The Decline of South Florida

Jul 10, 2024 6 min read

Everybody knows I’m a South Florida homer. And with good reason. Miami has consistently ranked as the top city for producing NFL players, with Fort Lauderdale close behind. The region has produced 52 first rounders since 2000.

Even with the Canes struggling to recruit South Florida for much of the past two decades, our local recruits have significantly outperformed our national recruits. From 2000-2019, South Florida kids comprised 44% of Miami’s signees. But the South Florida kids represented 73% of our first rounders, 67% of our Day 2 picks and 60% of our total NFL draft picks.

Why did our national kids underperform? Budget and brand. We didn’t have the budget to win national bidding wars, and our brand was diminished by poor on-field performance. Because we couldn’t win national battles, we resorted to dumpster diving for SEC rejects, “blue-chip” kids plummeting down the rankings, and character concerns. This led to an inordinate amount of national busts. Despite all the hurdles in South Florida, we at least had the local angle and more brand awareness.

But things started changing in the new decade. For starters, the highly touted local crops from 2020-2022 have underperformed. Here are the Top 10 South Florida recruits (per 247 Composite) for those classes:

2020

1. DE Donnell Harris- Transferred from Texas A&M with 4 career tackles. Appears to be out of football.
2. WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint- 1,028 career yards over four seasons at Georgia. Undrafted.
3. LB Derek Wingo- Entering Year 5 at Florida, has yet to exceed 25 tackles in a season.
4. WR Xzavier Henderson- Transferred to Cincinnati. 782 yards and 3 TDs last year.
5. RB Jaylan Knighton- Transferred to SMU. 745 rushing yards and 7 TDs last year.
6. OT Marcus Dumervil- Transferred to Maryland. Played four games last year.
7. RB Donald Chaney- Transferred to Louisville. Career-high 478 yards last year.
8. WR Thaiu Jones-Bell- Four career catches at Alabama. Entered Portal but has not announced destination.
9. OT Issiah Walker- Signed with Florida, transferred to Miami and then went JUCO. Was NCJAA All-American and is now at Texas State.
10. WR Bryan Robinson- Transferred to Marshall. Four catches last year.

2021

1. DE Dallas Turner- First round pick of the Vikings.
2. DT Leonard Taylor- Undrafted. Six career sacks.
3. S James Williams- Seventh round pick of the Titans. 73 tackles as a junior.
4. LB Terrence Lewis- Signed with Maryland, transferred to UCF, now at JUCO. One career tackle.
5. WR JaCorey Brooks- Transferred to Louisville. Three catches for 30 yards last year at Alabama.
6. CB Jason Marshall- Entering his fourth year at Florida. Two career INTs.
7. DL Tyreak Sapp- Rotational player. 24 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 2 sacks last year.
8. CB Corey Collier- Two career tackles. Now at Florida A&M.
9. OG Marcus Tate- Entering his fourth year as a starter for Clemson.
10. WR Romello Brinson- Transferred to SMU. 431 yards and 2 TDs last year.

2022

1. DL Shemar Stewart- 23 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks last year.
2. DE Marvin Jones, Jr.- Transferred to Florida State. Four tackles last year.
3. DE Kenyatta Jackson- Nine career tackles.
4. DE Nyjalik Kelly- Transferred to UCF. Four career sacks.
5. CB Earl Little- Transferred to Florida State. One career tackle.
6. OL Julian Armella- Has yet to break OL rotation. Played in six blowouts last year.
7. LB Wesley Bissainthe- Starter at LB. 44 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 2 sacks last year.
8. CB Jacolby Spells- Rotational CB, injury has 2024 season in doubt.
9. CB Trevell Mullen- Transferred to James Madison, didn’t play any snaps.
10. WR Bugs Mortimer- Dealt with off-field issues, now at Western Michigan.

The NFL Draft reflects this downturn. From 2018-2023, there were an average of six South Florida kids picked on the first two days of the draft (2.66 first round, 3.333 second/third round). Last year, there was only one first rounder (Dallas Turner) and one Day 2 pick (Kam Kinchens), the latter of whom was the second-to-last pick of the third round. ESPN’s 2025 Mock Draft does not include any South Florida players in the first round.

The Class of 2025 falls in line with this trend. This year’s crop was as unimpressive as I can remember on the camp circuit. There is not a single local player is Top 75 on the Composite.

The good news for the Canes is that this local downturn has coincided with unexpected changes in our national recruiting. Simply put, we’re spending money like we’ve never spent before. We spent $8 million a year on an elite national recruiter in Mario Cristobal. And our official NIL collective (Canes Connection) has allowed us to win bag wars. We finally have the budget to recruit nationally. We don't have to bargain shop anymore.

