New Year, New Blood

UM head coach Mark Richt concluded his first full year of recruiting with a very successful class of new talented players that are signed, sealed and delivered to "The U".

Every year on NSD there are some hits and misses and this recruiting cycle was no different. Miami scored well on the recruiting trail except at DB and RB. The Hurricanes did best by shoring up their OL with several excellent propects.

Here is a list from www.hurricanesports.com of the new names and faces coming to campus in Coral Gables:

Today's Signees

Trajan Bandy | Jhavonte Dean | Zach Feagles | Jonathan Ford |Corey Gaynor | Mike Harley | Kai-Leon Herbert | Zalon’tae Hillery |D.J. Johnson | Evidence Njoku | N'Kosi Perry | Derrick Smith | Jeff Thomas | De'Andre Wilder

Trajan Bandy (Miami, Fla.) – Defensive Back – Columbus High School
Consensus four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Rated as the 30th –best cornerback by 247Sports…Earned a No. 33 ranking in the state of Florida by 247Sports… Rated as the 267th prospect nationwide on ESPN300…Participated in The Opening in 2016…Earned a Top 300 PrepStar All-America ranking…Named First Team All-Dade by the Miami Herald…Totaled a pair of returns for touchdowns as a senior…Coached by Chris Merritt at Columbus High School…Chose Miami over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Oklahoma and Colorado.

Jhavonte Dean (Homestead, Fla.) – Defensive Back – Blinn College – South Dade High School
Consensus four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Ranked No. 12 in the 247Sports composite rankings…Rated as the second-best cornerback by 247Sports…Listed as the nation’s No. 1 junior college cornerback…Played two seasons for Keith Thomas at Blinn College…Played for Nathaniel Hudson at South Dade High School…Comes to Miami with three years to play two seasons…Chose Miami over offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Cincinnati and Kentucky.

Zach Feagles (Glen Rock, N.J.) – Punter – Ridgewood High School
Earned a three-star rating from ESPN and Scout…Listed as a two-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals…Participated in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game…Rated No. 7 among punters nationally by Kohl’s Kicking…Averaged 36.1 yards per punt during his high school career…Dropped seven punts inside the 20-yard-line as a senior…His longest punt of 57 yards came during his junior season…Chose Miami over offers from Rutgers and North Carolina…Son of 22-year NFL veteran and Miami alum Jeff Feagles.

Jonathan Ford (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Defensive Line – Dillard High School
Consensus three-star defensive line prospect by from 247Sports, Scout and ESPN…Rated as the 27th-best defensive tackle by 247Sports…Ranked as the 52nd- best prospect in the state of Florida according to 247Sports…Selected Sun-Sentinel First Team All-County…Coached by Lorenzo Davis at Dillard High School…Chose Miami over offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, USC, Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

Corey Gaynor (Parkland, Fla.) – Offensive Line – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, Scout and ESPN…Rated as the 20th-ranked offensive guard out of the South according to Scout… Named Miami Herald First Team All-Broward…Selected Sun-Sentinel First Team All-County…Recorded 97 pancake blocks as a senior…Versatile offensive lineman, who has seen action at center and guard…Coached by Willis May at Marjory Stoneman Douglass…Chose Miami over offers from Arizona, Houston, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, UCF and West Virginia.

Mike Harley (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Wide Receiver – St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Consensus four-star wide receiver prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Took part in the U.S. Army All-American Game…Ranked as the 24th-best player in the state of Florida according to Rivals…Ranked as the 40th–best player in the state of Florida by 247Sports…Named Miami Herald First Team All-Broward…Selected Sun-Sentinel First Team All-County…Helped guide St. Thomas Aquinas to a 12-2 record and the 7A Florida State High School Championship during his senior season…Caught three touchdown passes in the state championship game…Coached by Roger Harriott at St. Thomas Aquinas…Chose Miami over offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Kai-Leon Herbert (Plantation, Fla.) – Offensive Line – American Heritage School
Consensus four-star offensive line prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Rated as the 28th–best offensive tackle in the class of 2017 by 247Sports…Ranked No. 99 regardless of position on the ESPN300 rankings…Participated in The Opening in 2016… Selected to 2017 Under Armour All-America Game…Earned a Top 300 PrepStar All-America ranking…Named Miami Herald First Team All-Broward… Selected First Team Sun-Sentinel All-County…Helped anchor an offensive line that posted over 4,700 total yards…Spent his senior season playing for former Miami Dolphin Patrick Surtain at American Heritage High School…Played three seasons for cornerbacks UM coach Mike Rumph at American Heritage High School…Chose Miami over offers Michigan, Auburn, Florida, California, Colorado, Georgia and LSU.

