By the Numbers: Miami's 2012 Recruiting Class

Three or four years from now, when it is all said and done, the University of Miami's 2012 recruiting class may go down in history as THE class that turned it all around for Miami and restored the Hurricanes to their rightful place among college football's elite programs.

In terms of quality, and the sheer quantity of players signed by UM on National Signing Day 2012, this class of high school recruits has the chance to rank among the best ever at Miami. 

On paper and on potential this class of 33 players that now accounts for almost 40% of the entire 85 man roster at UM is the infusion of talent and toughness that Hurricanes head coach Al Golden said he needed to get things right in Coral Gables. 

Now it will be up to Golden and his assistant coaches to coach up this new group of players at "The U" so that they can reach their maximum potential and return the Hurricanes to national prominence and championship glory.

With the cards stacked against them, UM head coach Al Golden and his assistant coaches managed to work their magic to land this tremendous class in spite of a mediocre 2011 season and potential NCAA sanctions looming over the program like a black cloud. 

Miami fans I talked to at the NSD party on the UM Campus Wednesday night were wondering out loud: "If Golden can recruit like this under circumstances like this what can he do if and when the sanctions are gone and Miami starts winning again?"

Our first article about NSD 2012 will break down the recruiting class by the numbers:

• Number of players signed: 24 (not counting the 9 EEs)
• Number of defensive players on NSD: 14
• Number of offensive players on NSD: 10
• Number of players from Florida (NSD): 21
• Number of players from Southwest Florida: 6
• Number of players from Dade County: 5
• Number of players from Broward County: 5
• Number of players from Palm Beach County: 3 
• Number of players from other States: 3 (GA, PA, LA)
• Number of defensive backs: 6
• Number of wide receivers: 5
• Number of defensive lineman: 4 
• Number of NSD hits on Canespace: 14,773
• Number of NSD comments on Canespace: 590

We will have several more articles on the Miami Hurricanes 2012 recruiting class in the coming days that will cover it from all angles and in great detail.

Until then just sit back and appreciate the hard work and incredible effort that UM head coach Al Golden and his staff put into the recruiting process this year in bringing in one of the biggest and potentially best classes in Miami Hurricane football history. 

Comments

[MDCane]

First

[MDCane]

Sleep is overrated. Great day for the CANES yesterday. Hope we can turn all that glitter into gold.

[SwagGirl]

Great class and a BIG Thank You for all the coverage on Canespace!!!

[2002nemo]

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[2002nemo]

Strong recruiting class yesterday
Great coverage on Canespace
Thanks everyone!
It's good to see the U back in the top ten again.

[CaneRock]

R.I.P. Angelo Dundee

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/02/2620283/boxing-legend-angelo-dundee-dies.html#storylink=cpy

[welcane]

Great Haul. Now let's get to work.
Go 'Canes!

[IraqiCane]

Thanks for the updated everyone, great class!

GO CANES!!!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great class. Thanks for the updates. Go Canes

[CoCane]

Good morning "U" all... Much love for Laranaga & da hoops team. Last night they pulled off a double OT win with Kadji out for the game & Scott, Johnson & Akpejiori fouled out during OT. It was the kind of win that under the circumstances, they normally found a way too lose under Haith...

[Ohio_Cane]

Canespace twitter is up over 400 followers thanks to NSD. 410!

[Ohio_Cane]

Golden on Joe Rose Show this morning: http://www.wqam.com/index.php?page=727

[SOUP]

Ohio...The Canespace Twitter success is all about U buddy! Thanks for your hard work and NSD coverage at da Space.

In fact U deserve a raise. I have decided to double your current salary. But first I have to negotiate that with your agent WillieWillinNashville

Have his people call my people so we can do lunch.

[Ohio_Cane]

1. My pleasure

2. LMAO!

[SOUP]

Woke up in a hotel in the 954. Headed back to the CCC in the 863 later.

Have some photos from the NSD part at UM that will post in a new article tomorrow.

I had the chance to meet 3G and our good friend Canesteeler at the NSD event and the basketball game. Good people, good times.

[HawaiiCane]

As I wake up today, I'm ecstatic about what we witnessed yesterday! This recruiting class feels MORE like the famous "Class of '83" than the "Class of '08"!!! Al Golden looks like he harnessed his inner Howard Schnellenberger. Examples...

