking down the new fall recruits that are just arriving on campus. Here we’ll take a look at fast, skinny people: the wide receivers and defensive backs.
Wide Receivers:
Laron Byrd – A big receiver at 6’3, 205 lbs, Laron Byrd has the physical talent to be one of the greats. Not only is he big, he is fast. With a 4.4 40, Byrd is dangerous. He is a team player, and has already said that he is open to the idea of redshirting if that’s what the coaches want. The reason he might redshirt: his route running skills have been questioned, meaning he is far from polished as a receiver. Regardless, he will be a big (pun intended) boost to the depleted receiving corp.
Travis Benjamin – Speed, quickness, and vision are his strengths. Benjamin is a dangerous return man, and very difficult to bring down in the open field. How dangerous is he? When we played Glades Central his junior year, we game planned against him, not Deonte Thompson (who was one of the top overall recruits that year. The knock on Travis is his size, as he weighs in at a generous 160 lbs despite being 5’11. He will be a huge boost in the anemic return game if he does not redshirt.
Thearon Collier – One of the “big 3” to come from Booker T, Thearon is much like Travis Benjamin, but perhaps not quite as fast. He has great quickness and open field ability. His route running may be better than Benjamin’s. Collier’s biggest roles will be in either the return game or as a slot receiver. He is shorter than Benjamin (5’9) but weighs in at a little more than 160. Also may redshirt.
Davon Johnson – The other receiver that is a part of Booker T’s big 3, Davon Johnson (not to be confused with Aldarius Johnson, early enrollee from Miami Northwestern) is a great compliment to Collier. Johnson might be the fastest receiver that is joining Miami this year, but he does not have the same change of direction ability that Collier or Benjamin have. Look for him to play as an outside receiver, if he does not redshirt.
Tommy Streeter – The biggest receiver of the bunch at 6’4, there was talk of Streeter possibly moving to tight end. I don’t believe that will happen, as it is useful to have bigger receivers. Streeter has good hands and is a big, strong runner. He is unlikely to redshirt, and look for him to make a big impact as an outside receiver. The knock on Streeter is his speed; he’s clearly a possession receiver, and not a burner.
Kendall Thompkins – The other receiver from Miami Northwestern, Thompkins has always been in the shadow of big-time receiving teammates Aldarius Johnson and Tommy Streeter. Don’t sleep on him though, Thompkins has good hands and makes people miss. He has good speed and quickness, and will compete for the return man position.
Defensive Back:
Brandon Harris – The cornerstone of the “skilled” players, Brandon Harris is a great cornerback. Many people believe that he will be able to come in and start from day one. He has great speed and quickness, and moves well with receivers. He’s also not afraid to tackle.
C.J. Holton – Holton has good size and speed, and has great instincts from the safety position. He packs a punch when he hits, and does a good job of anticipating both the run and the pass. The question is whether or not he will be academically eligible.
C.J. Odom – Great tackler that loves to hit, Odom makes plays from the safety position. He doesn’t have great speed and can sometimes be a liability in coverage. May not qualify.
Vaughn Telemaque – Another great tackler from the safety position, Vaughn has earned the nickname “Miami Vice” for his swagger and attitude on and off the field. Telemaque loves to hit and hit hard. He needs to work on body control, but is still a very good safety and will see playing time on special teams.
Joe Wylie – Last but not least, Joe Wylie was recruited as a safety, but has the speed and agility to play corner. Wylie is good in coverage, though he will still hit and tackle. He attempted to enter UM early, only to wind up one credit short. He may see special teams playing time.
Hey guys. Took a break from vacation to find out the Canes landed Mike James. I've got an audio interview with him I'm posting on Herald.com, plus a quick story I did for the paper.
As per Miller, I've got on the ultimate authority this is it for Miami's running back openings in the '09 class. Miller has way too many grade issues and the only way he ends up a Cane is if he pulls off a monumental rally and UM still has an opening -- which is highly doubtful. So, those reports are correct at least from what I've heard.
Anyway, just wanted to say hello.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:36 PM
My friend Charles Fishbein of EliteScoutingServices.com, one of the guys who like Larry Blustein goes to every single freaking combine/workout around the state, said Davenport is very, very underrated. Fishbein by the way is an FSU guy. He said he thinks he can be just like a Kevin Smith from UCF.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:40 PM
oops.. I meant the kid from Davenport High. You know what I mean.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:41 PM
The two kids UM likes a lot in '10 are Eduardo Clements of Booker T. Washington and Jakari Gore of Columbus.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:44 PM
The Mandingo, always working, always helping out when he can!
