This Wednesday Miami Hurricane head coach Al Golden will hold a special teams camp for kickers and punters on the beautiful campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables.
While special teams in general, and kickers and punters especially, do not get the four or five star hype from recruiting sites that other more sexy positions get, they are as equally important to a team's success as any other position on the field.
Whenever I think of special teams and kickers in particular for some strange reason I always think of Miami rival FSU. If Bobby Bowden had a reliable kicker during his glory years at FSU who knows how many more games and maybe even National Championships he might have won.
Can U say "Wide Right"? Yeah, I thought so!
At Golden's kicking camp on Wednesday there will be one very special player that we will be watching very closely and rooting for. In fact we hope that Miami will offer him a scholarship based on his performance at the event.
That player is class of 2014 kicker/punter Christian Periera from Timber Creek High School in Orlando. We had the very fortunate opportunity to meet Chris and his father at the UM Spring Game at Sun Life Stadium back in April. They stopped and chatted with us for a little while at the #CanesFam tailgate party in the parking lot at Sun Life Stadium.
If you remember recent UM kicker/punter Matt Bosher then you have a pretty good idea of the type of player that Chris is. Like Bosher, he also is a kicker and punter and loves to tackle on special teams.
Chris recently told Canesinsider.com that: "Miami has been my dream school since day one. I have been going to their games since I was six years old. I have been a die-hard Miami fan."
With a long field goal of 47 yards and a 90% FG attempts made rating, Pereira is already rated as one of the top kickers in the Country. He also averaged 45.8 yards per punt last year and knocked 5 of his 25 punts out inside the opponents 20 yard line.
Bosher was such a vicious tackler and head hunter on special teams that many fans jokingly begged then Head Coach Randy Shannon to play Bosher at middle linebacker. It never happened but it certainly would have been fun to watch!
Many scouts believe that Chris Periera is that type of player. At 6-2 and 197 pounds Chris is an imposing player who breaks the mold or stereotype of the typical skinny, weak place kicker.
As one of the top ranked kickers in the Nation Chris does not lack for confidence. When we talked to him at the Spring Game he was pretty bold and certain that he was the best high school kicker in Florida and possibly even better than any other kicker or punter currently on the UM roster.
We tend to really like kickers with confidence like Danny Miller, Carlos Huerta, Jeff Feagles, Greg Cox and Matt Bosher. To us at least it appeared that Chris is that type of player.
me likey!
Posted by: 8th Man in the Box | June 16, 2012 at 11:40 PM
So freaking close!
Posted by: j.w. | June 16, 2012 at 11:46 PM
Can U say "Wide Right"?
Hell Yeah 1, 2, and 3!!!
GO CANES!!!
Posted by: IraqiCane | June 17, 2012 at 01:00 AM
CGNC - you picked 7 games for the NBA Finals b/c you are very very smart woman ..
that goes without saying, but I did anyway
86 - I'll save you the price for postage b/c you've done a tremendous amount already. Let me know next time you're in the area and we'll go get some good food on my dime .. bring the shirt, ha
Posted by: Six | June 17, 2012 at 02:42 AM
Heat in 5!
Six...I got U. July 11 I am in Tampa and July 12 St. Pete. We will hook up then.
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2012 at 09:06 AM
The big boys are whuppin us in recruiting. This will never end.
Posted by: UCaneDoit | June 17, 2012 at 10:14 AM
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL!!!
Good Article on an ex cane Coach:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--father’s-day-is-bittersweet-for-ole-miss-assistant-dan-werner--a-single-dad-molded-by-football-and-tragedy.html
Posted by: TJL | June 17, 2012 at 10:17 AM
How about Todd Sievers?
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Whether you have kids or not, HAPPY FATHERS DAY! AFAIC, you have to be a man before you can be a father, and I'm sure all of ya'll have impacted a young person's life along the way. 1
Posted by: CaneRock | June 17, 2012 at 10:54 AM
The big boys are whuppin us in recruiting. This will never end.
