-Miami tight end commit Jeremy Kerr took an official visit to Florida State this past weekend. According to somebody close to him, Kerr wants to meet with his position coach, Mario Cristobal before making a final a decision. Whether Kerr just wants to get to know him on a more personal level or if he wants to discuss where he sits in the team's plans in a potentially crowded depth chart remains to be seen. It would not be a shock to see him flip to Florida State, but if the meeting with Cristobal goes smoothly, then I expect him to stick. It's very possible he makes an unofficial visit to Miami this weekend.
-If signing day was today, Keith Bryant would be a Seminole in all likelihood. The good thing for Miami's chances is that signing day isn't today and they will get the last crack at him. After Bryant told me last week that he would be visiting Miami this weekend, he has now pushed it back to February 1st, which will be the last trip he makes before signing day. Miami will need to make a strong impression on his family as well as him over the next three weeks in order to get his signature on National Signing Day.
-The other top defensive tackle prospect Miami is pursuing is Jaynard Bostwick. I've heard conflicting things in regards to whether or not he will qualify. One person I spoke to said he should be good to go, while another said he is a sign-and-place all the way. The reality of the matter with situations like this is that we will never truly know if the prospect will make it in until it's time to enroll.
-Alex Collins is arguably the most important prospect still on the board for Miami for next season's success. If I had to make a guess right now, I would say Miami will be his choice, but that isn't really based off of any information I've received. Collins was a near lock to the 'Noles until Eddie Gran left, which put them behind the 8-ball. He will be on campus this weekend and then Arkansas on the 25th.
-Watch out for RB/FB Augustus Edwards from Staten Island, New York. I exchanged messages with him earlier today and he will be visiting on February 1st. Edwards was a long-time Syracuse commitment before Doug Marrone took the Head Coach position for the Buffalo Bills. He has opened up his recruitment and told me that Miami, Rutgers, and FSU are the three schools in the mix for him. According to Edwards, Miami offered him last spring and it is his "dream school" (cue the responses to that comment). Even if Miami feels confident with Alex Collins, I wouldn't be surprised to see them take a commitment from Edwards if he wanted to pull the trigger. He is in the mold of Florida State senior Lonnie Pryor, where he can add another dimension out of the backfield from the fullback spot. A possible Najeh Davenport type threat?
-Some news yesterday that Miami fans were disappointed about was Tim Williams committing to Alabama. Although Williams has stated throughout the process that Miami was his favorite, I never wanted to pencil him in the class until he made the visit, which he obviously never took. After the commitment of Alquadin Muhammad, Williams became a luxury for the class. There will be a lot of these hybrid pass-rushers on the roster next season with Muhammad, McCord, Bond, Terry, Figueroa, and Hoilett.
-The biggest news of today that has Miami fans worrying is Matthew Thomas flip-flopping between his plans to visit Miami or USC. He was originally planning to visit USC, then flipped it to Miami, and now it is confirmed he will visit USC. It is disappointing for Miami that he couldn't make it on this big weekend, especially with his teammate Denver Kirkland, but it's not the end of the world. He will still have the opportunity to visit either unofficially or officially. Thomas has 2 officials remaining not including the USC one, so one will go to FSU and as of right now he's scheduled to see UGA on the last weekend, but it's not out of the question for him to visit Miami that weekend instead. Either way, today's news is not a blow to Miami's chances and I still expect him to visit before Signing Day.
-If signing day was today, Keith Bryant would be a Seminole in all likelihood. The good thing for Miami's chances is that signing day isn't today and they will get the last crack at him. After Bryant told me last week that he would be visiting Miami this weekend, he has now pushed it back to February 1st, which will be the last trip he makes before signing day. Miami will need to make a strong impression on his family as well as him over the next three weeks in order to get his signature on National Signing Day.
-The other top defensive tackle prospect Miami is pursuing is Jaynard Bostwick. I've heard conflicting things in regards to whether or not he will qualify. One person I spoke to said he should be good to go, while another said he is a sign-and-place all the way. The reality of the matter with situations like this is that we will never truly know if the prospect will make it in until it's time to enroll.
-Alex Collins is arguably the most important prospect still on the board for Miami for next season's success. If I had to make a guess right now, I would say Miami will be his choice, but that isn't really based off of any information I've received. Collins was a near lock to the 'Noles until Eddie Gran left, which put them behind the 8-ball. He will be on campus this weekend and then Arkansas on the 25th.
-Watch out for RB/FB Augustus Edwards from Staten Island, New York. I exchanged messages with him earlier today and he will be visiting on February 1st. Edwards was a long-time Syracuse commitment before Doug Marrone took the Head Coach position for the Buffalo Bills. He has opened up his recruitment and told me that Miami, Rutgers, and FSU are the three schools in the mix for him. According to Edwards, Miami offered him last spring and it is his "dream school" (cue the responses to that comment). Even if Miami feels confident with Alex Collins, I wouldn't be surprised to see them take a commitment from Edwards if he wanted to pull the trigger. He is in the mold of Florida State senior Lonnie Pryor, where he can add another dimension out of the backfield from the fullback spot. A possible Najeh Davenport type threat?
-Some news yesterday that Miami fans were disappointed about was Tim Williams committing to Alabama. Although Williams has stated throughout the process that Miami was his favorite, I never wanted to pencil him in the class until he made the visit, which he obviously never took. After the commitment of Alquadin Muhammad, Williams became a luxury for the class. There will be a lot of these hybrid pass-rushers on the roster next season with Muhammad, McCord, Bond, Terry, Figueroa, and Hoilett.
-The biggest news of today that has Miami fans worrying is Matthew Thomas flip-flopping between his plans to visit Miami or USC. He was originally planning to visit USC, then flipped it to Miami, and now it is confirmed he will visit USC. It is disappointing for Miami that he couldn't make it on this big weekend, especially with his teammate Denver Kirkland, but it's not the end of the world. He will still have the opportunity to visit either unofficially or officially. Thomas has 2 officials remaining not including the USC one, so one will go to FSU and as of right now he's scheduled to see UGA on the last weekend, but it's not out of the question for him to visit Miami that weekend instead. Either way, today's news is not a blow to Miami's chances and I still expect him to visit before Signing Day.