Manny, thanks for stopping by, we will be over to read the story and hear the audio.
Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Manny...we saw Clements tear it up for BTW last year. Was he a junior?
Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Q: Manny...we saw Clements tear it up for BTW last year. Was he a junior? Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:47 PM
A: He was only a sophomore last year. He's a junior now.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Manny...how do we get Blustein of Fishbein on Canespace?
Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Manny...Was it a case of: "Miller sign now or U lose your spot" or "Miller U ain't got the grades"?
Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Q: Manny...how do we get Blustein of Fishbein on Canespace? Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:48 PM
A: Well, Larry works for us now at The Miami Herald. He told me he'd be more than happy to come on for chats at Eye On The U or Canespace. He's up at the National 7-on-7 event this weekend... i think its at UCF. Maybe we can work something out in the next couple of weeks. I'll ask Fish if he's interested.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Q: Manny...Was it a case of: "Miller sign now or U lose your spot" or "Miller U ain't got the grades"? Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:50 PM
A: Grades from what I'm told. Again, straight out of the person's mouth who takes account of these things for U.
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 07:52 PM
Let's do a LIVE chat with those guys on "Eye On The U" soon!
And, if they want to write something for here to promote their sites or services then let them know they have a standing invitation.
Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Just tell us the news, keep your sources shhhhhhhhhhhhhh, we TRUST U!
Manny...if U say it, that's always good enough for us!
Posted by: 86Cane | June 28, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Audio is up...
www.miamiherald.com/907/
Posted by: Manny Navarro | June 28, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:07 PM
2nd!
Still can't believe we arn't taking Miller. His grades were bad, guess they were really bad. Who knows, maybe things change later on.
Posted by: SuperCooper | June 28, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Link to Manny's audio with the Canes latest recruit:
http://www.miamiherald.com/907/rich_media/586972.html
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:16 PM
But I am happy with James. Just to add on, this should be an indication to everyone that questions the staff. They know what they are doing.
Posted by: SuperCooper | June 28, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Super...did you read Manny's comments? Good stuff, listen to the audio and let me know what you think.
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Look here's the deal:
1. The Canes coaches do NOT have time to babysit every player.
2. If U ain't getting it done in the classroom in HS there ain't NO WAY in hell U are going to get it done in college.
3. They cannot afford to have academic casualties.
4. Randy don't play that!
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Yea, Manny delievers again. James sounds like a great kid. Very humble. Can't go wrong. I like the pickup, just shocked. The Truth isn't coming to Miami, damn shame because he is a stud. Too bad his grades arn't in order. But, we have to accept this. We are UM, not LSU or WVU.
Posted by: SuperCooper | June 28, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Nobody beats Manny to the "News U Can Use"!
Super...Miller was always considered a Cane "lock", but U can't be a lock without the combination:
1. Player
2. Charachter
3. Grades
Meatloaf (the singer) had a song titled: "Two out of Three Ain't Bad".
But 2 our of 3 will not get it done at The U. Not under Randy's watch.
Go Canes!!!
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:33 PM
"but he does have the same change of direction ability that Collier or Benjamin have."
Oops. That should say "does not"?
Posted by: Loco | June 28, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Loco...get off my blog! LOL
It's your blog, but I'll fix it.
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Link to TONS of audio from Manny:
http://www.miamiherald.com/907/
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:41 PM
It's your blog, but I'll fix it.
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Thanks. I'll make sure to read through the next one before I send it to catch those before they happen again
Posted by: Loco | June 28, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Oh and didn't you say there would be a poll?...
Posted by: Loco | June 28, 2008 at 09:05 PM
From a teacher from James' school:
'mike has a 3.5 gpa and is a real leader at our school. He is in AP classes and is the type of kid you would want your daughter to date. i am so pleased for him because i have seen him work his butt off to get to this point. he may not have the hype of miller but mike will represent miami very well on and off the field..."
I like this kid already. A balla on the field and a good student.
Posted by: SuperCooper | June 28, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Loco...for some reason the Blog Flux poll feature CRASHED! And the countdown is NOT working. I'm gonna delete it and fix the blog now.
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Loco, good blog post. Very interesting summations of the players. It still amazes me what kind of talent RS hauled in.
Haven't we learned that we can't go wrong in recruiting RB's with JAMES as the name?!!! LOL
I ain't giving up on Miller. Please kid go to a prep school and come back to the U! I keep forgetting that we also got a kid named Bryce. I heard he ain't too bad either.
Posted by: Rubcatcane | June 28, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Poll is up! Different provider...