Posted by: UCaneDoit | June 17, 2012 at 10:14 AM
How exactly? Because Clemson picked up a big name as did FSU? We have picked up big names to. FSU is LOADED with 3-stars, if that was us a lot of people would criticize it lol...Golden knows who he wants and after he closed last year I trust in him and the staff..if we lose out on Thomas, Grace and Cunningham I might be a little worried..but i say we get 2 out of 3 if not ALL 3..imo
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 02:17 PM
"The big boys are whuppin us in recruiting. This will never end."
I'd be inclined to agree with you if not for a few vital points:
1. UM's 2011 & 2012 hauls.
2. Golden's tenure and development at Temple.
3. The size of the 2013 class is significantly smaller.
4. The key to the 2013 class is still on board (Olsen).
5. Kearse's positions. We just signed a bunch of them, and that's not including Jean-Louis.
6. Golden can have any player in Florida he wants. If he doesn't take them, it's for an excellent reason.
7. See previous cases of UM decommits from 2009-2012.
Posted by: LB | June 17, 2012 at 02:43 PM
LB..I agree..also some of the "big boys" are getting guys we have no shot at..Bama has a great class, but most of those kids are from north GA or Alabama....for the most part we are keeping the kids from Florida we want
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 03:02 PM
From the looks of things UMike we ain't gotta shot at nobody lol. Lb, I know this year's class is gonna b small but can we at least get 10 kids?
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 04:19 PM
4-Real...we have a great shot at all the kids we WANT...when the #2 player in the country happens to live in Alabama, chances are Miami will not get him...when a top player happens to live in south florida (see tracy howard) Golden has proven he can close and get the kid..so I am fine with whoever we "miss" on
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 04:22 PM
We still waiting on that camp db MVP's commitment? Bad when a kid with no major offers prior 2 Miami's tell u he will get back 2 u on his decision lol
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 04:31 PM
4-Real..I get what your saying..BUT..this also just hearsay...and I would rather offer a kid we have seen up close and personal over a couple days ALONG with game film then offer a 4-star kid just because Rivals says he is good
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 04:37 PM
# 4 de Elijah Daniels just committed 2...do I have 2 say it? Lol
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 04:44 PM
OKC in 6....Guaranteed..Miami is NOT winning a ring..
RCCF12%seeRED4NBA/OKC is Good too lol..
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000117339359 | June 17, 2012 at 04:48 PM
4-Real...why even bother being a fan? U are so NEGATIVE from the time U wake up til the time U go to sleep that you make yourself MISERABLE about every little thing.
If U want to embrace and enjoy your misery that's fine but STOP trying to make the rest of us miserable too and just worry about the upcoming season because WINNING is the only thing that cures EVERYTHING!
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2012 at 05:26 PM
RCCF...OKC will NOT win another game in this series. That's right: "I said it!"
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2012 at 05:26 PM
"From the looks of things UMike we ain't gotta shot at nobody lol. Lb, I know this year's class is gonna b small but can we at least get 10 kids?"
NSD is a long, long way away. Further, the camps are yet to complete.
Posted by: LB | June 17, 2012 at 05:36 PM
CEO/86 Great Maker of the Site we all Love....
Sir the Heat will not win the ring....
They just dont have IT..OKC in 6 Trust
RCCF12%(BULLS fan fyi)OKC Respector..
