Tapping Into The Pipeline

This feature article was written by blogger Hassan for Canespace...

The term “pipeline school” has a lot of importance when it comes to college football recruiting and the success of any college football program.

When you coach in a recruiting hotbed such as South Florida there are several of these pipeline schools. University of Miami head coach Al Golden has said recently in interviews that the reason why he came to Miami and considers it a “destination job” is because being at UM is just as it is in the real estate market: location, location, location.

Golden knows that winning at Miami has little to do with South Beach and everything to do with the talent that dwells within these pipeline schools.

High school sports are evolving in many different ways. We have multiple teams playing nationally televised games on ESPN. Kids are transferring from one high school to another looking for an opportunity to shine and get a look from big time colleges who flock to these schools. Many of these schools have contracts with Nike and other sponsors and the coaches at these schools often times have college and/or NFL experience on their resumes.

The fact that high schools in South Florida produce a significant amount of major college football talent is indisputable. For example, in 2012 the three counties that comprise Southeast Florida produced an amazing 136 D-1 football players.

Broward County led the way with 56, Dade followed closely behind with 54 and Palm Beach County had 26 players sign National Letters Of Intent with major college football programs across the Country.

Now let’s expand our horizon and take a look at ten of the main schools in Central and South Florida that have put out quality talent year after year and produced an incredible 58 D-1 football players during the 2012 recruiting cycle:

• Armwood: 10
• Plant: 8
• Miramar and Miami Norland: 7
• Miami Central, Palm Beach Dwyer and University School: 6
• St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Northwestern: 5
• Lakeland: 3

These high schools arguably could be called “pipeline” schools; some have worked well with “The U” and some not so much. Coach Golden is working hard to shore up some strained relationships at a few of these schools that should pay dividends for years to come.

The average college football team takes 18-22 scholarship players each year. When you consider that 58 Major Division 1 prospects came from these ten schools alone then you know as a coach that you have to really do your homework at these schools once you have done the math.

By simply getting the top 25% of the talent from these ten “Pipeline” schools that is 14 players a ear. This is what it meant by “putting a fence around the State of Miami”. If Golden can keep the top players home from I-4 south then he will have it made at Miami.

In fact, these schools have accounted for the majority of high school championships this past decade. The players from these schools tend to be better coached and play top competition in practice and in games.

If your college football team is made up of 70% of the top players of the top high schools in the top football region in the Country then your CFB team will logically be at the top as well.

In 2011 Miami Central had an astounding 17 players sign major college football scholarships. For comparison’s sake this one high school put out more talent than the entire six-state, Northeast region of the United States.

The bottom line is that building and maintaining a good relationship with these big time high school “pipeline” programs can literally make or break any big time college football program. That is why watching Hurricane head coach Al Golden break into the Tampa area and also do well in Palm Beach County during the last recruiting cycle was so important.

Watching the increased attendance and talent at UM’s Junior Days, opening the Spring practices to high school coaches from across Florida and hosting the incredibly popular Al Golden football camps are all really huge steps in broadening the recruiting base and attracting big time talent to Coral Gables.

Clearly, Golden’s strategy is in stark contrast to the previous coaching regime’s method of simply relying on only a few local high schools like Miami Northwestern to supply most of Miami’s players.

Every college coach knows that recruiting is the life-blood of any college football program. Rest assured that UM head coach Al Golden also knows that keeping the pipeline open at the high schools in Central and South Florida where the talent consistently is produced is the key to restoring the Miami Hurricane football program back to national prominence.

Comments

[3G Cane]

[]_[] GO CANES []_[]

[3G Cane]

GO HEAT

[SOUP]

Hassan...nice job young man!

[Ohio_Cane]

Great article, Hassan! Well done.

[3G Cane]

Gotta keep that pipeline flowing AND expanding. Good job Hassan!

[P Cogs]

[]_[] Tough
#6th national title

[Texcane]

Great article Hassan!

[Hassan]

Cool beans we have 1 HC and 9 assistants we should have someone at these 10 schools every other week. We should know the schools so well that we know the bus RTE of the Student Admin in the Front office. Heck they should know the Lunch Menu at the school

In other news the fears of RG3 beign 5'11 were stupid he actually measured in bigger then he was listed at Baylor

Brandon Washington showed why he should not play OT his measurements sucked, look for teams to focus on him as a guard now

Brandon Washington Miami 6-3 320 -- -- 33

[Hassan]

Here it is, this is why James Wilder went to jail. I give her a Mehhhhh, not a SoBe dime but not a Gainesville throw away either.

http://www.exploretalent.com/biancacamarda

[LB]

I'm 10th. I want a cookie.

[SOUP]

I want a cookie.

Posted by: LB | February 24, 2012 at 11:12 AM

NO SOUP FOR U.

Ryan Williams!

[Old Skool]

Good article Hassan

[CaneRock]

"Golden knows that winning at Miami has little to do with South Beach and everything to do with the talent that dwells within these pipeline schools."

Interesting sentence.
You know it's funny that UM is in Coral Gables,
they play their games in Carol City,
but the lyin' ass media is always showing South Beach like it's right across the street from the stadium.
Unbelievable...

