Canes back in the mix for 5-star DT Taylor

Stefan Adams

Mar 11, 2020 3 min read

This past weekend, 2021 Miami Palmetto (FL) 5-star DT Leonard Taylor competed with some of the area’s top talent at the Under Armour All-America Miami Camp. After dominating the event, Taylor earned an invite to the UA All-America Game with a strong effort in the trenches against a solid group of offensive linemen.

“I feel like I did great,” Taylor said. “I did what I was supposed to do, showed people why I’m a five-star.”

Who was the toughest offensive lineman to go against?

“The center from Columbus (Ryan Rodriguez), he’s pretty tough,” Taylor said.

In late December, Taylor left the Miami Hurricanes out of his top 5 list he released on Twitter, and many felt that was a surprising decision considering how much he had talked up the local school over the past year. The Canes’ staff was also taken back a bit, and head coach Manny Diaz and DL coach Todd Stroud reached out to Taylor soon after.

“They told me I shouldn’t give up on them now, that everybody has turnaround seasons,” Taylor said. “They just said to keep them in my mind.”

It seems UM’s pitch worked, as the Canes were able to get Taylor back on campus again about a month later for their Junior Day event in late January.

“I was talking mostly with coach Stroud,” Taylor said of the visit. “He seems like a good person. He was teaching me about the defense they’d be running if I come out there and the relationships I could build with the coaches.

“He told me basically if I come out there, I could play any position on the line, because I have the athletic ability to do it.”

Ultimately the appeal of a program like Miami to Taylor is the tradition of the team and the proximity of the campus in relation to his family.

“Who wouldn’t want to be a Cane? There’s no place like home,” Taylor said of UM. “The coaches really interest me and it just feels like home every time I’m there.”

The schools that originally made Taylor’s top 5 were LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee. In addition to putting Miami back in the mix, Taylor says he is also considering Texas A&M as well, and he has a few more visits planned for later this spring. The Miami Palmetto also recently took a visit to UF last week as well.

“I’ll be going to Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, and Auburn,” Taylor said. “No dates yet, I’m going during my spring break, so really it’s whenever I have time.”

With his current plan to commit in early December before signing early, Taylor still has plenty of time to come to a decision, but he does know what he will mainly be looking for when it comes time to make his choice.

“Really it’s about the education,” Taylor said. “I want to go to the school and feel like I’m going to learn something, football is second.”

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Cookie917

Jul 8, 2020

BeachCanes said:
I think that gym is owned by Streeter. I’ll be honest I thought Streeter would outplay his draft status or maybe get drafted higher. Dude had wheeels.

Agree. Dude had one decent year here, went pro, measured in at like 6'5 and ran a 4.3 at the combine, those dont just grow on trees surprised to never really see him make it off a practice squad. Can't hurt to have him in Taylor ear but this almost seems too good to be true. Don't get me wrong, its better than him wearing UF stuff everyday but just seems like its the worst kept secret if true.

hoops156

Jul 8, 2020

Cookie917 said:
Agree. Dude had one decent year here, went pro, measured in at like 6'5 and ran a 4.3 at the combine, those dont just grow on trees surprised to never really see him make it off a practice squad. Can't hurt to have him in Taylor ear but this almost seems too good to be true. Don't get me wrong, its better than him wearing UF stuff everyday but just seems like its the worst kept secret if true.

idk if Taylor cares whether or not we think hes letting a cat out of a bag tbh. just seems like hes straight up with his decision making based on what is stated on here and interviews

Stylie

Jul 8, 2020

Canemang said:
Really hope dude isn't trolling

LOL..... how ******* terrible would that be? We would never hear the end of it from Gator fans.

Jul 8, 2020

NorthEastCane said:
Not according to the NCAA . Those compiling the stats say we were 71st.
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/2018/team/701/p2

According to 247, they were first. The only team in the country that allowed under 25% conversion rate

How Elite Was Miami’s Defense In 2018?

We take a closer look at just how elite Miami's defense in 2018 was.

247sports.com

here's another list

College Football Stats - College FB Team Opponent Third Down Conversion Percentage | TeamRankings.com

College Football opponent third down conversion percentage, by team.

www.teamrankings.com

Last edited: Jul 8, 2020

N
NorthEastCane

Jul 8, 2020

The Franchise said:
That's not true. But carry on.

Maybe it's a sign of the times but there seems to be a lot of revisionist history going around. I was commenting on the prevailing commentary on this site about recruiting of both CBs and safeties. Judging by numerous threads as well as this one, it's turned around for safeties.

Cane4L

Jul 8, 2020

Let me tell you, unless Ivins is trying to keep things on the low (which I highly doubt) .. he’s completely off regarding Taylor’s recruitment. On the last podcast he said he sees James Williams coming more so than LT. Either his sources suck or he’s trying to not spoil anything. I ultimately trust cribbys word.

A
AtlAtty

Jul 8, 2020

RozayCane said:
Works out with Streeter
View attachment 120965

Definitely can't hurt to have Tommy Streeter training high school prospects.

