The Bank (12/19)

DMoney

Yesterday at 2:05 PM 3 min read

Even as they prepare for Iowa State, the Canes are working on numerous fronts in the Portal. Here is the latest:

- My read from the building is that the Canes like their options at QB. It's true that the coaches and players like Emory Williams. Anybody with connections to the team will confirm that. But they were also extremely aggressive in pursuing Washington State transfer QB John Mateer, as reported by various national and Oklahoma sources. So watch the actions. The Canes are actively looking to improve the talent in that room and will continue to do so throughout the Portal period (which extends by five days for playoff teams eliminated from the tournament). Fernando Mendoza is a name that we like (and that I personally feel would be an improvement to the current room) but he is by no means the only target. I get the impression they feel better about their options now than they did last year, when so much rode on Cam Ward.

- Secondary recruiting could pick up quickly. Wisconsin CB Xavier Lucas just entered the Portal and the Canes are the heavy favorite. He is a Broward native and former teammate of OJ Frederique under CIS legend @Coach Macho. That reunion would give Miami perhaps the most talented pair of young corners in the conference. Lucas has three years of eligibility.

- Miami is also pursuing Michigan State CB corner (and Venice, FL native) Charles Brantley, who is one of the most experienced and proven corners in the Portal. There is strong mutual interest there. Arizona CB Emmanuel Karnley is another young, long, fast corner with three years of eligibility who Miami likes a lot. Ole Miss and Michigan are battling there.

- At safety, Miami is thrilled with the addition of Zechariah Poyser from Jacksonville State. He may have been the best safety in the Portal and has three years of eligibility. If we add another name as a boundary safety, watch for Adrian Wilson (Washington State).

- WR Kevin Concepcion is on campus now and having a good visit. He is a high-priority target.

- I expect Miami to add a starting C and will monitor names jumping in the Portal (that is an active market).

- WR CJ Daniels is considered a high-character, proven target with rave reviews from LSU staffers and others who have coached him. His contested-catch ability projects to be an improvement over anybody in our room last year.

- The DT name to know right now is David Blay, a 6'4, 300+pound late bloomer from Pennsylvania. He is visiting through the weekend. Miami would like to add a premium, productive target instead of a volume of low-ceiling players, as the room has improved through recruiting.

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Comments (384)

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JayCane20

Yesterday at 10:22 PM

*****-Wan Kanobi said:

Negro-Wan Kanobi

Yesterday at 10:25 PM

JayCane20 said:

C
CT Cane 44

Yesterday at 10:25 PM

If Mario wants to win big, he will need to land talent in this portal. When you start out losing your two main targets the fan base begins to almost unravel on message boards. As much as I like Emory Williams as a kid, and his potential, starting him would be very risky. I’m interested in what other QBs we are interested in. And before there’s 50 Air Noland messages he scares me. If you’re going with Emory, you had better make sure you get KC you get another receiver, and probably a tight end.

We know the defense needs better players. I’m interested to see who we close with. Lucas is a player! Davis the corner is big time. We 100% need another running back. If two get hurt you’re screwed if you don’t. Nah.

Will a playoff QB be in play?

D
Dghustla

Yesterday at 10:28 PM

Allabouttheu95 said:
Jesus Christ this might be the most bleak bank to date….

Thanks for reminding me why I stopped reading comments here.

hoops156

Yesterday at 10:29 PM

*****-Wan Kanobi said:

Dennis smith midget self is gonna be after him if he keeps talking

MikeyCanez

Yesterday at 10:29 PM

gacaneaddict said:
Has Mikey ever played a team sport? Is Mikey in his 20's?

Jake Butte got drafted, made millions, and would've made more but ripped up his knee in the NFL, and also said he would still have played in the bowl game if he had to choice to. So that is your BEST example of reason not to play in the game.

Jake Butt also lost millions of dollars. I'd be thrilled if Restrepo wanted to play. But I am not gonna lose respect for him if he chooses not to given that I know ****-all about his personal situation and we are talking about life-changing money.

But congrats on your team sports career, my guy.

MikeyCanez

Yesterday at 10:38 PM

hoops156 said:
define TON bc I was at every home and a road game and saw cam cover up a lot of defensive holes on the roster and bring us back from multiple double digit deficits home and away. ive given Mario credit for this year in that he had a good year until the cuse game where brain farted again. the issue is that blah blah blah who was a heisman finalist and the QB in america is gone.