[herbieibis]

Just read a ACC blog on ESPN, where it says Luther Robinson, may look to transfer. Golden wants him to move to offensive Tackle and he wants to have a chance at DT. Apparently golden feels he's had his opportunity to shine on Dee and would be sbetter suited for Offense. He's another stiff. I say adios him.

[MattInNY]

I am heading to Miami next weekend and taking in all 3 games of the Florida/Miami baseball series. If it all plays out right, Miami should be 8-0 when #1 Florida comes to town.

Anyone want to see a ton of pro porspects on the field, go and check out a game next weekend. It will be some very high quaility baseball.

The icing is getting to go to fan appreciation day at Greentree. Going to be a great weekend! On top of that, I get out of NY and the cold weather for a few days and eat a bunch of stone crabs while I am at it!

[Ohio_Cane]

Herbie, that MAY not be the only reason he's looking at transfer options. Maybe that's the reason he wants the public to think of why he might?

Just sayin.

[Ohio_Cane]

Heather Dinich:

Yet another reason why the ACC schedule isn't out yet ...

Miami and South Florida have agreed to move their 2012 game from Nov. 24 to Nov. 17 in order to accommodate the conference scheduling needs of both programs. UM won in Tampa last season, 6-3. The Bulls will travel to Sun Life Stadium this November.

The 2012 meeting will be the second-to-last scheduled game in the series. Miami will travel to Tampa on Nov. 30, 2013 to face USF at Raymond James Stadium.

[Ohio_Cane]

NCAA approved kickoff rules for 2012.

Kickoffs will be from the 35 yard line, with no one on the kicking team being allowed to start their run past the 30 yard line.

Also, touchbacks on kickoffs will be moved out to the 25 yard line. Other touchbacks such as punts, etc will still be from the 20 yard line.

[Hassan]

Also, touchbacks on kickoffs will be moved out to the 25 yard line.
------------------------------------------

Lame

[SOUP]

Was that MattinNY droppin and poppin?

Must be BASEBALL season!

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Love the meticulous enumeration that was put into this to support the thesis, not that I was doubting it in the first, but still, its refreshing.

Wilder likes them pre-op transgender apparently? Did the native impersonators really need the help in the lifeless running game that much to violate NCAA eligibility guidelines for him last year?

On one hand I can't fault changing the rules to protect players, but on the other hand, it's a violent sport and that's the appeal. Didn't they just move the kickoffs back less than five seasons ago too?

[SOUP]

Herbie...U should have read Gino Toretta's reply to Robinson not wanting to switch and wanting to transfer on Twitter. It was EPIC!

Toretta told him to look up the name: Kipp Vickers. He switched from DL to OL at UM and spent 8 years in the NFLU!

Chew on that for a while...

[SOUP]

BTW...just for good measure, Vickers won 2 national championships at UM (87, 89) and a Super Bowl with either the Ravens or Colts also.

[SOUP]

Glenn Sharpe, a former Miami Hurricanes football player best known for picking up a controversial penalty in the 2003 BCS Championship Game, has been arrested on murder charges in Georgia.

The ex-Canes cornerback was arrested in Lawrenceville, Georgia on charges that he shot Christopher Galloway three times on February 2 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Sharpe is currently being held in the DeKalb County Jail.

[Ohio_Cane]

From TheUFootball.com:

Official measurements have been taken and posted from the Combine. Here’s how the Canes measure up.

Travis Benjamin—5-10 | 172 | 31 3/4” arm length | 8 3/4” hands

Marcus Forston—6-3 | 300

Jacory Harris—6-3 | 203 | 32 1/8” | 9 3/4”

Lamar Miller—5-11 | 212 | 31 3/8” | 9 1/4”

Sean Spence—5-11 | 222

Tommy Streeter—6-5 | 219 | 34 3/4” | 9 1/2”

Olivier Vernon—6-4 | 265

Brandon Washington—6-3 | 320 | 33” | 9 3/4”

[herbieibis]

Dam, Jabonney finally is over 200 kilos!

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Vernon Carey was the top recruit in the state of Florida as a DT in high school, after two lackluster years and a switch to the other side of the ball in college, he's done alright for himself.

[CGNC]

Hassan - good article and good post on oil. Sharpie - cannot believe he is in prison for murder :-(

[SlingBlade]

http://www.local10.com/news/Former-Cane-Glenn-Sharpe-arrested-for-murder/-/1717324/9001290/-/11u7p1mz/-/

glenn sharpe article

[SlingBlade]

Travis Benjamin—5-10 | 172

was this with or without the hair...

[Hassan]

Hassan - good article and good post on oil. Sharpie - cannot believe he is in prison for murder :-(

Posted by: CGNC | February 24, 2012 at 03:49 PM
------------------------------------------

Thanks, Sharpe was on the Falcons practice squad for some time. Stupid people, Anger and Guns to not mix.
-------------------------------------------

Dam, Jabonney finally is over 200 kilos!

