It had talent - indeed, it has Leonard Hankerson. But it had freshman Hankerson. Shields was in Randy's doghouse.
Again, what was a better cast?
2005:
WR: (7) Ryan Moore (5 star), Akiem Jolla (4 star), Sinorice Moss (3 star), Devin Hester (5 star), Lance Leggett (4 star), Darnell Jenkins (4 star), Khalil Jones (2 stars)
TE: Greg Olsen, Buck Ortega, Dajleon Farr, Chris Zellner
HB: Tyrone Moss, Quatrine Hill, Charlie Jones, Derron Thomas, Andrew Johnson
2007 (7) Lance Leggett (5 star), Darnell Jenkins (4 star), Khalil Jones (2 star), Sam Shields (4 star), converted DB Ryan Hill (4 star CB), Kayne Farquaharson (unranked), and Leonard Hankerson (3 stars)
TE: Richard Gordon, Chris Zellner, Derick Epps, Dajleon Farr
HB: Javarris James, Graig Cooper, Derron Thomas, Shawnberry McNeil
I'd give the edge at running back to Cooper and a healthy Javarris James, but the wide receiver cast was much better in 2005. And Greg Olsen was an NFL level tight end.
What happened to Miami in 2003 - 2006 is a great headscratcher for me. How does a team that competed for two consecutive national championships (2001 - 2002) and had three strong seasons afterwards only recruit a total of five wide receivers over four years, and just two quarterbacks. We lost wide receivers to not only FSU, but Syracuse!