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Yesterday we looked at some early buzz for the 2014 class on the offensive side of the ball, today we will look at the defense, which is what most fans are concerned about with the current state of the program. It looks like help is on the way on the defensive line.
DL
Anthony Moten (St. Thomas Aquinas) 6'3, 270- Moten has the 'Canes out in front by a large distance right now. He has said that on multiple occasions he has almost committed to the 'Canes. He was seen throwing up the 'U" after a big play in his game last week as well. He is close to 'Canes freshman Jelani Hamilton. On the field, he is still maturing physically, which is a good sign considering he is already 6'3, 270. He plays both tackle and end for Aquinas. Moten has been on campus multiple times.
Demarcus Christmas (Manatee) 6'3, 290- Arguably the top DT in the country, it doesn't seem like Christmas is very interested in Miami right now. He is apparently interested in Auburn heavily.
Khairi Clark (Chaminade-Madonna)6'3, 310- A potential top-5 DT in the country, Miami leads for Clark right now and the lead is pretty big. If Miami can land an early commitment from Clark, that would be a great building block for the defensive class.
[video=youtube;ojwoRSHTdSo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojwoRSHTdSo[/video]
Keyon Brown (Hardee) 6'2, 230-A good pass-rushing prospect, Brown looks like a 4-star level talent and has FSU and South Carolina near the top right now (neither have offered). Miami has offered and is in the mix.
[video=youtube;5sDNMYPOTko]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sDNMYPOTko[/video]
Chad Thomas (Booker T. Washington) 6'4, 220- Where Thomas ends up will depend mostly in part to where his close friend and teammate, Matthew Thomas ends up. Like Matthew, Chad has a top two of FSU and Miami. If Matthew comes to Miami, look for Chad to follow suit and vice versa if he were to choose FSU. This kid is an absolute must-get. He can play inside or at DE, but would need to add weight to play tackle consistently.
[video=youtube;LkXscP95qSA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkXscP95qSA[/video]
LB *Note*: more LB prospects will definitely emerge, 2014 seems like a down year in South Florida at the position
Vincent Jackson (Tampa Jesuit) 6'2, 230- The teammate of commit Travis Johnson holds over 30 offers and has serious Miami interest. He is very close to Johnson and that will be a big factor for him. Florida is also an early favorite.
[video=youtube;GhAwBLG8HpI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhAwBLG8HpI[/video]
Frank Newman (Southridge) 5'11, 210- The hard-hitting Southridge linebacker is not playing football this season due to personal reasons, so it's tough to say how much that will affect his recruitment. He was on the verge of an offer before the season, but will have to perform well in the off-season camp circuit to earn it. He might commit on the spot if he receives it. As long as he clears up whatever personal issues he has, he is a kid that is definitely Miami-caliber.
[video=youtube;oY-dUvZuQio]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY-dUvZuQio[/video]
Dillon Bates (Ponte Vedra)6'3, 220-The tackling machine from Ponte Vedra holds an early 'Canes offer, but it will be tough to get him away from Tennessee, which is where his father played.
[video=youtube;o4I4FB-hmBg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4I4FB-hmBg[/video]
DB
Trumaine Washington (Killian)5'9, 175-A smaller corner, but great speed and ball skills. Has been producing since starting sophomore year for Columbus. He has played at his best when covering the likes of Malcolm Lewis and Ermon Lane. No major offers yet, but he will blow up this season, especially with the way Killian is playing.
[video=youtube;9KNcp7HGQgM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KNcp7HGQgM[/video]
Quincy Wilson (University)6'2, 195-One of the head-scratchers early on right now is the lack of an offer for Wilson. I would be stunned if he doesn't get the offer in the coming months. There is talk that he is slowly becoming frustrated by the fact Miami hasn't offered yet (which is valid), and the sooner the staff gives it to him, the better the chances are of landing him. Canes would be the favorite once they offer.
[video=youtube;r6_vx1LRzTU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6_vx1LRzTU[/video]
Marquese Dudley-Gordon (Cypress Bay)5'11, 180-MDG is one of my favorite prospects in South Florida right now. He hasn't quite blown up to the extent I thought he would by now, by he has good size and aggressiveness from the safety spot, as well as solid speed. If Miami was smart, they would jump on him before the big OOS schools come calling.
[video=youtube;E6GkHEXEG84]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6GkHEXEG84[/video]
Nigel Patten (Booker T Washington)5'9, 170-The Booker T standout is on the short side, but has everything else you look for in a corner. He is one of the top track runners in the country, which was on display when he tracked Artie Burns from behind on a kick-off return. Patten has very good cover skills and good hips. FSU has offered him and Miami would be the favorite if they offered.
ATH
JoJo Robinson (MNW) 5'11, 175-The FSU commitment is very soft to the 'Noles right now. I wouldn't even consider him to be "committed" in all honesty. He will be a 'Cane if the staff goes hard after him.
Travis Rudolph (Cardinal Newman) 6'0, 175-One of two 2014 commits for the 'Canes, Rudolph is putting up huge numbers this year at WR. When he first committed in the summer, I was told he was recruited as a CB, but positional decisions change so frequently. If he keeps having success at receiver like he is this season, I would look for him to start out at receiver here.