Zalon’tae Hillery (Brunswick, Ga.) – Offensive Line – Glynn Academy
Earned a three-star ranking from 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals…Rated as the 49th-best player at his position by ESPN…Ranked as the 50th–best player in the state of Georgia by 247Sports…Coached by Rocky Hidalgo at Gylnn Academy…Helped guide Glynn Academy to an 11-2 record during his senior season…Chose Miami over offers from Florida, Kentucky, Alabama and Clemson.

D.J. Johnson (Sacramento Calif.) – Defensive Line – Luther Burbank High School
Consensus four-star defensive lineman by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Rated as the 72nd–best prospect in the country according to 247Sports…Selected as the ninth-best player in the state of California by 247Sports…Ranked No. 62 in the final ESPN300 rankings…Rated as the No. 5 position prospect by ESPN…Ranked No. 34 on the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team…Totaled 85 tackles (47 solo), 14.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss during his senior season…Took part in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Bowl…Coached by John Heffernan at Luther Burbank High School…Had offers from 100 schools...Chose Miami over Washington, USC, Ohio State and Alabama.

Evidence Njoku (Cedar Grove, N.J.) – Wide Receiver – Wayne Hills High School
Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout...One of the top recruits in the state of New Jersey, ranking No. 10 according to ESPN...Spent three season at Cedar Grove High School before transferring to Wayne Hills as a senior...Caught 18 pass for 306 yards and five touchdowns as a junior at Cedar Grove...Also excelled on kickoff returns Cedar Grove as he accumulated 350 yards and four additional touchdowns during his junior season... Finished his senior season with over 400 yards receiving and eight touchdowns...Coached by Wayne Demikoff at Wayne Hills...Young brother of former Hurricane wide receiver David Njoku...Chose Miami over offers from Boston College, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon and Penn State among others.

N'Kosi Perry (Ocala, Fla.) – Quarterback – Vanguard High School
Widely regarded as one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation…Consensus four-star quarterback by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Rated as the sixth-best quarterback at his position according to 247Sports…Comes to Miami ranked No. 29 in the state of Florida by 247Sports…Ranked No. 84 in the final ESPN300 rankings…Earned a Top 300 PrepStar All-America ranking…Received FHSAA 6A Player of the Year honors...Helped guide Vanguard to an impressive 10-2 overall record during his senior season…Totaled 24 touchdowns and completed 64 percent of his passes during his senior season…Scored 43 total touchdowns with 11 coming on the ground during his junior season…Threw for over 2,000 yards during his junior campaign…Coached by Edwin Farmer at Vanguard High School…Chose Miami over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State and West Virginia.

Derrick Smith (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Defensive Back – Trinity Christian Academy
Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout…Listed as the 76th-best prospect at his position by ESPN…Listed as the 124th-best recruit in the state of Florida by 247Sports…Helped guide Trinity Christian Academy to an 11-3 record…Coached by Verlon Dorminey at Trinity Christian Academy…Chose Miami over offers from USC, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Kentucky and Cincinnati.

Jeff Thomas (East St. Louis, Ill.) – Wide Receiver – East St. Louis
Consensus four-star wide receiver prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout...Rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Illinois…Listed as the sixth-rated wide receiver and the No. 2 player in the state of Illinois by 247Sports…Ranked No. 55 in the final ESPN300 rankings… Took part in The Opening in 2016…Starred in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game and posted game records of 148 yards receiving and two touchdowns…Selected to the Top 150 PrepStar All-America Dream Team…Was a three-year starter in high school…Finished his career with 177 receptions for 3,532 yards and 41 touchdowns…Helped guide East Saint Louis High School to a perfect 14-0 season and its first Illinois State Championship in eight years…Hauled in a pair of touchdowns in the state championship…Caught 50 passes for 1,101 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior…Coached by Darren Sunkett at East Saint Louis High School…Chose Miami over offers from Louisville, Oregon, Illinois, Michigan and Alabama among others.

De'Andre Wilder (Opa Locka, Fla.) – Linebacker – Miami Carol City Senior High School
Earned a four-star ranking by ESPN…Listed as the 22nd–best prospect at his position by ESPN…Ranked as the 51st–best player in the state of Florida by ESPN…Rated as four star prospect by Rivals…Listed as the 26th-best linebacker and 40th-best prospect in the state by Rivals…Earned a three-star rating from 247Sports…Named Miami Herald Second Team All-Dade…Helped guide Carol City to the 6A Florida State High School Championship…Coached by Aubrey Hill at Carol City…Choose Miami over offers from Georgia, USF, Florida, LSU, Louisville and Alabama.