1. Tracy Howard announcing that he wanted to win at home like Melvin Bratton said, "Let's make it a hometown thang!"

2. Tracy Howard asking his "best friend" and new 'Cane, Malcolm Lewis, to join him on stage.

3. JaWand Blue deciding to stay home, even if it meant greyshirting to be a 'Cane.

4. The recruitment of 'Duke' Johnson and then the subsequent recruitment by 'Duke' Johnson. Creating that feeling of South Floridians have to stay here.

5. Gritty guys that Al Golden has evaluated. Like Howard showed in 'The U', it was about those that worked rather than ranked high.

6. The amazing job of recruiting the "State of Miami" from Tampa down to Homestead.

Congrats to Al Golden and his staff! For everything they accomplished with the obstacles they faced. It's great to be a Miami Hurricane!

Fear the Future & Envy The Past!

[HawaiiCane]

Damn SOUP, that last post could have probably been my first article submission and not just a post. Oh well!

[SOUP]

Hawaii...U are correct. Just add a couple more good comparisons, slip in some photos of 1983 and today and there U go my friend!

[SOUP]

OK, time to slide. I'm on the road again...catch U all later.

[Ohio_Cane]

Duke is a really amazing person. Truly wise way beyond his years. Interview here: http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2012/02/golden-canes-overcome-negative-recruiting.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports%2Fumweblog+%28UM+Hurricanes+|+Sun-Sentinel+Blogs%29

[UpNorthCane27]

Duke Johnson ....... i cannot wait for this kid to be our featured back let the kid do what he does best and thats put up numbers, put up td's and most importantly carry his team on his back!!!!!!!

[Ohio_Cane]

and most importantly carry his team on his back!!!!!!!

Posted by: UpNorthCane | February 02, 2012 at 10:15 AM
---------------------------------------

U mean like Greg Jennings? LMAO!

*NSFW* - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P0yfq2wDvU

[TJL]

A part of an article from the Roanoke, VA paper--sounds like Beamer is blaming us for yesterday:

Other than Kirven, there was only one hiccup - West Boca Raton, Fla., linebacker Jawand Blue decommitted, choosing to stay close to home after getting an offer to Miami.

It led to a glimpse into the uglier side of recruiting when a phone exchange between Blue and Hokies defensive line coach Charley Wiles was tweeted by a Palm Beach Post reporter, who mistakenly attributed the quotes to Beamer first.

The reporter quoted an incensed Wiles as saying to Blue, "You lied to me," before adding, "This doesn't make sense. I've never felt more betrayed or lied to."

"I found it highly unusual that a newspaper guy would be tweeting a private conversation that was being had there," Beamer said. "And then I'm interested in how a newspaper guy got onto that conversation and for us to not be aware of it. Just kind of unusual there. We're kind of checking into that."

[UpNorthCane27]

Beamer you sour puss.......... take the hits like a man, because come next football season your gonna have to suit up with a young and fierce miami squad.....

[LB]

Beamer has to react that way or lose points with boosters, the university, and the fanbase. It simplifies things by labelling UM as "unfair" or "cheaters." It's not wholistic or logical, but he must react like that.

Fans care about recruiting and the numbers that go with it (hence, ESPN, ITU, CS, and CT). Miami, Clemson, and "those people" all scored a better class. That seems to indicate victory, though it really means nothing.

After back to back conference titles in 2007-2008, Tech is 1-3 from 2009-2011. They almost lost to a Miami team with a new coach and a world seemingly in chaos at HOME. Tech also lost a BCS game to a Michigan team with a new coach.

The tide in the ACC may be shifting (though that may not be saying much). Wouldn't you think he would go out swinging? At least a little?

[LB]

That being said, VT has a fine program.

No 5 titles, mind you, but still fine. :)

[Fran]

Hawaiicane Back in 1980 I remember a quarterback from Boca Raton getting a lot of press pleading with recruits to attend UM with him.
His name Mark Richt.
Fran

[CaneRock]

"I found it highly unusual that a newspaper guy would be tweeting a private conversation that was being had there," Beamer said. "And then I'm interested in how a newspaper guy got onto that conversation and for us to not be aware of it. Just kind of unusual there. We're kind of checking into that."

Unbelievable. So Beamer wants to check into what some ole newspaper guy tweeted, instead of checking on WHY one of His assistants felt the need to THREATEN a seemingly confused 17-18 Y/O. PHUCK! Beamer...

[UpNorthCane27]

MIAMI fans need to make shirts that say, "Your my homeboy Blue".......... for the vtech game since vtech coaches like to talk about having home boys on their team too lolll.

[Ohio_Cane]

Interesting take by Jelani Hamilton in this interview. Says exactly what we've been hearing for years about Randy Shannon, and how positive a change it was going from him to Golden.

