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Welcome to the first 2019 edition of the column I like to call “The Freshman 15”. If you’re a first time reader, this will be a focus on the rankings and the order of the top 15 uncommitted recruits the coaching staff is pursuing. At this time, players without offers and players committed to other schools will not be considered for the board.
The order will be based mainly on:
Just like Storm18, Surge19 is off to a quick start, reeling in 12 early commitments and topping the early 247Sports national class rankings (#2 on Rivals). The focus of the coaches right now seems to be in the trenches (surprise) and that plays out on this board.
(PS: Sorry, I never cut this into two parts, but the character limit forced my hand.)
1. Evan Neal, OT/OG, Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy)
Ht 6-7 | Wt 375 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #38 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Neal is the prototypical top player on this board, thanks to his combination of talent, Miami’s need on the line, and the fact that he has family ties to the program. At 6’7” 375 pounds, I just call him “The Wall”. Neal has gone up against numerous top defensive linemen at various events and they were all hopelessly outmatched against him. He’s too big to get around and can overwhelm power rushers that try and go through him.
In The Mix: Neal told us Miami, FSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia are some schools chasing him hard.
Latest: Neal’s taken unofficial visits for junior day at Texas A&M and Baylor, and stopped by Austin, Texas on his Lonestar state tour to visit UT as well. I wouldn’t read too much into this, though, as Neal simply appears to be doing his due diligence and fleshing out his many options. Neal is the nephew of Miami great Cleveland Gary, was a born Hurricane, and has visited UM multiple times in the past year. He seems like a Miami lean right now, but due to him mentioning so many different schools lately, the buzz hasn’t been quite as strong for Miami. Still, while another team could always make a big push in the coming months, if he had to sign today, Miami would be the choice.
2. Khris Bogle, DE, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Cardinal Gibbons)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 210 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #77 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Bogle makes his living in the opponent backfield and it’s tough for offensive linemen to square up on him with his speed off the edge. The high need for D-Linemen and his extremely high Miami interest gets him a plush spot on the board.
In The Mix: Schools such as Miami, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, and Georgia are heavily involved.
Latest: Some thought coach Kool’s departure would hurt Miami’s chances with Bogle, but it seems he’s already getting along great with UM’s new hire in Jess Simpson. Bogle is coming off an unofficial visit to Coral Gables with family last weekend and loved his Miami experience furthering his bond with Simpson and Manny Diaz. A few days afterward, he hinted at a possible commitment coming soon on Twitter. So while visits to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and LSU could still happen at some point, if you read the signs, it’s a matter of when, not if, Bogle announces for the Canes.
3. Michael Johnson Jr., QB, Eugene, Oregon (Sheldon)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #184 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Point blank, QB is the most important position in every class and the coaches have identified Johnson Jr. as their top target at gun-slinger. A true dual-threat, Johnson Jr. is electric on the ground by any usage of the word and can leave any defender in the dust. Through the air, he possesses a live arm that can make any throw on the field.
In The Mix: Johnson Jr. hears from Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Nebraska, and LSU the most.
Latest: Jon Richt recently flew across the country to visit Johnson Jr., and the younger Richt made quite an impression on the talented Oregon product. Johnson Jr. was also impressed with the sheer gesture of it all, and was genuinely surprised at how much the relationship between the two has progressed. When Johnson Jr. talks about Miami, his tone changes and brightens up. The kid loves the Canes and will be on campus for an unofficial visit on March 28th and 29th. Yes, his father coaches for Oregon. And yes, they should still be viewed as the favorite. But keep in mind he has plenty of family in the Miami area as well. If any team is going to pull Johnson Jr. out of Oregon, it will be the Canes.
4. Mark-Antony Richards, RB/S, West Palm Beach, FL (Wellington)
Ht 6-1 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #41 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Running back, safety, receiver, quarterback, kicker, don’t matter. The book on Richards is simple: get him on the roster, figure out his position later His speed and football instincts will play anywhere, and he loves offense, but Richards looks like an impact safety to me.