Virginia_Cane

Jul 8, 2020

blickycane222 said:
Let me tell you, unless Ivins is trying to keep things on the low (which I highly doubt) .. he’s completely off regarding Taylor’s recruitment. On the last podcast he said he sees James Williams coming more so than LT. Either his sources suck or he’s trying to not spoil anything. I ultimately trust cribbys word.

He apparently knew Avantae was coming here but staff told him to keep it quiet.

M
Mikep

Jul 8, 2020

blickycane222 said:
Let me tell you, unless Ivins is trying to keep things on the low (which I highly doubt) .. he’s completely off regarding Taylor’s recruitment. On the last podcast he said he sees James Williams coming more so than LT. Either his sources suck or he’s trying to not spoil anything. I ultimately trust cribbys word.

I'm rolling with @Cribby even though recruiting is always changing.

N
NorthEastCane

Jul 8, 2020

DTP said:
According to 247, they were first. The only team in the country that allowed under 25% conversion rate

How Elite Was Miami’s Defense In 2018?

We take a closer look at just how elite Miami's defense in 2018 was.

247sports.com

247 also has Miami as No 2 in total defense (268.3 ypg) where as the NCAA has Miami at 38 (362.8 ypg).
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/2018/team/22

I don't know where 247 get their stats but I'd tend to believe the official score keepers.

Canes Brotherhood

Jul 8, 2020

Canemang said:
Really hope dude isn't trolling

As a fan base that’s unfortunately what we’ve become used to with elite recruits.

Jul 8, 2020

Virginia_Cane said:
He apparently knew Avantae was coming here but staff told him to keep it quiet.

Not the same beast. It wasn’t like he knew that weeks ahead of time, he might have learned that tae was coming a day or so advance. Ivins is very conservative and some of his relationships with the staff are sour

M
Mikep

Jul 8, 2020

SouthParkCane said:
Not the same beast. It wasn’t like he knew that weeks ahead of time, he might have learned that tae was coming a day or so advance. Ivins is very conservative and some of his relationships with the staff are sour

I think on his podcast he said Avantae told him the day before that it would be miami, and that is the reason he drove up to watch the announcement. I don't think he drives all the way up there if he thought he would say UF.

Jul 8, 2020

Mikep said:
I think on his podcast he said Avantae told him the day before that it would be miami, and that is the reason he drove up to watch the announcement. I don't think he drives all the way up there if he thought he would say UF.

Yeah that’s what I mean bro. If these kids don’t let ivins in even he is sometimes in the dark.

MiamiChris

Jul 8, 2020

D_G87 said:
would you be okay with Banda being the DC here if Baker bounces next year?

as long as Manny is here the D will be fine, it would be Banda, Patke or whoever. It’s Mannys D and we will be fine

The Franchise

Jul 8, 2020

Cribby said:
He was never close to as bad as rumph.

Now that is true.

The Franchise

Jul 8, 2020

NorthEastCane said:
Maybe it's a sign of the times but there seems to be a lot of revisionist history going around. I was commenting on the prevailing commentary on this site about recruiting of both CBs and safeties. Judging by numerous threads as well as this one, it's turned around for safeties.

I'm not revising anything, and recruiters recruit more than their specific position. Banda is, was, and always will be a better recruiter than Rumph. People take it personally that Banda is a better recruiter than Rumph instead of just accepting it and moving forward. Like any other job in the world, there are guys who are better recruiters than other guys.

Cribby

Jul 8, 2020

SouthParkCane said:
Not the same beast. It wasn’t like he knew that weeks ahead of time, he might have learned that tae was coming a day or so advance. Ivins is very conservative and some of his relationships with the staff are sour

Once again you’re dead on, It was a day or two before , even though Tae was silently on board with Banda for at least a couple weeks.

I never knock people for subscribing to 247 but if you get in for actual insider info it’s a waste of money.

Ivins is way behind on the Leonard Taylor stuff. I was posting on him and um since May. The way he handled the Houston transfer news let me know something was off, he was all over the place while not saying anything , just putting out useless updates to not sound lost. Williams was always coming to um once he got the ok.

Something is definitely up with him and the staff, the last 3-6 months he seems way behind on things.

Jul 8, 2020

Cribby said:
Once again you’re dead on, It was a day or two before , even though Tae was silently on board with Banda for at least a couple weeks.

I never knock people for subscribing to 247 but if you get in for actual insider info it’s a waste of money.

Ivins is way behind on the Leonard Taylor stuff. I was posting on him and um since May. The way he handled the Houston transfer news let me know something was off, he was all over the place while not saying anything , just putting out useless updates to not sound lost. Williams was always coming to um once he got the ok.

Something is definitely up with him and the staff, the last 3-6 months he seems way behind on things.

I’m trying my best to find out what’s happened but ivins hadn’t had any real consistent sources since the last time UM played a snap

jkaz1

Jul 8, 2020

One of many players over the past 2 decades that would've greatly benefited from a top notch staff.

It is what it is.

BeachCanes said:
I think that gym is owned by Streeter. I’ll be honest I thought Streeter would outplay his draft status or maybe get drafted higher. Dude had wheeels.

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Canes back in the mix for 5-star DT Taylor

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