Golden and staff is the only reason this kid is a Cane.

http://ufootball.tumblr.com/post/16922568392/defensive-end-jelani-hamilton-speaks-about-his

[UpNorthCane27]

Clemons signs and sent his LOI to Georgia grandpops ok's it ....kind of riiculous how guardians have this much power when i comes to a college choice for a young man who earned the right to choose where HE wants to go.

[UpNorthCane27]

Our class is HUGE!!!!!

[UpNorthCane27]

really? miami's 199 recruting class that had clinton portis andre johnson and the rest of those monsters ranked 9th all time? to notre dame's 1946 class? am i missing something here?

[Ohio_Cane]

*OFF TOPIC*

CGNC, Canesteeler and any other Penguins fan, great news for Crosby!

"An independent specialist contacted to review recent medical tests taken on Sidney Crosby found no evidence of a past or present neck fracture but verified that Crosby is suffering from a soft-tissue injury of the neck, that could be causing neurological symptoms."

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/penguins-no-fracture-sidney-crosby-neck-injury-possible-224233474.html;_ylt=AqVXwvQ9bBHkQyEa7gpMaSl7vLYF

[VA Cane]

Agreed. I know Coach Beamer in that I played for him in 74-76....but look into a grown up well supposedly a grown up....yelling at a child. Totally unacceptable. I have a 17 year old son, and yes I do get on him. I have no problem with someone correcting him, but not abusing him. I dismissed a parent a few years ago who wanted to coach with us. I do yell at my charges as a group sometimes....but remember 67-2 does not call for a lot of yelling. This guy was in an individuals face, damns and that stuff.....he is a child. I told him to leave and not come back....in a nice way. I am in the process of sending a letter to Coach; I will suggest the man be released immediately. It wont happen, but that would be my action. totally unacceptable behavior, bad for recruiting.

[Ohio_Cane]

VA Cane, the worst part is, he's looking into why Matt Porter posted these things, and moreso, why he was in the room for the convo.

Why not look into why your coach is basically berating a 17-18 year old kid? I agree with U completely, no room for that kind of behavior.

I'm very glad Golden and staff take the high road, even when it's towards them.

[Ohio_Cane]

Chris Freet - Raising Canes: 2012 Signing Day http://youtu.be/nRhJ79kkoEQ

YES!!

[UMike]

UpNorth..where did you find those rankings?

[TJL]

Beamer sounds like if he was caught cheating on his wife he would do the old----deny everything, admit to nothing, and make accusations!!

[UpNorthCane27]

i believe it was through sports illustrated Umike let em see if i can get the link

[UpNorthCane27]

Umike here you are........

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1001/cfb.top15.recruiting.classes.all.time/content.1.html

[Ohio_Cane]

CBS Sports Miami - The 'Canes class was rated as the ninth best in the nation by Rivals.com, which also ranked it second in the ACC behind Florida State. ESPN rated the class eighth. MaxPreps rated Miami's class highest at seventh in the nation. All three services rank Miami's class third in the state behind Florida and Florida State.

[DallasTX Cane]

deny everything, admit to nothing, and make accusations!!

Posted by: TJL | February 02, 2012 at 12:34 PM

Thats not bad advice...

[3G Cane]

Beamer and Co are mad they arent going to be able to just come in and pluck the Jayron Hosley's out of the state of Miami anymore. We'll dictate who they do and dont get 'round here in the forseeable future but that still isn't a valid excuse for acting like a scorned lover.

Nice to meet you last night Soup, glad the BBall boys were able to pull of the W.

[UMike]

Manny Navarro - West Boca coach Willie Dodaro said he's disappointed talk between LB Jawand Blue, Virginia Tech assistant became public

Manny Navarro - As for the player #UM is getting LB Jawand Blue, Dodaro said: "A great athlete that flies to the ball."

[UMike]

InsidetheU is again reporting that Crawford is moving to RB

[Ohio_Cane]

I saw that, UMike. Golden said they're "gonna give him a look at RB". He went on to say "It's not like we can't just move him back to DB".

He'll start the Spring as RB. If they don't like it, he'll be in the secondary.

[UMike]

I think it may depend on how these freshman look in the secondary.

[j.w.]

Good day, everyone. Thank again for all the work yesterday from people who kept the rest of us informed. Ohio, you should just post your favorite beer on here some day and I'll bet that you would receive a couple of kegs out of gratitude from the rest of us for all the work you do.

[LB]

That was quick for Raising Canes.