In The Mix: Florida and Miami seem like an unofficial top 2 for Richards at the moment. Programs like Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Auburn are pushing.
Latest: Richards is going to Florida for their junior day and spring game, then will be back at Miami for their spring game too. Many believe that since he is Ahmmon Richards’ brother, that means he’s a Hurricanes lock. While I wouldn’t go that far, his level of interest in UM cannot be denied. He came to watch every Canes game he could this past season and visits his brother frequently on campus; as such, he is deeply ingrained into the Hurricanes current team. An example of this would be him and Lawrence Cager attending the Opening Miami Regional together. Like Johnson Jr., Richards lights up when talking about Miami. He is still going to do his best to give every school a fair opportunity to win him over and see some sights along the way, but the UM coaches are feeling good about their chances to eventually land him. Also, it pains me to say, but watch out for UF making a move here.
5. Darnell Wright, OT, Huntington, WV (Huntington)
Ht 6-6 | Wt 290 | 247 Composite: 5-Star, #20 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Behind D-Line, the O-Line, as always, is probably the Canes biggest need in the cycle. That need, in addition to his talent level, gets Wright into the top 5 of the board. A pure left tackle prospect, Wright is an advanced run-blocker and has the frame and athleticism to excel in pass protection with more development. He is also known for being proficient at the mental side of the game.
In The Mix: Ohio State is an early leader over Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.
Latest: Both Mark Richt and Todd Hartley took a trip to Huntington to visit with Wright back in January when 2018 recruiting was still going on, showing just how badly UM wants Wright in this class. He told the coaches he’d make it to Coral Gables for an official in the fall, which is great news for Miami’s chances to land him. He also said UM would definitely be in his top 8-12 schools when he releases that list shortly. OSU and Urban Meyer will be tough to beat, but you have to like that the Canes are at least in the game here.
6. Frank Ladson, WR, Miami, FL (South Dade)
Ht 6-5 | Wt 175 | 247 Composite: 5-Star, #15 Overall
Behind The Ranking: The first thing that stands out about Ladson is his size. But it’s how well he moves with that 6’5” frame that really makes him elite. Ladson has the frame to high-point a ball and flat out go get it, making him an instant red-zone threat for any program. WR is probably the most stocked position on the team right now, pushing Ladson down the board a bit despite his blue-chip pedigree.
In The Mix: Ladson’s top 2 are Miami and Clemson, with Georgia and Auburn on the outside looking in.
Latest: Ladson has built a deep connection with WR coach Ron Dugans and, along with teammate Tyrique Stevenson, has visited Miami unofficially once a month (sometimes more) since the 2017 season began. Following the visit trail here, you’d think the Canes are in a good spot, but, as more and more time passes without a commitment, the less confident we are. Ladson visited Clemson back in January for their Junior Day and loved it. Dabo Swinney and his staff are really going all out here and the Tigers will be a serious player for Ladson until the very end.
7. Jaquaze Sorrells, DT, Largo, FL (Largo)
Ht 6-3 | Wt 270 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #81 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Sorrells is well built, with a thick college-ready frame from head to toe. Sorrells has a natural bend about his style of play that lends itself to an ease of movement and agility for a man of his size. He has experience playing both inside and outside and is able to generate a powerful bull-rush with speed/power drives into offensive tackles.
In The Mix: Miami and Clemson are at the peak here, while Florida, Oregon, and Texas A&M are trying to break through.
Latest: Sorrells is a huge priority for the Canes and has planned a Miami visit for March 25. He also has plans to visit Oregon and Texas A&M this spring as well. FSU is rumored to be in contention here, but sources close to the situation are telling CIS that the Noles are a non-factor and that this will essentially be a Miami-Clemson battle royale. Sorrells’ spring visits will really tell the story and paint a clearer picture.