This shows up in our newfound ability to win big-time battles. In the 10 years before Mario, we only signed eight Top 100 players from out of state: Raphael Kirby, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Kevin Olsen, Brad Kaaya, Jeff Thomas, DJ Johnson, Brevin Jordan and Jarren Williams. They ranked 78th nationally, on average.

In the 3.5 years since Mario has been here, we’ve already matched that number (8) with much higher quality- an average ranking of 48th nationally. This includes three five stars. We've landed blue-chippers from Hawaii, American Samoa, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama and Ohio. No state is off limits for Mario and this staff.

And the news isn’t all bad in South Florida. Mario flipped Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle from Ohio State, beat out Nick Saban for Damari Brown and has shut out Florida and FSU. The region has produced some major impact players in the last two classes, including #1 overall player Jeremiah Smith and Freshman All-American Rueben Bain. Some of the most productive college players entering the '25 season are local, including DEs Ashton Gillotte (Louisville), DE Patrick Payton (FSU), DE Elijah Roberts (SMU), WR Xavier Restrepo (Miami), CB Ricardo Hallman (Wisconsin) and Bain. The 2022 kids can still break out, and the 26-27 classes have a lot of hype.

But the bottom line is we are lucky the budget exploded when it did. There has never been a more important time to break through nationally.

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jrock2332

Aug 26, 2024

gogeta4 said:
Your preaching to the wrong person...I wanted Lane Kiffin over Mario and think he is a better coach than Mario...CURRENTLY. Mario was maybe 3rd on my HC List my man.

I personally never called it slave labor, etc...or even said he fell off. I know he retired and was against NIL meanwhile always Bagged up players at EVERYONE of his college stops.
There was no way Bama could fall off as they have been stacking classes on top of classes and essentially just battling uga or osu for the #1 class every year.

His biggest issue of being seen as a god to the players were about to be stripped away with nil and the leverage going to the players. He wouldnt/couldnt last as an nfl coach for the same reason and saw college becoming that and packed up earlier than he wouldve liked more than likely. (dude wasnt tyring to recruit players to come AND negotiate with his second stringers to stay)...He tampered with Gibbs and Burton to get them to come over to Bama. Gibbs was more than obvious as dude was ensuring articles of lack of rb depth were being posted. lol

What Macho talked about was NOT the same as what Saban talked about, Macho spoke to the culture of a south florida player that has ALWAYS been presnt?.

Me being from here i know first hand......Anything below DIV 1 is almost seen as beneath guys....AND REDSHIRTING is considered BLASPHEMY...ask Macho about that and i bet you he would tell you it was like that when he played high school.

I still feel like when a coach says the kids are all about the money now means I can't take advantage of these kids regardless of their financially situation anymore.

Coach Macho

Aug 26, 2024

CaneGng13 said:
The decline was evident because South Florida lost to 3more physically mature teams? Maybe if we saw one of those teams get completely annihilated but Chaminade played a Bosco team that will be the top team in the nation next year based off how stacked their junior and sophomore class. Look at the size difference in the trenches and Chaminade with a sophomore QB still was 15 yards away from tying it up.

That Gorman teams entire OL either is already committed to a P4 team or has an offer and that was without SJ. STA gave them a great game and this is a rare year where STA doesn’t have that much big time senior standouts.

Heritage just lost to a Milton team that was better coached and just physically better. From the left tackle who comes from NFL pedigree to the TE that will be another standout in the Todd Hartley factory. In fact that skill talent helped hide some flaws in Nickel’s game but

All around I think too much is being made out of this weekend especially when part of the reason some of these top teams lost is because they’re struggling Twitch having a 15-16 year old replace a Ryan Mack or OJ or JoJo Trader the same guys that walked into UM and are already pushing our guys..

Carry on

Yeah there's a lot of talk after this past weekend but nobody said anything last season when most of the OOS teams came down here and took L's.

All of these games were a bounce or two from having different outcomes. I didn't see anybody get physically out-matched.

gogeta4

Aug 26, 2024

cway313 said:
@gogeta4 vs @DMoney will be one for the ages.

Never i called out the losses before the games. lol

Most of our teams bets players are...YOUNG.

They are learning...Theres some hoarding of talent at certain positions...young qb play at others...All 3 big dog teams had underclassmen qbs.....with the highest ratesd supposed Qb being listed as a 5 star texas commit who KNOW ONE that lives down here thinks at this point is a 5 star.

We sall see how the rest of the year plays out...and who pops with a good year.

I say look at a Samari Reed type at wr...Byron Louis appeared to be the best back on the field when he played.

