https://n.rivals.com/news/recruits-share-unvarnished-opinions-on-florida-s-big-three
Honesty is an elusive commodity in recruiting. Most things a prospect, coach, reporter or fan hears on the subject is said with intent, run through a series of mental filters and polished for the sake of public relations. Everyone loves everything until they don’t.
Remove names from the equation, however, and things get a little more forthright. So that’s exactly what Rivals.com has done. We recently grated anonymity to four Florida-based prospects and asked them a series of 10 questions about the state’s three power conference programs: Florida, Florida State and Miami. The answers generated were forthright and free of sugarcoating.
- Each of the four involved prospect is from the state for Florida.
- Each of the four involved prospect holds more than 10 Power Five offers
- Each of the four involved prospect is currently ranked four stars or higher
Below are the questions and each prospect’s responses.
Which program is on the most solid footing right now?
Recruit A
“Florida State, for sure. Then I feel like it’s Miami and then Florida after them.”
Recruit B
“Florida State.”
Recruit C
“Probably Florida because of coach [Jim McElwain]. I would actually put Miami second and the FSU third. I’m looking for Miami to make a jump. I feel like FSU is about to flat line.”
Recruit D
“Florida State is, of course, on the most solid footing.”
Which program do you think will be best in the state four years from now?
Recruit A
“It’s still going to be Florida State. I just don’t see them falling off or anything soon.”
Recruit B
“It’s still going to be Florida State, They are set up.”
Recruit C
“I think Miami because of that staff.”
Recruit D
“Four years from now? That’s tough. I feel like it’s all going to be pretty close. I feel like Mark Richt will have UM up to that Florida State stage. They both have a lot of guys coming in now. Daniel Wright and Stanford Samuels just committed there. And then, with Miami and Sam Bruce and those guys … I think it’s going to be really close.”
Who is the best recruiter on any of the in-state staffs?
Recruit A
“I like Coach [Kerry] Dixon from Florida. He keeps it cool. He keeps it 100, like me. He’s a good coach, too. He can relate to us kids and the players real good.”
Recruit B
“Coach Randy Shannon from Florida. He keeps it real. He tells me what he feels about me and other recruits. He isn’t looking at who has already offered or what you are ranked. He just wants the best players. He isn’t just saying things to get you to go there.”
Recruit C
“From the Florida schools it’s probably coach [Doug Nussmeier]. Coach Nuss is pretty good at recruiting. I think coach [Ron] Dugans is good at Miami, too. He does a great job.
Recruit D
“Best recruiter? Probably [Assistant Director of Player Personnel Jorge] Baez at Miami.
What is the biggest perk and drawback of Miami?
Recruit A
“The worst thing -- and I know there’s violence everywhere -- but the worst thing is the environment. You can get easily affected or sucked in. There are a lot of things to influence you. The best part is that they put you in the league. It’s a great program and a great weight program. They get you ready.”
Recruit B
“The best thing is that new coaching staff. That staff is better than the old one. The worst thing is that they’re still not going to win.”
Recruit C
“The education is really good. The education at Miami is the best thing, but it’s in kind of a weird location because they don’t have their own stadium and the fanbase sorta sucks.
Recruit D
“The best thing is that you end up in the league signing a check after Miami. The worst thing would probably be the heat.”
What is the biggest perk and drawback of Florida?
Recruit A
“With Florida, I’m really going off the media mostly, but it seems like it’s easy to get caught up or kicked out of school there. It seems like you could get in trouble messing with females there. The great thing is the tradition and that program. That is a place with great history.”
Recruit B
“At Florida, the best thing is the campus. I like that campus. The worst thing is, they still aren’t going to win a national championship anytime soon.”
Recruit C
“I like the girls at Florida. I would say that FSU has the best girls, but Florida has good girls and the best tradition. The Swamp is really cool. The worst thing is that everything is so old. All the facilities look really old. The campus is nice and all, but it’s getting dated.”
Recruit D
“Best thing, I’d have to say, is probably the college town. The worst thing would have to be the weather.”
What is the biggest perk and downside of Florida State?
Recruit A
“Worst thing about it is probably the environment and the town. The good thing is that it’s a winning program.”
Recruit B
“The best thing is that they are always going to be in the running for a national championship. The worst thing is … really nothing. I can’t think of anything that is just really bad. They’re the best right now.”
Recruit C
The best thing is definitely the girls. It’s just a straight college town, and I like it. Tallahassee is crazy and all about football. The education isn’t as good there, though.”
Recruit D
“Best thing is winning championships. The worst thing would probably be … well, I can’t really name anything bad right now. I need to get to know it more.”
Which coaching staff feels the most genuine?
Recruit A
“Florida State for sure.”
Recruit B
“Probably Florida because of coach Shannon. He’s always up front and honest.”
Recruit C
“Probably Florida. They were straightforward with me about everything.”
Recruit D
“Florida State.”
Which staff feels the most phony?
Recruit A
“Florida.”
Recruit B
“Florida State. Coach Bill Miller has told me a bunch of times that he is going to come back and offer me, but he never actually does. He just says it then it never happens.”
Recruit C
“FSU was shady with me. They would, like, tell me to camp there and beg me to come and then just not ever say anything to me. They were just really sketchy about how many guys they wanted to take and what they were doing.”
Recruit D
“Florida.”
If the three Florida schools were the only options available to you, which one would you choose?
Recruit A
“I’d go to Florida State.”
Recruit B
“Florida. I’d pick Florida if I was picking between them right now.”
Recruit C
“That’s a tough one. Definitely not Miami. I’m not a big fan of Miami. Honestly? Probably Florida. I liked Florida growing up and they just have a good education and good football.”
Recruit D
Right now? If I’m picking today … I know Florida is out of the question. Hmmm. Oh my God. This is hard. I guess I’d have to say Miami.”