[video=youtube;GL5GwWIjHRE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL5GwWIjHRE[/video]
DL
Anthony Moten (St. Thomas Aquinas) 6'3, 270- Moten has the 'Canes out in front by a large distance right now. He has said that on multiple occasions he has almost committed to the 'Canes. He was seen throwing up the 'U" after a big play in his game last week as well. He is close to 'Canes freshman Jelani Hamilton. On the field, he is still maturing physically, which is a good sign considering he is already 6'3, 270. He plays both tackle and end for Aquinas. Moten has been on campus multiple times.
Demarcus Christmas (Manatee) 6'3, 290- Arguably the top DT in the country, it doesn't seem like Christmas is very interested in Miami right now. He is apparently interested in Auburn heavily.
Khairi Clark (Chaminade-Madonna)6'3, 310- A potential top-5 DT in the country, Miami leads for Clark right now and the lead is pretty big. If Miami can land an early commitment from Clark, that would be a great building block for the defensive class.
[video=youtube;ojwoRSHTdSo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojwoRSHTdSo[/video]
Keyon Brown (Hardee) 6'2, 230-A good pass-rushing prospect, Brown looks like a 4-star level talent and has FSU and South Carolina near the top right now (neither have offered). Miami has offered and is in the mix.
[video=youtube;5sDNMYPOTko]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sDNMYPOTko[/video]
Chad Thomas (Booker T. Washington) 6'4, 220- Where Thomas ends up will depend mostly in part to where his close friend and teammate, Matthew Thomas ends up. Like Matthew, Chad has a top two of FSU and Miami. If Matthew comes to Miami, look for Chad to follow suit and vice versa if he were to choose FSU. This kid is an absolute must-get. He can play inside or at DE, but would need to add weight to play tackle consistently.
[video=youtube;LkXscP95qSA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkXscP95qSA[/video]
LB *Note*: more LB prospects will definitely emerge, 2014 seems like a down year in South Florida at the position
Vincent Jackson (Tampa Jesuit) 6'2, 230- The teammate of commit Travis Johnson holds over 30 offers and has serious Miami interest. He is very close to Johnson and that will be a big factor for him. Florida is also an early favorite.
[video=youtube;GhAwBLG8HpI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhAwBLG8HpI[/video]
Frank Newman (Southridge) 5'11, 210- The hard-hitting Southridge linebacker is not playing football this season due to personal reasons, so it's tough to say how much that will affect his recruitment. He was on the verge of an offer before the season, but will have to perform well in the off-season camp circuit to earn it. He might commit on the spot if he receives it. As long as he clears up whatever personal issues he has, he is a kid that is definitely Miami-caliber.
[video=youtube;oY-dUvZuQio]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY-dUvZuQio[/video]
Dillon Bates (Ponte Vedra)6'3, 220-The tackling machine from Ponte Vedra holds an early 'Canes offer, but it will be tough to get him away from Tennessee, which is where his father played.
[video=youtube;o4I4FB-hmBg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4I4FB-hmBg[/video]
DB
Trumaine Washington (Killian)5'9, 175-A smaller corner, but great speed and ball skills. Has been producing since starting sophomore year for Columbus. He has played at his best when covering the likes of Malcolm Lewis and Ermon Lane. No major offers yet, but he will blow up this season, especially with the way Killian is playing.
[video=youtube;9KNcp7HGQgM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KNcp7HGQgM[/video]
Quincy Wilson (University)6'2, 195-One of the head-scratchers early on right now is the lack of an offer for Wilson. I would be stunned if he doesn't get the offer in the coming months. There is talk that he is slowly becoming frustrated by the fact Miami hasn't offered yet (which is valid), and the sooner the staff gives it to him, the better the chances are of landing him. Canes would be the favorite once they offer.
[video=youtube;r6_vx1LRzTU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6_vx1LRzTU[/video]
Marquese Dudley-Gordon (Cypress Bay)5'11, 180-MDG is one of my favorite prospects in South Florida right now. He hasn't quite blown up to the extent I thought he would by now, by he has good size and aggressiveness from the safety spot, as well as solid speed. If Miami was smart, they would jump on him before the big OOS schools come calling.
[video=youtube;E6GkHEXEG84]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6GkHEXEG84[/video]
Nigel Patten (Booker T Washington)5'9, 170-The Booker T standout is on the short side, but has everything else you look for in a corner. He is one of the top track runners in the country, which was on display when he tracked Artie Burns from behind on a kick-off return. Patten has very good cover skills and good hips. FSU has offered him and Miami would be the favorite if they offered.
ATH
JoJo Robinson (MNW) 5'11, 175-The FSU commitment is very soft to the 'Noles right now. I wouldn't even consider him to be "committed" in all honesty. He will be a 'Cane if the staff goes hard after him.
Travis Rudolph (Cardinal Newman) 6'0, 175-One of two 2014 commits for the 'Canes, Rudolph is putting up huge numbers this year at WR. When he first committed in the summer, I was told he was recruited as a CB, but positional decisions change so frequently. If he keeps having success at receiver like he is this season, I would look for him to start out at receiver here.
[video=youtube;GL5GwWIjHRE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL5GwWIjHRE[/video]
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