ST THOMAS HAS A FEW BACK S BUT WE WONT KNOW HOW GOOD THEY ARE AS THEY PLAYED...5 OF THEM LOL. They do have an Illinois commit in there though.

As usual we will have some s.fla kids break out at the next level.

gogeta4

Aug 26, 2024

Coach Macho said:
Yeah there's a lot of talk after this past weekend but nobody said anything last season when most of the OOS teams came down here and took L's.

All of these games were a bounce or two from having different outcomes. I didn't see anybody get physically out-matched.

This has become fascinating to watch for me....

a board of Miami hurricane fans have for whatever reason gon full WCW Heel and now hate EVERYTHING South Florida. Sh*t is sad to watch. lol

I remember this same time last year folks sh*tting heavy on OJ Frederique now some of the same guys are on their third trimester and done had the baby shower with meatballs and burberry sh*rt with the d*kk riding theY'RE now doing now that he is on campus. lol

We had legitimate guys saying JJ Smith wasnt all that....The South florida hate is real.

MAKE SOUTH FLORIDA GREAT AGAIN!!!!

Memnon

Aug 27, 2024

gogeta4 said:
This has become fascinating to watch for me....

a board of Miami hurricane fans have for whatever reason gon full WCW Heel and now hate EVERYTHING South Florida. Sh*t is sad to watch. lol

I remember this same time last year folks sh*tting heavy on OJ Frederique now some of the same guys are on their third trimester and done had the baby shower with meatballs and burberry sh*rt with the d*kk riding theY'RE now doing now that he is on campus. lol

We had legitimate guys saying JJ Smith wasnt all that....The South florida hate is real.

MAKE SOUTH FLORIDA GREAT AGAIN!!!!

Nobody hates South FL.

The issue you guys are having is that you're not living in reality. Yall have placed SF on this extremely high Mt. Everest size pedestal to the point that you refuse to acknowledge that there are any other players or regions that even have good Football players.

Yall act like no place else in the country should ever even be discussed. No players from any region should ever be recruited. No team can ever beat a SF team. So it becomes really funny to see yall have to win a Gold medal in mental gymnastics flipping to explain how the most superior invincible unstoppable undisputed greatest Football state with the greatest football talent that has ever existed somehow loses games to supposedly inferior talent from other regions.

D$ is as big of a SF homer as you all, yet he felt the need to make this thread, because he even has to acknowledge that there's clearly been a decline.

All anybody is saying is that, there's been a high amount of busts coming out of SF & instead always chasing after these prospects, maybe we'll make our return back to prominence by taking a page out of all the other top programs in CFB & recruit Nationally, because from a logical standpoint it would be kinda dumb not to pursue the best Football players just because they don't happen to live 15 minutes away from campus.

Yall would turn down the best player in the country if he wasn't from Broward or Miami & that's not a smart strategy for building a winning team. That's literally *** backwards & NO program does that lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith, I stand by that 100%. He hasn't taken a snap in a game yet, so might wanna slow down on his coronation ceremony, but if he turns out the be the WR you all hope him to be, I'm sure you guys will throw him a parade. But I personally don't think he's going to be as good as you all do, but that's JMO.

Again, I don't & I think most don't hate South Florida, but the idea that SF is the only place with talent & the only place we should recruit, is just flat out not smart & an easy way for us to remain 7-5 for years to come.

National recruiting = National Championships; its really that simple.

cway313

Aug 27, 2024

Memnon said:
Nobody hates South FL.

The issue you guys are having is that you're not living in reality. Yall have placed SF on this extremely high Mt. Everest size pedestal to the point that you refuse to acknowledge that there are any other players or regions that even have good Football players.

Yall act like no place else in the country should ever even be discussed. No players from any region should ever be recruited. No team can ever beat a SF team. So it becomes really funny to see yall have to win a Gold medal in mental gymnastics flipping to explain how the most superior invincible unstoppable undisputed greatest Football state with the greatest football talent that has ever existed somehow loses games to supposedly inferior talent from other regions.

D$ is as big of a SF homer as you all, yet he felt the need to make this thread, because he even has to acknowledge that there's clearly been a decline.

All anybody is saying is that, there's been a high amount of busts coming out of SF & instead always chasing after these prospects, maybe we'll make our return back to prominence by taking a page out of all the other top programs in CFB & recruit Nationally, because from a logical standpoint it would be kinda dumb not to pursue the best Football players just because they don't happen to live 15 minutes away from campus.

Yall would turn down the best player in the country if he wasn't from Broward or Miami & that's not a smart strategy for building a winning team. That's literally *** backwards & NO program does that lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith, I stand by that 100%. He hasn't taken a snap in a game yet, so might wanna slow down on his coronation ceremony, but if he turns out the be the WR you all hope him to be, I'm sure you guys will throw him a parade. But I personally don't think he's going to be as good as you all do, but that's JMO.