Click for Part 2
The order will be based mainly on:
- How likely a recruit is to commit to Miami at the time
- Skill level
- Miami's need at their position
Just like Storm18, Surge19 is off to a quick start, reeling in 12 early commitments and topping the early 247Sports national class rankings (#2 on Rivals). The focus of the coaches right now seems to be in the trenches (surprise) and that plays out on this board.
(PS: Sorry, I never cut this into two parts, but the character limit forced my hand.)
1. Evan Neal, OT/OG, Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy)
Ht 6-7 | Wt 375 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #38 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Neal is the prototypical top player on this board, thanks to his combination of talent, Miami’s need on the line, and the fact that he has family ties to the program. At 6’7” 375 pounds, I just call him “The Wall”. Neal has gone up against numerous top defensive linemen at various events and they were all hopelessly outmatched against him. He’s too big to get around and can overwhelm power rushers that try and go through him.
In The Mix: Neal told us Miami, FSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia are some schools chasing him hard.
Latest: Neal’s taken unofficial visits for junior day at Texas A&M and Baylor, and stopped by Austin, Texas on his Lonestar state tour to visit UT as well. I wouldn’t read too much into this, though, as Neal simply appears to be doing his due diligence and fleshing out his many options. Neal is the nephew of Miami great Cleveland Gary, was a born Hurricane, and has visited UM multiple times in the past year. He seems like a Miami lean right now, but due to him mentioning so many different schools lately, the buzz hasn’t been quite as strong for Miami. Still, while another team could always make a big push in the coming months, if he had to sign today, Miami would be the choice.
2. Khris Bogle, DE, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Cardinal Gibbons)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 210 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #77 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Bogle makes his living in the opponent backfield and it’s tough for offensive linemen to square up on him with his speed off the edge. The high need for D-Linemen and his extremely high Miami interest gets him a plush spot on the board.
In The Mix: Schools such as Miami, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, and Georgia are heavily involved.
Latest: Some thought coach Kool’s departure would hurt Miami’s chances with Bogle, but it seems he’s already getting along great with UM’s new hire in Jess Simpson. Bogle is coming off an unofficial visit to Coral Gables with family last weekend and loved his Miami experience furthering his bond with Simpson and Manny Diaz. A few days afterward, he hinted at a possible commitment coming soon on Twitter. So while visits to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and LSU could still happen at some point, if you read the signs, it’s a matter of when, not if, Bogle announces for the Canes.
3. Michael Johnson Jr., QB, Eugene, Oregon (Sheldon)
Ht 6-4 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #184 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Point blank, QB is the most important position in every class and the coaches have identified Johnson Jr. as their top target at gun-slinger. A true dual-threat, Johnson Jr. is electric on the ground by any usage of the word and can leave any defender in the dust. Through the air, he possesses a live arm that can make any throw on the field.
In The Mix: Johnson Jr. hears from Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Nebraska, and LSU the most.
Latest: Jon Richt recently flew across the country to visit Johnson Jr., and the younger Richt made quite an impression on the talented Oregon product. Johnson Jr. was also impressed with the sheer gesture of it all, and was genuinely surprised at how much the relationship between the two has progressed. When Johnson Jr. talks about Miami, his tone changes and brightens up. The kid loves the Canes and will be on campus for an unofficial visit on March 28th and 29th. Yes, his father coaches for Oregon. And yes, they should still be viewed as the favorite. But keep in mind he has plenty of family in the Miami area as well. If any team is going to pull Johnson Jr. out of Oregon, it will be the Canes.
4. Mark-Antony Richards, RB/S, West Palm Beach, FL (Wellington)
Ht 6-1 | Wt 190 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #41 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Running back, safety, receiver, quarterback, kicker, don’t matter. The book on Richards is simple: get him on the roster, figure out his position later His speed and football instincts will play anywhere, and he loves offense, but Richards looks like an impact safety to me.