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Comments

[TonyCane]

Separate question..of the players who did not see action last season from the 2016 class, which one do you feel will break out next season?

Mullins? Irvin?

[CGNC]

Posted by: 1mg Of epi | February 03, 2017 at 09:57 PM

Recruiting stars. I couldn't copy the remainder of the tweet

[CGNC]

.I really want to meet so many people Tony CoCane CR...everyone I can....especially Epi and GCanes!!! Old Skoll windy...everyone I can!!! You people make a huge difference in my life..CANES 4 EVER!!!!!!

Posted by: VA Cane | February 04, 2017 at 12:34 AM

Ahem. Cough, Cough. Forget someone? LOL

[CGNC]

You have to park in your color designation. They guide you when you park, just like how Disney does it.

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | February 03, 2017 at 09:39 PM

That is what I thought. When I went to buy the pass it gave me Orange, Section O row whatever. I thought maybe it changed. I was like "Section O where is THAT?"

[CGNC]

UGH LOL, VA I didn'tsee the above post- too early, need my second cup of coffee LOL would like to meet you also

[Go Canes!]

I have an orange parking pass and have parked all over the stadium.

[CGNC]

Thanks Go. I guess they assign sections and lot spaces to keep track of the spaces sold. Just wanted to make sure

[Terrance Sullivan]

VA I have your Hotel Room Booked at Canespace Headquarters the LA Quinta Inn Fort Lauderdale/Plantation 8101 Peters ROAD Plantation, Florida 33324. I got you booked checking in Friday November 10th checking out Sunday November 12th. So you can plan your travel to and from accordingly.

[WWIN]

P.S. What's the "climate" like these days in N'ville?

Posted by: nemo2002 | February 04, 2017 at 06:54 AM

You have a great day too! You'll be pleased with this class when the season rolls around!

Could this weekend but been in the 65-70 degree range...like Nashville has turned into Paradise! I want my winter back dammit 😂😂😂!

[KYcane]

VA,

Got your ticket covered.

[KYcane]

Speaking of parking passes, which one of the 3 stooges is getting ours?

[86Cane]

I am.

[Go Canes!]

Put me down for a hundo for VA's trip down.

[Go Canes!]

Perhaps we can send it to the donate icon onthe space.

[86Cane]

Perhaps we can send it to the donate icon onthe space.

Posted by: Go Canes! | February 04, 2017 at 10:18 AM

YES, see link on left column. I will collect the $$$ into the Pay Pal and transfer cash to Terrance for the hotel room.

[SinisterCane]

GO CANEZ!!!

[Herbieibis]

The way The Herb figures, Richt has at least 4 ships stashed in his back pocket, "left over".

[Go Canes!]

Smh....

#Gators DB coach Torrian Gray off to the NFL... @scoutrecruiting

[YooperCane]

I bet Henderson and his butt buddy are regretting their decisions to be Turds! LMFAO! Never trust a gator...ever!

[86Cane]

Season tickets renewed? CHECK!

Annual parking pass renewed? CHECK!

Ready for Spring Ball? CHECK!

[1mg Of epi]

Go Canes!
Smh....

#Gators DB coach Torrian Gray off to the NFL... @scoutrecruiting

Posted by: Go Canes! | February 04, 2017 at 12:50 PM

YooperCane
I bet Henderson and his butt buddy are regretting their decisions to be Turds! LMFAO! Never trust a gator...ever!

Posted by: YooperCane | February 04, 2017 at 12:51 PM

Henderson was dropped.

Edwards tho... hopefully he regrers

[Go Canes!]

They gave up or screwed up the U for this???

Corey Bell, hired Jan. 11 as USF's DB coach, is leaving for the same position at Florida, sources told ESPN. Bell, who spent the past two seasons at FAU, replaces UF DB coach Torrian Gray, who accepted a position with the Washington Redskins.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Lol next we good enjoy the players who are Miami Hurricanes. Forget them.

[CGNC]

82 Savage
‏@AhmmonR2

Funny how some kids at my school mad that I didn't go to Alabama...They just wanted to be able to say "I know that kid who plays at Alabama"

[CGNC]

VA - you can try and see if Allegiant has any flights near you, they are very inexpensive and usually fly major airports

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Must win on the road today. Smith isn't going to shoot as poorly in the 1st half as home as he did last time out either . . .