Again, I don't & I think most don't hate South Florida, but the idea that SF is the only place with talent & the only place we should recruit, is just flat out not smart & an easy way for us to remain 7-5 for years to come.

National recruiting = National Championships; its really that simple.

Dwinstitles

Aug 27, 2024

gogeta4 said:
This has become fascinating to watch for me....

a board of Miami hurricane fans have for whatever reason gon full WCW Heel and now hate EVERYTHING South Florida. Sh*t is sad to watch. lol

I remember this same time last year folks sh*tting heavy on OJ Frederique now some of the same guys are on their third trimester and done had the baby shower with meatballs and burberry sh*rt with the d*kk riding theY'RE now doing now that he is on campus. lol

We had legitimate guys saying JJ Smith wasnt all that....The South florida hate is real.

MAKE SOUTH FLORIDA GREAT AGAIN!!!!

The people saying JJ isn’t all that need to be examined. I would be stunned if he doesn’t pan out. But I been surprised before

gogeta4

Aug 27, 2024

Memnon said:
Nobody hates South FL.

The issue you guys are having is that you're not living in reality. Yall have placed SF on this extremely high Mt. Everest size pedestal to the point that you refuse to acknowledge that there are any other players or regions that even have good Football players.

Yall act like no place else in the country should ever even be discussed. No players from any region should ever be recruited. No team can ever beat a SF team. So it becomes really funny to see yall have to win a Gold medal in mental gymnastics flipping to explain how the most superior invincible unstoppable undisputed greatest Football state with the greatest football talent that has ever existed somehow loses games to supposedly inferior talent from other regions.

D$ is as big of a SF homer as you all, yet he felt the need to make this thread, because he even has to acknowledge that there's clearly been a decline.

All anybody is saying is that, there's been a high amount of busts coming out of SF & instead always chasing after these prospects, maybe we'll make our return back to prominence by taking a page out of all the other top programs in CFB & recruit Nationally, because from a logical standpoint it would be kinda dumb not to pursue the best Football players just because they don't happen to live 15 minutes away from campus.

Yall would turn down the best player in the country if he wasn't from Broward or Miami & that's not a smart strategy for building a winning team. That's literally *** backwards & NO program does that lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith, I stand by that 100%. He hasn't taken a snap in a game yet, so might wanna slow down on his coronation ceremony, but if he turns out the be the WR you all hope him to be, I'm sure you guys will throw him a parade. But I personally don't think he's going to be as good as you all do, but that's JMO.

Again, I don't & I think most don't hate South Florida, but the idea that SF is the only place with talent & the only place we should recruit, is just flat out not smart & an easy way for us to remain 7-5 for years to come.

National recruiting = National Championships; its really that simple.

It s a lil conflated.

* I personally have maybe been one of the ONLY guys that have for maybe a decade been saying for us to recruit random areas like New orleans, DMV and the tidewater area. So much so that i actually tried to sell @DMoney or whomever i could to get certain players to the staff to recruit, one kid in particular Dazz Newsome i was trying to sell before he had power 5 offers in 2016 going back...and thats at a position that s.fla is choc full of players.

- I was actually excited about the NEW YORK grouping lol (what a miss)

- The thing is....Everyone has something to say this year...but all the years prior couldnt speak because those teams were traveling and BEATING them. **** @Coach Macho BEAT and made our current qb commit look avg just LAST YEAR with MILTON, with no offense to him...a middle of the pack south florida team. Like @Coach Macho said its almost like guys were waiting for this gotcha moment but it never would come lol. It came this year....but guys who are really plugged in to s.fla hs ball had all the teams as under dawgs like me.

Mario has been here 3 years......he has been national the whole time. So i dont know why the whole chasing south florida kids is still a thing....Manny is GONE, Randy Shannon aint here, Richt is gone. There isnt any current chasing of s.fla kids to tough...Mario is passing on alot of them left an right n not much ppl are crying about it. We shook off Cortez Mills like it was nothing this summer,Naeshaun Montgomery not a peep....

Like my favorite recruit in this class is from Leo, Indiana...i dont even know where that is.

I mean it was logical for some previous staffs to not be as National when the recruiting budget or connections werent there to be spending and chasing GHOST in Texas or like RIchts son was doing with his monthly trips to Oregon.

The money is here...the head coach is a recruiting savant....with connections in deep south...some out west...and obviously deeply staff rooted in the gulf with Louisiana and miss.