In The Mix: Florida and Miami seem like an unofficial top 2 for Richards at the moment. Programs like Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Auburn are pushing.
Latest: Richards is going to Florida for their junior day and spring game, then will be back at Miami for their spring game too. Many believe that since he is Ahmmon Richards’ brother, that means he’s a Hurricanes lock. While I wouldn’t go that far, his level of interest in UM cannot be denied. He came to watch every Canes game he could this past season and visits his brother frequently on campus; as such, he is deeply ingrained into the Hurricanes current team. An example of this would be him and Lawrence Cager attending the Opening Miami Regional together. Like Johnson Jr., Richards lights up when talking about Miami. He is still going to do his best to give every school a fair opportunity to win him over and see some sights along the way, but the UM coaches are feeling good about their chances to eventually land him. Also, it pains me to say, but watch out for UF making a move here.
5. Darnell Wright, OT, Huntington, WV (Huntington)
Ht 6-6 | Wt 290 | 247 Composite: 5-Star, #20 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Behind D-Line, the O-Line, as always, is probably the Canes biggest need in the cycle. That need, in addition to his talent level, gets Wright into the top 5 of the board. A pure left tackle prospect, Wright is an advanced run-blocker and has the frame and athleticism to excel in pass protection with more development. He is also known for being proficient at the mental side of the game.
In The Mix: Ohio State is an early leader over Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.
Latest: Both Mark Richt and Todd Hartley took a trip to Huntington to visit with Wright back in January when 2018 recruiting was still going on, showing just how badly UM wants Wright in this class. He told the coaches he’d make it to Coral Gables for an official in the fall, which is great news for Miami’s chances to land him. He also said UM would definitely be in his top 8-12 schools when he releases that list shortly. OSU and Urban Meyer will be tough to beat, but you have to like that the Canes are at least in the game here.
6. Frank Ladson, WR, Miami, FL (South Dade)
Ht 6-5 | Wt 175 | 247 Composite: 5-Star, #15 Overall
Behind The Ranking: The first thing that stands out about Ladson is his size. But it’s how well he moves with that 6’5” frame that really makes him elite. Ladson has the frame to high-point a ball and flat out go get it, making him an instant red-zone threat for any program. WR is probably the most stocked position on the team right now, pushing Ladson down the board a bit despite his blue-chip pedigree.
In The Mix: Ladson’s top 2 are Miami and Clemson, with Georgia and Auburn on the outside looking in.
Latest: Ladson has built a deep connection with WR coach Ron Dugans and, along with teammate Tyrique Stevenson, has visited Miami unofficially once a month (sometimes more) since the 2017 season began. Following the visit trail here, you’d think the Canes are in a good spot, but, as more and more time passes without a commitment, the less confident we are. Ladson visited Clemson back in January for their Junior Day and loved it. Dabo Swinney and his staff are really going all out here and the Tigers will be a serious player for Ladson until the very end.
7. Jaquaze Sorrells, DT, Largo, FL (Largo)
Ht 6-3 | Wt 270 | 247 Composite: 4-Star, #81 Overall
Behind The Ranking: Sorrells is well built, with a thick college-ready frame from head to toe. Sorrells has a natural bend about his style of play that lends itself to an ease of movement and agility for a man of his size. He has experience playing both inside and outside and is able to generate a powerful bull-rush with speed/power drives into offensive tackles.
In The Mix: Miami and Clemson are at the peak here, while Florida, Oregon, and Texas A&M are trying to break through.
Latest: Sorrells is a huge priority for the Canes and has planned a Miami visit for March 25. He also has plans to visit Oregon and Texas A&M this spring as well. FSU is rumored to be in contention here, but sources close to the situation are telling CIS that the Noles are a non-factor and that this will essentially be a Miami-Clemson battle royale. Sorrells’ spring visits will really tell the story and paint a clearer picture.
Click for Part 2