Honesty is an elusive commodity in recruiting. Most things a prospect, coach, reporter or fan hears on the subject is said with intent, run through a series of mental filters and polished for the sake of public relations. Everyone loves everything until they don’t.
Remove names from the equation, however, and things get a little more forthright. So that’s exactly what Rivals.com has done. We recently grated anonymity to four Florida-based prospects and asked them a series of 10 questions about the state’s three power conference programs: Florida, Florida State and Miami. The answers generated were forthright and free of sugarcoating.
- Each of the four involved prospect is from the state for Florida.
- Each of the four involved prospect holds more than 10 Power Five offers
- Each of the four involved prospect is currently ranked four stars or higher
Below are the questions and each prospect’s responses.
Which program is on the most solid footing right now?
Recruit A
“Florida State, for sure. Then I feel like it’s Miami and then Florida after them.”
Recruit B
“Florida State.”
Recruit C
“Probably Florida because of coach [Jim McElwain]. I would actually put Miami second and the FSU third. I’m looking for Miami to make a jump. I feel like FSU is about to flat line.”
Recruit D
“Florida State is, of course, on the most solid footing.”
Which program do you think will be best in the state four years from now?
Recruit A
“It’s still going to be Florida State. I just don’t see them falling off or anything soon.”
Recruit B
“It’s still going to be Florida State, They are set up.”
Recruit C
“I think Miami because of that staff.”
Recruit D
“Four years from now? That’s tough. I feel like it’s all going to be pretty close. I feel like Mark Richt will have UM up to that Florida State stage. They both have a lot of guys coming in now. Daniel Wright and Stanford Samuels just committed there. And then, with Miami and Sam Bruce and those guys … I think it’s going to be really close.”
Who is the best recruiter on any of the in-state staffs?
Recruit A
“I like Coach [Kerry] Dixon from Florida. He keeps it cool. He keeps it 100, like me. He’s a good coach, too. He can relate to us kids and the players real good.”
Recruit B
“Coach Randy Shannon from Florida. He keeps it real. He tells me what he feels about me and other recruits. He isn’t looking at who has already offered or what you are ranked. He just wants the best players. He isn’t just saying things to get you to go there.”
Recruit C
“From the Florida schools it’s probably coach [Doug Nussmeier]. Coach Nuss is pretty good at recruiting. I think coach [Ron] Dugans is good at Miami, too. He does a great job.
Recruit D
“Best recruiter? Probably [Assistant Director of Player Personnel Jorge] Baez at Miami.
What is the biggest perk and drawback of Miami?
Recruit A
“The worst thing -- and I know there’s violence everywhere -- but the worst thing is the environment. You can get easily affected or sucked in. There are a lot of things to influence you. The best part is that they put you in the league. It’s a great program and a great weight program. They get you ready.”
Recruit B
“The best thing is that new coaching staff. That staff is better than the old one. The worst thing is that they’re still not going to win.”
Recruit C
“The education is really good. The education at Miami is the best thing, but it’s in kind of a weird location because they don’t have their own stadium and the fanbase sorta sucks.
Recruit D
“The best thing is that you end up in the league signing a check after Miami. The worst thing would probably be the heat.”
What is the biggest perk and drawback of Florida?
Recruit A
“With Florida, I’m really going off the media mostly, but it seems like it’s easy to get caught up or kicked out of school there. It seems like you could get in trouble messing with females there. The great thing is the tradition and that program. That is a place with great history.”
Recruit B
“At Florida, the best thing is the campus. I like that campus. The worst thing is, they still aren’t going to win a national championship anytime soon.”
Recruit C
“I like the girls at Florida. I would say that FSU has the best girls, but Florida has good girls and the best tradition. The Swamp is really cool. The worst thing is that everything is so old. All the facilities look really old. The campus is nice and all, but it’s getting dated.”
Recruit D
“Best thing, I’d have to say, is probably the college town. The worst thing would have to be the weather.”
What is the biggest perk and downside of Florida State?
Recruit A
“Worst thing about it is probably the environment and the town. The good thing is that it’s a winning program.”
Recruit B
“The best thing is that they are always going to be in the running for a national championship. The worst thing is … really nothing. I can’t think of anything that is just really bad. They’re the best right now.”
Recruit C
The best thing is definitely the girls. It’s just a straight college town, and I like it. Tallahassee is crazy and all about football. The education isn’t as good there, though.”
Recruit D
“Best thing is winning championships. The worst thing would probably be … well, I can’t really name anything bad right now. I need to get to know it more.”
Which coaching staff feels the most genuine?
Recruit A
“Florida State for sure.”
Recruit B
“Probably Florida because of coach Shannon. He’s always up front and honest.”
Recruit C
“Probably Florida. They were straightforward with me about everything.”
Recruit D
“Florida State.”
Which staff feels the most phony?
Recruit A
“Florida.”
Recruit B
“Florida State. Coach Bill Miller has told me a bunch of times that he is going to come back and offer me, but he never actually does. He just says it then it never happens.”
Recruit C
“FSU was shady with me. They would, like, tell me to camp there and beg me to come and then just not ever say anything to me. They were just really sketchy about how many guys they wanted to take and what they were doing.”
Recruit D
“Florida.”
If the three Florida schools were the only options available to you, which one would you choose?
Recruit A
“I’d go to Florida State.”
Recruit B
“Florida. I’d pick Florida if I was picking between them right now.”
Recruit C
“That’s a tough one. Definitely not Miami. I’m not a big fan of Miami. Honestly? Probably Florida. I liked Florida growing up and they just have a good education and good football.”
Recruit D
Right now? If I’m picking today … I know Florida is out of the question. Hmmm. Oh my God. This is hard. I guess I’d have to say Miami.”