The real issue is ....we have been stinking up the field for years. Folks see our team and recruiting and say yea we are predominantly a florida team...that must be the reason we suck. Completely absolving the atrocious coaching and development that has taken place here for most of the time. So now it has become heal turn on anything south florida. Our f*kkin qb from connecticut was throwing games and all i ever hear about was James Williams got a 15 yard penalty for body slamming someone..like we foreal?.

*As far as JJ Smith...

i dont know what gotten into you there. lol You need to shake back.....go eat some Snappers, Versailles, Dutchpot, Vicky Bakery because whatever you eating where you moved to done messed up your mind lol.

Im gonna take it old school south florida....if we was head up and we went to the park...JJ would beat the cb your team the ravens drafted at corner RIGHT NOW best out of 5 as a college true freshman like a drum. My youngin is like that...you done goofed my boy. It would be a whole lot of money on the ground for JJ.

We've been national......just getting the right guys NATIONALLY IS KEY.

When recruiting national gotta have budget/money and connections. We got both and are heating up in the areas we got connections/plugs at.

Ill debate when s.fla hs football is spoken about in a certain way....but i aint NEVER Been adverse to national recruiting when it makes sense.

Coach Macho

Aug 27, 2024

You certainly never seen me say that I have a problem with recruiting nationally. I want the best FOOTBALL PLAYERS, and that's not always South Florida kids.

However...
I'm also not gonna sit here and allow someone to say that our football is inferior, especially considering that I'm personally 7-2 versus OOS teams. (took my 2nd loss last week SMH)

Last season Milton won the Georgia state title and THE ONLY team that played any defense versus them the entire year was a public school in Davie Florida with zero D1 signees. (on defense)
They flew back to Georgia and scored 35+ versus everybody.

The other states are way ahead of us in coaching (generally)...
But I truly feel that, with more innovative and up-to-date coaching, a lot of South Florida teams can hang with anybody in the country.

Teams like Milton (and even the Hoover squad we played Saturday) are far ahead of us in schematics and personnel. They are playing in 2024 while most offenses down here are still stuck in 2004. The ONLY time (as a DC) that I see 11-personnel/H-back formations is versus OOS teams or versus STA/Columbus. They're pulling Guards and H-backs, they're running RPO's off of it, they're flexing TE's out, etc etc etc. It's a lot to account for.
And if you're still running 4-3/4-2-5 man coverage...or if you're not accounting for RPO's...or if your DE's aren't spilling Counter...you're gonna have a hard time. (i.e. Heritage versus Milton last week) Everybody talked about OJ getting bombed last season versus an OOS opponent, but that was mainly coaching, that wasn't on OJ. They had this kid playing head-up to inside leverage on a WR who was lined-up to the wide-side with a tight/condensed split!!! The kid was in deadman's land! He should be OUTSIDE LEVERAGE versus that alignment. That was clearly something that he wasn't taught.
Anywho, I'm venting...but...

THIS is where South Florida schools struggle for most part versus OOS teams, it's not with talent.
And I'm the first to hold coaches accountable. They don't wanna learn ****. That's why they're seldom at clinics and they're still running concepts from 1998.
But our kids? I think they're the best ball players in the country. I'll take a roster full of well-coached South Florida kids versus any HS team in the nation.
Fact of the matter is, not many of them are well-coached.

Last edited: Aug 27, 2024

DMoney

Aug 27, 2024

Memnon said:
All anybody is saying is that, there's been a high amount of busts coming out of SF & instead always chasing after these prospects, maybe we'll make our return back to prominence by taking a page out of all the other top programs in CFB & recruit Nationally, because from a logical standpoint it would be kinda dumb not to pursue the best Football players just because they don't happen to live 15 minutes away from campus.

It's really about money. Everybody wanted to recruit nationally if we could recruit like a big-time school. But before Canes Connection and before Mario, we had to dumpster dive nationally because we couldn't win battles. Those national scraps ended up getting outperformed by the local kids, and we let too many good local kids leave town that would've been easy to sign. That's one reason guys like me, @gogeta4 and @Coach Macho were so focused on South Florida.

Luckily, we can fight those big-time battles now and recruit real players across the nation. And the timing is perfect because South Florida is in a cyclical downturn. I think it will go back up, but there have been some weak classes (including this year).

Zbrod95

Aug 27, 2024

For the record, all of us would love for SFL to be at the same talent level it was in the 90’s and 80’s. It would make Mario’s job so much easier and even in saying that there’s going to be undervalued guys that only we will know about because we’re from here but anybody that can’t see the talent drop is being a homer.

I blame a good portion of it on coaching as well. A lot of these kids are just athletes playing football instead of the opposite.

Aug 27, 2024

Memnon said:
I hate South FL.