- 1st Team All American WR
- Likely 1st round tight end
- Potentially 5 eventual pro OL including a probable 1st rounder
- 2 pro RBs

Cam was awesome but he didn't do it alone.

G
Golsen82

Yesterday at 10:39 PM

PSU Cane said:
2 throws behind the LOS. One 2 yard crosser. One 3 yard out. And a decent 12 yard out. Not a lot of zip on any. No bigtime throws. Yeah... think i'm going to need more.

Dorsey played over 20 years ago on the most stacked roster we might ever see. The game has changed, as have the roster depth with portal/NIL.

Emory also had i believe a 40 yard touchdown bomb to Lofton

redcane

Yesterday at 10:40 PM

Mendoza does not materially improve this team. I see more downside to bringing him in. It is clear indication that you don’t have faith in the qbs you have and that Columbus bros are preferred class under Brother Mario.

CaneTheGaytors

Yesterday at 10:42 PM

MikeyCanez said:
While I agree with most of this post and do not think Mendoza is the next Cam Ward, California also ranked like 123rd in QB sacked percentage and Mendoza was sacked more than 40 times. Comparing statistics alone is grossly misleading.

Mendoza is a statue, and will get murked without the athletic ability to extend plays.

G
Golsen82

Yesterday at 10:42 PM

tdjones34 said:
Yep he needs to play a lot next Saturday

I'm torn, I want Cam playing to win but we need to see Emory against a top 25 team and see what he got. Coaches need to know if they need a portal qb or have Emory Judd and Luke battle it out.

T
tdjones34

Yesterday at 10:43 PM

CaneTheGaytors said:
Mendoza is a statue, and will get murked without the athletic ability to extend plays.

Not big in Mendoza but he played behind a bottom 5 line and wasn't murked.
But will be behind a top 5 line
I can't make sense of your statement

CaneTheGaytors

Yesterday at 10:51 PM

tdjones34 said:
Not big in Mendoza but he played behind a bottom 5 line and wasn't murked.
But will be behind a top 5 line
I can't make sense of your statement

Don’t want to hear any of you complaining after Mendoza sucks next season if he comes here. Some of you never learn.

Mario failed at at what is supposed to be his bread and butter (recruiting), and he failed miserably. He needs to learn to recalibrate.

Now Luke Nickel should get the keys to the Ferrari next season. No sense in wasting this next season on Emory, who most of us think is mid. Luke has the talent, field I.Q. and intangibles to be a superstar. Might as well let him get acclimated to college ball, that way he can be the experienced starter in his Sophomore season.

PRcane787

Yesterday at 10:56 PM

CaneTheGaytors said:
Mendoza is a statue, and will get murked without the athletic ability to extend plays.

While I’m not excited over the prospect of bringing in Mendoza, he is more athletic than Emory which is not saying much but he can run. I remember him flashing some athleticism when we played; juking Bain and some scrambles for first down runs. Now is he worth the $1M plus it would take, not sure he moves the needle enough.

CanesFan20

Yesterday at 10:56 PM

TwentySix said:
How about Duke

Did Emory play duke

TwentySix

Yesterday at 10:57 PM

CaneTheGaytors said:
No sense in wasting this next season on Emory, who most of us think is mid.

Speak for yourself, guy. Bet you thought Dorsey was mid too.

TwentySix

Yesterday at 10:58 PM

CanesFan20 said:
Did Emory play duke

RVACane

Yesterday at 11:05 PM

MikeyCanez said:
He just had won of the worst defenses in the country and still had a decent shot at the playoffs.

And yeah, Cam Ward, blah blah blah. We are, at minimum, a Top 4 team in the ACC next year with Emory and the current roster based on talent. So improve the defense and we will have a good shot next year.

If we **** the bed and play like clowns and commit a billion penalties, then let’s talk about whether Mario is worth it.

We are one of the few private schools trying to play with the big boys on NIL right now. We are going to lose some recruiting battles.

Nah. I’ll talk about whether Mario is worth it now. He had cam ward, an easy schedule and was 9-0 going into November and lost to GT and Syracuse including a 21 point collapse against the latter. His latest high school recruiting class was a mediocre one at 15 and he’s let good portal QBs go to Duke and UVA while he didn’t even get a visit from Mateer. He’s had more resources than anyone in the ACC to buy staff and talent over the past 3 years and he’s what at 21-15 or so in record including taking manny’s 7-5 team and going 5-7 with losses to MTSU for good measure.

Yeah, I don’t have to wait any longer. There’s enough data out there now. He’s not it.