MessiahChild
Redshirt Freshman
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- Jan 29, 2012
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How much would a win over FSU mean to Miami's recruits?
By Gerry Hamilton
First-year coach Mark Richt has Miami on track. Sitting at 4-0 with an impressive road win over a solid Appalachian State team, and a conference road win over Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Hurricanes are impressing poll voters on the field as well as recruits watching from the stands or on television.
One member of the Hurricanes' No. 8-ranked class, four-star cornerback Trajan Bandy, already sees Richt unifying current players and improving Miami's situation.
“The coaching staff has impressed,” Bandy said. “I talk to some of the players, and they love the coaching staff. Coach Richt is bringing the community together. He’s getting out in the community, and being the coach we have wanted for a long time.”
One of the top targets still on the board in the area is ESPN 300 safety Amari Carter. Carter, whose recruitment is considered to be a battle between Miami and Notre Dame with Auburn, Louisville and Pittsburgh also in contention.
“The consistency on the field has impressed me,” Carter said. “You are seeing a consistent effort level, and the defense is running to the ball. Also, the coaches are really consistent and bringing a lot of energy. I see a lot of young players playing well.”
While there are still a handful of targets in the class of 2017 still out there for Miami, it’s the loaded Class of 2018's skill players that many Hurricanes fans are keeping a close eye on.
One of those is ESPN Jr. 300 defensive back and former Miami verbal commit Al Blades Jr. The 6-foot, 168-pound Miami legacy loves the energy the players are playing with early on.
“They are definitely playing with a lot of speed, and the coaches just let their guys play and that should be really attractive to players in South Florida,” Blades Jr. said.
Blades Jr.'s teammate and fellow ESPN Jr. 300 cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. echoed his good friend's sentiments.
“I like that the coaches have the defense playing aggressive," Samuel Jr. said. "They have brought some of the swag back.”
While Miami has set the foundation and laid out a vision for the future under Richt, Saturday's home date with Florida State (8 p.m. ET, ABC) will present an opportunity on an entirely different level.
The Hurricanes have lost six straight games in the series. Miami's last win came in 2009, Bobby Bowden’s last season as head coach in Tallahassee. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher's undefeated record in those six games has played a role on the recruiting trail in recent years.
Richt and his staff have the chance to make a huge statement on Saturday, but is an improved product on the field just as important as getting a much needed rivalry win? The answers vary.
“With me, it’s the product on the field more than winning the game," Carter said. "It’s not a regular game, it’s an intense rivalry game, so you would like to see the team play the right way, and win the right way.”
Bandy sees it differently.
“I think if Miami won the game, a lot of kids would want to come to Miami, and make official visits knowing we are getting back to the top,” Bandy said.
Blades Jr. is agrees with Bandy.
“For me, I would like to see Miami win so that the rivalry can be back, and add more spice to the next few years," he said. "I do care more about where Miami is going vs. winning the game though. I want to see a great game and UM come out on top.”
“It’s both," Samuel Jr. added. "The way Miami plays [Saturday] would say a lot, but if they win it shows that Mark Richt has changed the whole culture and has already changed things for the better.”
By Gerry Hamilton
First-year coach Mark Richt has Miami on track. Sitting at 4-0 with an impressive road win over a solid Appalachian State team, and a conference road win over Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Hurricanes are impressing poll voters on the field as well as recruits watching from the stands or on television.
One member of the Hurricanes' No. 8-ranked class, four-star cornerback Trajan Bandy, already sees Richt unifying current players and improving Miami's situation.
“The coaching staff has impressed,” Bandy said. “I talk to some of the players, and they love the coaching staff. Coach Richt is bringing the community together. He’s getting out in the community, and being the coach we have wanted for a long time.”
One of the top targets still on the board in the area is ESPN 300 safety Amari Carter. Carter, whose recruitment is considered to be a battle between Miami and Notre Dame with Auburn, Louisville and Pittsburgh also in contention.
“The consistency on the field has impressed me,” Carter said. “You are seeing a consistent effort level, and the defense is running to the ball. Also, the coaches are really consistent and bringing a lot of energy. I see a lot of young players playing well.”
While there are still a handful of targets in the class of 2017 still out there for Miami, it’s the loaded Class of 2018's skill players that many Hurricanes fans are keeping a close eye on.
One of those is ESPN Jr. 300 defensive back and former Miami verbal commit Al Blades Jr. The 6-foot, 168-pound Miami legacy loves the energy the players are playing with early on.
“They are definitely playing with a lot of speed, and the coaches just let their guys play and that should be really attractive to players in South Florida,” Blades Jr. said.
Blades Jr.'s teammate and fellow ESPN Jr. 300 cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. echoed his good friend's sentiments.
“I like that the coaches have the defense playing aggressive," Samuel Jr. said. "They have brought some of the swag back.”
While Miami has set the foundation and laid out a vision for the future under Richt, Saturday's home date with Florida State (8 p.m. ET, ABC) will present an opportunity on an entirely different level.
The Hurricanes have lost six straight games in the series. Miami's last win came in 2009, Bobby Bowden’s last season as head coach in Tallahassee. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher's undefeated record in those six games has played a role on the recruiting trail in recent years.
Richt and his staff have the chance to make a huge statement on Saturday, but is an improved product on the field just as important as getting a much needed rivalry win? The answers vary.
“With me, it’s the product on the field more than winning the game," Carter said. "It’s not a regular game, it’s an intense rivalry game, so you would like to see the team play the right way, and win the right way.”
Bandy sees it differently.
“I think if Miami won the game, a lot of kids would want to come to Miami, and make official visits knowing we are getting back to the top,” Bandy said.
Blades Jr. is agrees with Bandy.
“For me, I would like to see Miami win so that the rivalry can be back, and add more spice to the next few years," he said. "I do care more about where Miami is going vs. winning the game though. I want to see a great game and UM come out on top.”
“It’s both," Samuel Jr. added. "The way Miami plays [Saturday] would say a lot, but if they win it shows that Mark Richt has changed the whole culture and has already changed things for the better.”