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000117339359 | June 17, 2012 at 05:43 PM
Y cant our guys just go out & recruit like everyone else? Y must our method be so scientific? U wanna talk about building a program from the ground up!!?? Check out that dude up in Ann Arbor!! What u call misery I call REALITY.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 05:50 PM
4-Real, U are the biggest pessimist I've talked to about the Canes. Do what U do, but I'll never understand it.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | June 17, 2012 at 05:57 PM
4-Real..im not sure what your even talking about. How do you know how other schools recruit? lol...just because some kids commit to other schools, that don't mean anything. We going to have a small class this year..chances are we cant get 150 of the Rivals top 150 lol..besides..we havent even started playing yet..and the big names guys WE SEEM to want are still out there, so I dont think we "lost" anyone..who cares about Elijah Daniels lol..i dont think we recruit Indiana lol
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 06:02 PM
I'm just commenting on the present, cuz that's all I can do. U guys can 4c the future, I can't.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 06:18 PM
lol 4-Real...all im saying is, I dont think we are missing out on anyone, that our staff is doing their job..imo
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 06:21 PM
4-Real,
I think u want the canes to have a recruiting class full of 4 & 5* players from all over the country. Smh. Thats never been the formula for championships at da "U". Its always been about decisively selecting players from the most talented urban area in the country, SOUTH FLORIDA. Are 2 & 3* are better than thier 4 & 5*. Trust me. Throw in a few from other parts of FL & no more than a hand full from out of state. The key is knowing which one is a baller or bust. THATS WHAT THE F*CKING CAMPS ARE FOR. Tighten up dawg...
Posted by: CoCane | June 17, 2012 at 06:31 PM
Weren't Willie Williams, Kyle Wright and Author Brown #1 or at least top 3 overall players? How did that work out? Going to freakin Kansas lol
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 06:55 PM
Blue Collar North America (cough Romberg) guys + Urban State of Miami hard working types = championships.
Not interested in stars.
Posted by: Felipe | June 17, 2012 at 07:30 PM
Once miami beats these okies tonight they are too young and they will fold like a cheap suit.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2012 at 07:31 PM
daddy James gonna teach them lessons about growin up.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2012 at 07:34 PM
/\/\/\
Yes, by at least one service or another they were ranked as the top prospect. You can add Henderson in there as well to that list but he's not been a bust by any stretch of the imagination to this point in his career. Another good year by Brown would make him a regular KSU prototype under Snyder, burn two years somewhere else then red-shirt or play for your two year without it and make a name for yourself.
4-real couldn't wait to worry about recruiting until after the season was over anyway, you expect him not to get worked up way too soon about the next class to be without taking the problems facing the football team in the proper order of operations? Then I say you don't know the real 4-real, for real!
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | June 17, 2012 at 07:51 PM
UMike, u named 3 guys that bombed @ UM lol. Whadda bout Julio Jones, A.J Green, J. Clowney, Patrick Johnson, etc. By no means am I saying things won't get better. Just sayin as a TRUE DIEHARD CANES FAN I want it sooner than later. I know it's gonna take time, just hope it doesn't take 2 long. If Golden is half the coach u guys claim he is then he should b able 2 turn this thing around like Hoke, Saban, Sweeney etc.. P.s. Danny Dillard is gonna ball out, just watch. Malcolm Lewis & Lockhart gonna hold down wr corps, Lewis especially. 1 thing I will say is that I have full confidence in the incoming YOUNG GUNS.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 08:03 PM
As long as the canes handle there business this year the recruits will fall in line.Other than the obivous hometown boys the big fish will come out of state,my guess is Tim Williams or/and Trey Johnson long shots yes,but so was Tracy Howard and they are recieving much attention from AG and staff,if nothing else the man can recruit.
Posted by: myndraize | June 17, 2012 at 08:06 PM
What's with all the greasy talk about the heat losing the finals?OKC is a very good team,but so are the heat with a better defensive team and combine that with losing last year;redemption and determination alone will be enough to fight off the young guns. BRON BRON ain't havin it!
Posted by: myndraize | June 17, 2012 at 08:14 PM
Here is a question/scenario. If nick Saban got Miami's 2008 class and randy Shannon got Alabamas 2008 class would Miami have won 2 national championships like alabama did and would alabama have failed miserably like miami did. Point is you give Miamis previous coaching staff Alabamas 2008 class and they would have had the same exact record Miami ended up with. It's about getting players that fit your system and how you develop them.
Nick Saban has turned down 5 star studs cause they didn't fit his system. Jimbo fisher never met a 5 star he didn't like. See the difference.