The lack of bench scoring help is crippling this year. Lawrence has to provide that by himself basically and that's not getting it done.

[Mark from Atlanta]

I'll take rumph, diaz & banda coaching our DBs...any day. ..twice on Sunday.

God bless you and Go Canes!

[WWIN]

Gray never visited Edwards' dumb@ss so I'm sure this doesn't effect him. 😂😂😂

[🐜🌀]

You gotta take that Amp

[🐜🌀]

And then you shoot it from deep, c'mon Amp

[CoCane]

It's going to take another year of seasoning the sophs and frosh for the hoops team. Then, when Walker, Lykes, Waardenburg and Deng comes in... The talent and competition will take them to a level the "U" hoops team have never seen.

I just hope they can squeeze into the big dance this year. That will keep them from being just happy to be there next year.

[BEERicane]

Who is the bigger 5 star disappointment: Huell or Tracy Howard?

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Well the man to man defense is going to have to force a bunch of offense out of defense if they're going to challenge at all today.

Play Izundu, Huell, Lawrence, Brown and Reed and let Lawrence point forward the thing from the high post against the zone until you shoot them out of it.

Newton can't find the mid range shot anymore and the recruiting blunder from down under doesn't need to renew the scholarship offer, maybe he gets left at the airport. But let #0 and Murphy at them offensively when they get in man to man because NCST was being destroyed off pick and roll last time and they're trying to hide that with the zone as a result today.

[TonyCane]

Lane Kiffin hitting the recruiting trail...

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/kiffin-spotted-clubbing-in-boca-raton/ar-AAmCq9T?li=BBnbfcL

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Wrong blog.

Shouldn't you be counting snowflakes for early entrants next year that count against this one or something?

Reed on Smith now, it's serious The Pimp has decided.

[CoCane]

The only person that thought Huell was 1 and done good was himself. Even though he's a 5*, he was projected to need 2-3 years off college to be ready for the NBA. He's only 225 ish. He needs to get bigger and stronger. His post game will develop. He does flash his 5* athleticism at times though. Too early to say he is a bust.

[Ring announcer]

6'7" and 183 lbs of gayness.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Posted by: CoCane | February 04, 2017 at 04:15 PM

He has the potential to be evolutionary Tim James.

Who spent four years in college . . .

[Ring announcer]

C ya Izundu

[mi@mic@ne]

acc biggest cheating conference calling bogus fouls

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Great escape in the second half.

Brown has to get going again soon to shoulder a fair share of the scoring burden immediately though.

Stay thirsty while posting, tax cheats.

[Go Canes!]

Very nice win for the boys today!!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

That is what I thought. When I went to buy the pass it gave me Orange, Section O row whatever. I thought maybe it changed. I was like "Section O where is THAT?"

Posted by: CGNC | February 04, 2017 at 09:16 AM

Section O just means orange lot. You can park in any orange lot. I park in the orange lot that is close to the turnpike E23 & E33 area. Its pretty easy getting in and out!

[BEERicane]

6'7" and 183 lbs of gayness.

Posted by: Ring announcer | February 04, 2017 at 04:47 PM

You are tall!!

[Ring announcer]

Posted by: BEERicane | February 04, 2017 at 05:45 PM

And now all of canespace knows, what a relief. I thought I'd have to go around hoping one day someone would crack my da Vinci code while I sat back j-ing off into a condom, drinking O'Doul's, perfecting my wrestling moves and a bunch of other shit that doesn't make sense.

[Big Gipp]

"Most y'all meet me thought I was tall"

[BEERicane]

Posted by: BEERicane | February 04, 2017 at 05:45 PM

And now all of canespace knows, what a relief. I thought I'd have to go around hoping one day someone would crack my da Vinci code while I sat back j-ing off into a condom, drinking O'Doul's, perfecting my wrestling moves and a bunch of other shit that doesn't make sense.

Posted by: Ring announcer | February 04, 2017 at 06:18 PM

Only the drinking O'Doul's doesn't make sense. The rest is not only normal, it's recommend.

[BigWindyCane1]

Devon Reed with a career high 26! Canes didn't play their best game, but they found a way to win on the road at NC State. Great win the the Canes.

[Common Sense]

Posted by: BEERicane | February 04, 2017 at 06:22 PM

1pt for Beericane on the wrestling moves.

-2pt for saying jerking it into a condom is normal.

[Common Sense]

Whose Devon Reed?