R
rascon

Aug 27, 2024

These last couple of pages have had some great debate… good stuff.

Memnon

Aug 27, 2024

gogeta4 said:
It s a lil conflated.

* I personally have maybe been one of the ONLY guys that have for maybe a decade been saying for us to recruit random areas like New orleans, DMV and the tidewater area. So much so that i actually tried to sell @DMoney or whomever i could to get certain players to the staff to recruit, one kid in particular Dazz Newsome i was trying to sell before he had power 5 offers in 2016 going back...and thats at a position that s.fla is choc full of players.

- I was actually excited about the NEW YORK grouping lol (what a miss)

- The thing is....Everyone has something to say this year...but all the years prior couldnt speak because those teams were traveling and BEATING them. **** @Coach Macho BEAT and made our current qb commit look avg just LAST YEAR with MILTON, with no offense to him...a middle of the pack south florida team. Like @Coach Macho said its almost like guys were waiting for this gotcha moment but it never would come lol. It came this year....but guys who are really plugged in to s.fla hs ball had all the teams as under dawgs like me.

Mario has been here 3 years......he has been national the whole time. So i dont know why the whole chasing south florida kids is still a thing....Manny is GONE, Randy Shannon aint here, Richt is gone. There isnt any current chasing of s.fla kids to tough...Mario is passing on alot of them left an right n not much ppl are crying about it. We shook off Cortez Mills like it was nothing this summer,Naeshaun Montgomery not a peep....

Like my favorite recruit in this class is from Leo, Indiana...i dont even know where that is.

I mean it was logical for some previous staffs to not be as National when the recruiting budget or connections werent there to be spending and chasing GHOST in Texas or like RIchts son was doing with his monthly trips to Oregon.

The money is here...the head coach is a recruiting savant....with connections in deep south...some out west...and obviously deeply staff rooted in the gulf with Louisiana and miss.

The real issue is ....we have been stinking up the field for years. Folks see our team and recruiting and say yea we are predominantly a florida team...that must be the reason we suck. Completely absolving the atrocious coaching and development that has taken place here for most of the time. So now it has become heal turn on anything south florida. Our f*kkin qb from connecticut was throwing games and all i ever hear about was James Williams got a 15 yard penalty for body slamming someone..like we foreal?.

*As far as JJ Smith...

i dont know what gotten into you there. lol You need to shake back.....go eat some Snappers, Versailles, Dutchpot, Vicky Bakery because whatever you eating where you moved to done messed up your mind lol.

Im gonna take it old school south florida....if we was head up and we went to the park...JJ would beat the cb your team the ravens drafted at corner RIGHT NOW best out of 5 as a college true freshman like a drum. My youngin is like that...you done goofed my boy. It would be a whole lot of money on the ground for JJ.

We've been national......just getting the right guys NATIONALLY IS KEY.

When recruiting national gotta have budget/money and connections. We got both and are heating up in the areas we got connections/plugs at.

Ill debate when s.fla hs football is spoken about in a certain way....but i aint NEVER Been adverse to national recruiting when it makes sense.

The myth that South FL never lost to OOS teams is just that, a myth.

I guess yall forgot when an undefeated State Champion MNW got the sh*t beat outta of'em by Chandler Arizona in 2016 in the Geico HS Bowl.

Or when SFA absolutely crushed Miami Central in 2019.

Or when Colquitt County beat American Heritage 55-0 in 2021.

Or the countless other times when OOS teams have come down to SF & mollywopped the best teams.

But it is what it is. South FL is the best every, they just sometimes lose to far weaker inferior talent because they're tired, or young, or whatever any other excuse yall wanna use lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith is concerned, you're absolutely delusional if you think he’s doing anything but getting put in the Matrix & strapped into that harness if he matched up with Nate Wiggins. Nate Wiggins his last 2 years at Clemson:

https://x.com/PFF_College/status/1772709355072491951?t=WNEt6PUM1XEaPLuf2iieDQ&s=19

And then he carried that over into his debut his first game ever as a rookie.

JJ Smith got locked down in OH ST's Spring game by Davidson Igbinosun, he's not doing a **** thing against Nate Wiggins as a True Freshman right now.

That kid hasn't even played a snap yet & you're already inducting him into Canton, but you say I'm tripping??? Lol

We'll see this season if he's Randy Moss Jr like you say he is, but I doubt that.

Memnon

Aug 27, 2024

It's probably gonna make some of yall sick to know that our Starting QB, RB, OL & majority of the DL, 2 LB's & starting Safeties aren't from South FL, but yet somehow this is the best roster we've had in over a decade...

gogeta4

Aug 27, 2024

DMoney said:
It's really about money. Everybody wanted to recruit nationally if we could recruit like a big-time school. But before Canes Connection and before Mario, we had to dumpster dive nationally because we couldn't win battles. Those national scraps ended up getting outperformed by the local kids, and we let too many good local kids leave town that would've been easy to sign. That's one reason guys like me, @gogeta4 and @Coach Macho were so focused on South Florida.