Posted by: The What | June 17, 2012 at 08:15 PM
Saban ain't never turned down a 5 star nor has he ever told a high school all-American he has to come 2 one of his camps to get an offer. O.k. heres the deal... From this day 4ward can we all agree that this is Al Golden's team 4 sho? Cuz come this season when we lose ( God forbid ) don't go blaming Shannon like u did all last year. When Miami won, it was great coaching on Golden's behalf. When we lost it was becuz of Shannon's lousy ass players. In other words, no more excuses. This is officially Golden' ship, agreed????
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 08:37 PM
Just what I thought....
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 08:53 PM
4-Real..outside of Patrick Peterson (whos recruitment may still be under investigation..the rest of those guys were long shots. Clowney stayed home as did others...Miami has never had good experiences when getting top players from out of state..imo
Posted by: UMike | June 17, 2012 at 08:56 PM
Rodney King dead at age 47 :(
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 09:33 PM
Ya, Golden has basically sucked at recruiting so far in what will be his "2nd" year here ... not exactly 2 years worth of being at Miami, but whatever
T.Howard, Duke Johnson, Deon Bush, Ereck Flowers, Jelani Hamilton, Gionni Paul, Jalen Grimble, Malcolm Lewis, Tyriq McCord, Chick, Dallas Crawford, Finnie, Gionni Paul, Rayshawn Jenkins, etc. who the hell would want those guys
Not to mention these jabronis that verballed - Standish Dobard right from the heart of LSU country. Kevin Olsen.
It's JUNE and people are complaining about who the Canes will get and won't get already? about why can't they just do like other schools?
JUNE.
J.U.N.E.
J .. U .. N .. E
J
U
N
E
I'm going to tell you what month it currently is ...... it rhymes with JUNE
Posted by: Six | June 17, 2012 at 09:49 PM
Clowney told me he never even was contacted by anyone from Miami while Shannon was there
You want some recruiting stories about what went on while Shannon was there?
Think I have already talked about that before, coming from a former recruiting assistant that worked under Butch Davis, Lane Kiffin and Shannon for a minute
He is now the Director of Player Personnel at Purdue
Posted by: Six | June 17, 2012 at 09:57 PM
What has Finnie done so far? Grimble? Paul? Crawford? Duke was coming 2 UM regardless. So was Chick. As was Jelani. Duke worked on both Howard & Bush. Chick worked on McCord. Howard said outta his own mouth that he wouldn't even return the coaches phone calls until Duke & Malcolm got in his ear. Just like Denzel was coming anyway due 2 his friendship with Vilma. Yeah u right six, its just June yet everyone else has nearly 20 commits so far.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 10:02 PM
I never said anything about Clowney coming to UM. My point was that most of the 4 & 5 star kids that commit elsewhere besides UM lately has gone on 2 have promising careers.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Who is thus 4 real guy?
Posted by: diesel9 | June 17, 2012 at 10:17 PM
If Golden doesn't care about stars then explain 2 me why he invited every 4 & 5 star in the country 4 an official visit 2-3 weeks b4 signing day this past February lol.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 10:17 PM
Who is thus diesel9 guy?
Posted by: 4-Real | June 17, 2012 at 10:19 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=6403943
Nick sabans coaching philosophy. I may have misspoken about not offering a five star player (as I have no example) but this article is pretty clear that saban will not offer a five or four star just because they are a five star or four star. I've read in another article where saban didnt offer a stud cause he didn't fit the system unfortunately I can't find it right now.
Besides aren't Recruits automatically deducted a star for commuting to Miami lol.
Also FSU, Clemson, etc are all dipping in their pockets to get these recruits. Miami can't afford to do that and I don't think golden would anyway.
Miami is currently recruiting with one hand tied behind its back. It has been irrelevant for years, it has NCAA sanctions coming, Etc. If you ask me, the job golden has done is nothing short of miraculous.
As someone else above said it's June so who cares.Lol.
Posted by: The What | June 17, 2012 at 10:31 PM
If the heat win this game I think they will lock up the title in 6.
Posted by: The What | June 17, 2012 at 10:34 PM