Poll Daddy!!!
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Welcome to the U MJ!!! Baby J and Coop today...Bryce and MJ tomorrow...Jahkori and Eduardo to follow...
Posted by: CanezNC | June 28, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Super, Miller's grades explain why he was talking about WVU in one of those interviews.
Oh well. We can't win 'em all.
However, it ain't over til Feb. 6th.
Although Rubcat makes a good case for him by going to prep school.
Truth be told it would probably be the best move for him anyway. He'd get his head on straight before he hits the college campus, like Cooper and Cannon, and Kayne.
If he bleeds Orange and Green and the coaches can persuade him, maybe he'll do it.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Manny, someone needs to recruit you away from the Herald and pay you some big bucks for REAL, RELIABLE information.
OR you could just TUTOR WANNABE WRITERS who charge people for gossip and nonsense.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 09:42 PM
MJ sounds like a great kid, funny too, when he was talking about meeting Bailey, "The man is HUGE!" lol
Super, we could have two more slots opened by the fall or the end of the season if Zach Kane can't somehow get out of that situation and if Tervaris decides to leave.
You never know.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Manny, someone needs to recruit you away from the Herald and pay you some big bucks for REAL, RELIABLE information.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Shhhhhhhhhh, not so loud!
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 09:57 PM
I only see Miller or Berry going to prep, if their grades are HORRIBLE. However, if their grades are BAD then they would qualify for schools like West Virginia, Louisville, LSU and Rutgers.
Posted by: Alex D | June 28, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Alex...Can U say Noel Devine?
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 10:06 PM
cav, i'm not quite sure what you were asking of me, can you explain. As for mike james, i like what i was hearing and you can see the type mentality of players we're going after and the message that's being sent loud and clear to the recruits coming in and what this coaching staf expects. It's clear, they(this staff) are not recruiting players with the mindset of who wants to win more/alot games, they are recruiting players who already know they are going to win, they want players who are trying to be dominant during the win.
That's why mike james said we are going to get back to dominating college football again, that's HURRICANE FOOTBALL right their.
"joaquinn SAID DOMINATE, AND WE NOT DOING IT"
soup, get your abs right quick man, cause the way things are looking, it won't be to long b4 you start using em before halftime laughing. Alot of yall know that feeling, that feeling before halftime you had when houston came in with the so called high powered run and shoot offense that got shut down, we'll be getting back to that soon, or the 91 cotton bowl, of course, beating the hell out of notre shame and than hearing tim brown whining after the game saying they were talking about his momma and what not, and even a modern day beatdown reminiscent of those, was the azz-whoopin we put on v-tech. Even the year we won the championship, it was only about 1 game that year that would have given me that feelin, the washington st. thrashing!
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Calvin...working on the abs as we speak. Ready to LAUGH my A%% off in 2008. I plan to be ROTFLMAO in 2009!
How about that Manny Navarro? That dude ROCKS!!!
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 10:23 PM
1988 Miami vs OU on Sun Sports.
Some linebacker named "Shannon" playing???
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 10:30 PM
minus 2 people soup, this is one of those times where your abs was used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TBCwsWJN00
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 10:31 PM
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gyh7CENKIa3hLpjypWQsR0IxxeDwD91JDT8O0
Lauryn Williams, former UM women's track star qualified for the Olympic Track team in the 100 meters.
Congratulations!
-cheers
Posted by: busy_cane | June 28, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Calvin, I proposed the idea to Soup that a few of the multi-paragraph posters write blogs giving their predictions for this season and the logic and reasoning behind their predictions, whether they're 12-0 like Rubcat, 8-4 like Solar or 6-6.
Yeah, my ears perked up when I heard James say "getting back to dominating college football again".
Yeah, it's forming over the Atlantic right now.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Yeah, many didn't waste no time getting that, and by the way, what manny does in doing that, guys who committ see right away how much they are apart of the UM family, navarro on the front lines. Damyum, navarro, is manny related to nick navarro, if so, don't answer that, lol.
It would be good if somehow we can get a clip of shannon playing alot more.
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Calvin, the beatdowns on Syracuse and PSU felt right that year, as did the smashing of FSU's home streak, the only team that will come close to ours while anyone on this blog is alive.
BC and VT though, were classic cases of Cokerization.
I'm sure he said some shyt like, "Well, we can expect a close game because we're on the road and they always play us tough on the road, so let's not try to be anything we're not, let's play within ourselves..."
And some other PUNK-LIMP-DYKK SHYT!!!
Pardon me....
Those days are gone.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Congrats Lauryn Williams.