Posted by: herbieibis | February 24, 2012 at 03:14 PM

200 Kilos = 440 lbs.

203 is small still 215 will be much better for him
-------------------------------------------

Speaking of the combine measurements Streetz is going to be the guy with the closest measurements to "Megatron" in the entire NFL, who is considered one of the world's premire athlete's and combine's biggest freak's

Both are 6'5, Johnson was a lil heavier at 239 vs Streetz 219. Streetz hands are slightly smaller 1/4th inch but still impressive at 9.5

Streetz Arm length is actually over an inch longer and has a very impressive catch radius, look for this to get talked up more as the draft approaches.

Streetz is expected to run under 4.4 which compares well with Calvin Johnson's 4.35 Combine run.

[Ohio_Cane]

Hassan, your points mesh well with my prediction of Streeter going to the Pats in the 2nd round, either at the 42nd or 68th pick.

[Hassan]

The BUC is SOLDOUT VS. FSU!!!!

GO Canes

[TJL]

#5 in the pic rt shoe is untied...too bad Sharpe didn't shoot Terry Porter

[SOUP]

too bad Sharpe didn't shoot Terry Porter

Posted by: TJL | February 24, 2012 at 05:56 PM

When I first heard the story that is what I thought had happened.

[SOUP]

OGV...I did NOT know that about Carey. Impressive story.

[Six]

Streeter may come close in some measurements with Megatron - but that's about it - other than that, the only thing they may share in common are having 2 arms and 2 legs. Calvin Johnson isn't human

Even Mike Mayock was talking about how another year in college would help Streeter tremendously - he's basically an outside the lines fly-route type receiver

Megatron does everything and if Streeter can somehow miraculously fill out like Megatron can - more power to him, but I think J12 being drafted in the 1st or 2nd Round is more of a possibility than that

[Six]

20 lbs. of muscle is a huge difference as well

[pbcfrcane13]

BUC sold out....Hmmm how many local FSU fans going?

[orange 'n green in the vein]

SOUP, I'm sure if Dorsey were to weigh in on the same topic he'd offer up The Hulk as his example of how this can work out, Gino citing Vickers dates his frame of reference but still holds weight all the same. Carey finally catching on softened the impact of both Weaver twins washing out as they were what amounted to a trio package signing day deal in '99 and it wasn't looking like Vernon was ever going to break the top eight rotation on the defensive line by the time Butch took off.

I thought Robinson showed some flashes of ability his first year playing but apparently D'No doesn't think he can help out or something? Can't wait for the, "thin at DT," line to get more run next season and get delivered without a hint of irony by Mark. Should be good for a larff.

[Montreal-Cane]

I am back from a very long trip..

Video and pic of the week:

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/politics/21006772887171/obama-gop-philosophy-is-wrong-about-america/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/barack-obama-throws-up-the-u-miami_n_1297660.html

[NativeCane]

Posted by: Montreal-Cane | February 24, 2012 at 08:30 PM

Its gonna have to get better before I learn to like it!

Go Canes!!!

[NativeCane]

Any news on Lady Canes -vs- Duke?

Go Canes!!!

[CaneRock]

Good for Braun today in telling Selig's ass off.
And what the hell was the MLB implying when they said "tampered",
Braun didn't even use the phrase "tampered",
He didn't even LOOK like He was implying the word...

[CaneRock]

And what the hell does "elevated testosterone" mean...
All this stuff that they're putting in foods nowadays can elevate your testosterone,
ya'll seen the size of those BIG ASS chickens at Walmart lately...
Hell, being out in the sun all day can elevate your testosterone...

[CaneRock]

Any news on Lady Canes -vs- Duke?

Go Canes!!!

Posted by: NativeCane | February 24, 2012 at 09:25 PM

From Susan:

hurricanesports Duke hangs on after Canes make a late rally, defeat @MiamiWBB 74-64
46 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

[NativeCane]

Thanks, CaneRock.

[Six]

I thought it was hilarious that the Hebrew Hammer had that sh*t eating grin on his face during his press conference today

Kid is polished at the mic

Brauny is innocent and I love every second of it

[CaneRock]

Barry Jackson

Lamar Miller already thinking Hall of Fame, and other Combine notes

### How confident is UM running back Lamar Miller? Among his comments: “I feel I can be a running back in the Hall of Fame” and “I’m a game-changer” and “I’m much faster” than the draft’s top running back, Alabama’s Trent Richardson.
Miller will run the 40-yard-dash on Sunday and “I’m going to try to break the clock – run a 4.2, a 4.3.” He won’t participate in other drills because he’s recovering from shoulder surgery.

### Among the numerous players the Dolphins have arranged meetings with: UM receiver Travis Benjamin and UF running back Chris Rainey. Benjamin has been working with ESPN analyst and former NFL standout Cris Carter.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2012/02/lamar-miller-already-thinking-hall-of-fame-and-other-combine-notes.html#storylink=cpy

[SOUP]

Brauny is innocent and I love every second of it

Posted by: Six | February 24, 2012 at 11:24 PM

Six...be sure to check in tomorrow. I got somethin-somethin for U.