The Miami Hurricanes coaching staff are wasting little time when it comes to recruiting for the Class of 2014. They are hot on the trail of Miami (Fla.) Northwestern linebacker Michael Smith (6-3/230) and recently offered him a scholarship.
“To get an offer from Miami was exciting because Miami was a dream school,” Smith said. “It is a dream to be a Hurricane and now I have an opportunity to make my dream come true. Al Golden offered me. He is a great, cool guy and is down to earth. I think he would be a great coach. He reminds me of my coaches at Miami Northwestern.”
In fact, Smith is on the verge of committing to Miami and adding yet another South Florida name to the list.
“Yeah, I’m very close to committing,” Smith said. “What I’m waiting on is for me and my sister to go down to the campus. For me and my family to check out the academics and see the campus there, and to see if they have my major. I’m still deciding what I want to major in, so that is really the only thing that has hindered me from committing yet. What would turn me away from the offer is if I get pressured to0 much about committing.”
Miami linebackers coach Michael Barrow and the rest of the coaching staff had positive things to say about his game.
“Coach Barrow just likes the way I play,” Smith said. “The whole UM family likes the way I attack the ball and give it my all every play to get in the back field. They just like the way I carry myself coming to the practice and they like me as an overall person.”
If Smith does commit, he’ll be continuing the tradition between Miami and Northwestern after 2013 cornerback Artie Burns signed with the Canes in February.
“I know him pretty good,” Smith said of Artie Burns. “I feel like he’s going to bring a lot of speed to Miami because Artie is a very fast person. He’s a great leader and he will bring the intensity up even more.”
This Saturday the Miami Hurricanes will hold its spring game at Sun Life Stadium where Smith will be in attendance.
“I’ll be able to make it. I’m looking at my position and the way the defensive is. And just the way the coaches are on the
field"