And an official Legion welcome to Mike James.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Alfredo Roberts is the starting TE on the 1988 team. Some guy named Chudzinski is the back-up?
Walsh at QB
Bratton at RB
Michael Irvin at WR.
JJ coaching, Gary Stevens as OC.
Those were the days...and they are coming BACK!
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Oic cav, let me get this str8, you want us to write a blog on our predictions on how we think the season should go, as if soup doesn't have enough incorrect vault material to dig up man. Hell, politicians are always trying to tip-toe pass soup, don't want him to go in the vault and reveal their bullshat. But seriously, the only reason i don't want to do it, is because i'm one of those people who don't like to look at game schedules for the year, i try to know 1 game at a time, because to me, looking at the whole schedule at once takes away the excitement for me, it started with the pro's(well the dolphins)i use to look at their season schedule, and didn't i'd see to many games i didn't want to watch, so it somehow made it kind of borrowing, but it was always good coming home on sundays, cutting who the t.v. and finding out right than and their, oh we playing so and so today, good.
Now i could still write it without knowing the schedule to though. Because hell, i don't go by who we're playing, i go by how we're playing. WHen we are right, you can say we are hte only Football team you can compare to golf, because when we are at our best, it's us against the course not the other opponents.
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Calvin, I'm sure SOUP wouldn't have a problem with that.
I wasn't necessarily suggesting a game by game breakdown. I don't plan to do that although someone might want to do that.
I just plan to right how I see the season playing out as a whole but most importantly WHY I see it playing that way.
Nothing's in stone yet. We have to see if OGV, Six, Loco, Solar, Carlos and whoever else would want to do it.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Calvin...LMAO!!!
Another classic from the all-time classic.
Don't make me go into the VAULT...
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Soup, I think you got your year's mixed up.
Irvin and Bratton were gone.
That's why I say to this day that JJ's finest coaching was the 1988 team. He had a bunch of youngins on that squad with veterans in key places, mainly Walsh, the OL and the LBs.
And they beatdown damn near everyone, and got hosed by ND. '86 and '88 and '02 were the NCs that truly got away.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Does this belong here, hell who cares!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7S8wN_tL5Y
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Nothing's in stone yet. We have to see if OGV, Six, Loco, Solar, Carlos and whoever else would want to do it.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 10:53 PM
If I did it, it wouldn't be until the end of the summer so i can send it to the other website too.. I don't want to break down the season so far out, so many things change from now til august
Posted by: Loco | June 28, 2008 at 10:57 PM
I can just see it now, Shannon and Barrow running out the smoke like old times, they will be fired up as coaches. Shannon will be on a real high, because he's got his dream job now, so it's over for college football, they can hang it up.
Posted by: Calvin | May 19, 2007 at 07:08
To the rest of college football....STRAP UP!
Posted by: Cavaleer | April 30, 2007 at 23:21
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Cav...it was the 1987 season but the 1988 OB National Championship game.
Posted by: SOUP | June 28, 2008 at 11:00 PM
over-rated, i rememebr when he use to get cooked by jacquez gree, reidel anthony and the other receiver who played for the giants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EaY3TYVfcQ
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Soup, I guess I missed the original reference. lol
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Oh, you were talking about the '88 OB on the tube. Gotcha.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Calvin, true but Champ has owned more than a few in the NFL.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 28, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Miller is going to be a senior, he has a year to get his grades up to par. I am not here pretending to know it all, but like Rudy I agree that the staff is slacking this year. We need to take care of our home turf, and then we can spread out. How many commits do we have from south florida now? 3 I think. We need to start recruiting Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. I am not sure what the master plan is, and how Randy and the staff plan to utilize these recruits, I just hope he got a plan.
Posted by: true cane | June 28, 2008 at 11:19 PM
CANE 101: How to start a game when kicking off to the other team.
CANE 102 How to kick azz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9cRWs0RLto
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Somebody was asking for this earlier this week!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrzaTpIoAe0
Posted by: Calvin | June 28, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Truecane,
When the reference is made putting a fence around South Florida, I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) that it partly relates to keeping scavengers like Florida, Florida State and other keys schools from cherry picking in our backyard the quality athletes.
However, if a student athlete clearly doesn’t have the grades and Florida, Florida State are not even considering them also; then what else can you do. Encourage the player to get his grades up and if anything positive happens then he might be considered for a scholarship at a later time.
But, in the meantime if someone is just as good, qualifies and could possible join the team early in January, then you sign them.
Posted by: Alex D | June 28, 2008 at 11:38 PM