Luckily, we can fight those big-time battles now and recruit real players across the nation. And the timing is perfect because South Florida is in a cyclical downturn. I think it will go back up, but there have been some weak classes (including this year).

I promise yall i didnt want or think...

was better than...

To add to you @DMoney....the 27 and 28 classes will be bib with some beast.

Yes south florida elite has been down this class....and certain positions we will never have overall elite so it wll always have to be fed wit h national guys.

Like we should always be national at qb first....as well as TE

gogeta4

Aug 27, 2024

Memnon said:
The myth that South FL never lost to OOS teams is just that, a myth.

I guess yall forgot when an undefeated State Champion MNW got the sh*t beat outta of'em by Chandler Arizona in 2016 in the Geico HS Bowl.

Or when SFA absolutely crushed Miami Central in 2019.

Or when Colquitt County beat American Heritage 55-0 in 2021.

Or the countless other times when OOS teams have come down to SF & mollywopped the best teams.

But it is what it is. South FL is the best every, they just sometimes lose to far weaker inferior talent because they're tired, or young, or whatever any other excuse yall wanna use lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith is concerned, you're absolutely delusional if you think he’s doing anything but getting put in the Matrix & strapped into that harness if he matched up with Nate Wiggins. Nate Wiggins his last 2 years at Clemson:

And then he carried that over into his debut his first game ever as a rookie.

JJ Smith got locked down in OH ST's Spring game by Davidson Igbinosun, he's not doing a **** thing against Nate Wiggins as a True Freshman right now.

That kid hasn't even played a snap yet & you're already inducting him into Canton, but you say I'm tripping??? Lol

We'll see this season if he's Randy Moss Jr like you say he is, but I doubt that.

See THIS IS WHERE I SAY YALL WENT OFF THE DEEP END.

WE KNOW THEY HAVE GOTTEN BEATEN....

THE ISSUE IS YOUR TALKING ABOUT ONE GAME HERE ONE GAME THERE....EVERY YEAR THEY PLAY LIKE 6 NATIONAL GAMES...AND THS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT S.FLA HASNT PREDOMINANTLY WON MAJORITY OF THE GAMES... if its 6 games s.fla typically won 4 or 5 of the games

I MEAN SH*T WE HAVE A COACH ON HERE THAT HAS BEEN PUTTING BELT TO *** TO OUT OF STATE TEAMS.

So typically the teams are beating the national teams.

2019 Miami Central - loss to The West and Chaminade as well. They lost 3 games a year in 18 and 19.

Sorry to have to do this to you ....but you done went NWO Hulk Hogan...you gotta go back to the old name. lol

Colquitt Over Heritage 55-0

Colquitt defeated Heritage 55-0 at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium this past Friday, September 17, 2021. (Game Recap Video Online)

colquittcountypackerfootball.com

That aint actually American Heritage.........

BUT WE DID HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO COLQUITT..............................................

American Heritage (Fla.) holds off Colquitt County (Ga.) in GEICO ESPN High School Kickoff

A week after a disappointing preseason kickoff classic loss, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) opened its season with a 17-14 victory at Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.). The game, part of the GE…

www.usatodayhss.com

Ok back to Nate Wiggins.......

that mfer grabs more *** than a newly divorced husband at Tootsie Cabaret.!!

Guess he might be alright as long as there isnt any Wake Forest wrs in the AFC NORTH.

JJ aint RANDY MOSS but he has All American potential for sure. in his college career..

Jeremiah Smith Becomes the First Ohio State Freshman to Lose His Black Stripe After Only Four Spring Practices

Jeremiah Smith becomes the first Ohio State freshman to lose his black stripe after only four spring practices.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Nate Wiggins has been going against the sh*tty wrs you guys have in practice and some pre szn guys that will be playing ncaa 25 on sundays so far and you done turned him into Chris Mccalister. lol

Lets ride....i could shoot the sh*t all day with ya....I got Liberty City in me too.

Last edited: Aug 27, 2024

C
CaneGng13

Aug 29, 2024

Memnon said:
Nobody hates South FL.

The issue you guys are having is that you're not living in reality. Yall have placed SF on this extremely high Mt. Everest size pedestal to the point that you refuse to acknowledge that there are any other players or regions that even have good Football players.

Yall act like no place else in the country should ever even be discussed. No players from any region should ever be recruited. No team can ever beat a SF team. So it becomes really funny to see yall have to win a Gold medal in mental gymnastics flipping to explain how the most superior invincible unstoppable undisputed greatest Football state with the greatest football talent that has ever existed somehow loses games to supposedly inferior talent from other regions.

D$ is as big of a SF homer as you all, yet he felt the need to make this thread, because he even has to acknowledge that there's clearly been a decline.

All anybody is saying is that, there's been a high amount of busts coming out of SF & instead always chasing after these prospects, maybe we'll make our return back to prominence by taking a page out of all the other top programs in CFB & recruit Nationally, because from a logical standpoint it would be kinda dumb not to pursue the best Football players just because they don't happen to live 15 minutes away from campus.

Yall would turn down the best player in the country if he wasn't from Broward or Miami & that's not a smart strategy for building a winning team. That's literally *** backwards & NO program does that lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith, I stand by that 100%. He hasn't taken a snap in a game yet, so might wanna slow down on his coronation ceremony, but if he turns out the be the WR you all hope him to be, I'm sure you guys will throw him a parade. But I personally don't think he's going to be as good as you all do, but that's JMO.

Again, I don't & I think most don't hate South Florida, but the idea that SF is the only place with talent & the only place we should recruit, is just flat out not smart & an easy way for us to remain 7-5 for years to come.

National recruiting = National Championships; it’s really that simple.

“it’s really that simple”… is this a Larry Coker burner because he echoed the same sentiment. But in all seriousness no one is saying that we shouldn’t recruit nationally, that’s not what I hear at all. It’s moreso “the decline” makes it seem like the crops in the backyard are bare when we know that’s not the truth and don’t try to sell me about a Georgia peach (Judd) tasting better than a Florida mango (CJ)

Memnon

Aug 29, 2024

CaneGng13 said:
“it’s really that simple”… is this a Larry Coker burner because he echoed the same sentiment. But in all seriousness no one is saying that we shouldn’t recruit nationally, that’s not what I hear at all. It’s moreso “the decline” makes it seem like the crops in the backyard are bare when we know that’s not the truth and don’t try to sell me about a Georgia peach (Judd) tasting better than a Florida mango (CJ)

Wtf does Judd or CJ have anything to do with what I'm saying??? Neither one has taken a snap.

I'm talking about the high bust rate from SF & that being overlooked to continue to recruit the same prototype every year, while not going after players Nationally all because of some stupid *** local pride ideology doesn't hold water in the long run.

Again, yall are stuck in the past & still think this is 20 years ago, it's not. The way to build a championship roster is to recruit NATIONALLY & that's been PROVEN by EVERY single National Championship squad of the playoff era. Fck all that other nonsense yall are talking about, for real.

MedleyCane

Aug 29, 2024

Memnon said:
Nobody hates South FL.

The issue you guys are having is that you're not living in reality. Yall have placed SF on this extremely high Mt. Everest size pedestal to the point that you refuse to acknowledge that there are any other players or regions that even have good Football players.

Yall act like no place else in the country should ever even be discussed. No players from any region should ever be recruited. No team can ever beat a SF team. So it becomes really funny to see yall have to win a Gold medal in mental gymnastics flipping to explain how the most superior invincible unstoppable undisputed greatest Football state with the greatest football talent that has ever existed somehow loses games to supposedly inferior talent from other regions.

D$ is as big of a SF homer as you all, yet he felt the need to make this thread, because he even has to acknowledge that there's clearly been a decline.

All anybody is saying is that, there's been a high amount of busts coming out of SF & instead always chasing after these prospects, maybe we'll make our return back to prominence by taking a page out of all the other top programs in CFB & recruit Nationally, because from a logical standpoint it would be kinda dumb not to pursue the best Football players just because they don't happen to live 15 minutes away from campus.

Yall would turn down the best player in the country if he wasn't from Broward or Miami & that's not a smart strategy for building a winning team. That's literally *** backwards & NO program does that lol.

As far as Jeremiah Smith, I stand by that 100%. He hasn't taken a snap in a game yet, so might wanna slow down on his coronation ceremony, but if he turns out the be the WR you all hope him to be, I'm sure you guys will throw him a parade. But I personally don't think he's going to be as good as you all do, but that's JMO.

Again, I don't & I think most don't hate South Florida, but the idea that SF is the only place with talent & the only place we should recruit, is just flat out not smart & an easy way for us to remain 7-5 for years to come.

National recruiting = National Championships; its really that simple.

Good discussion. Kudos to all sides on this topic. However, I feel this topic "local vs national" recruiting may have more merit on the baseball board. Anyways, enjoying the exchange from everyone!

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The Decline of South Florida

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