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The interplay between this class and the Portal

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DMoney said:
I won't sugarcoat the class. We are ranked about where we should be. It was a nightmare season followed by a transition, which hurts you twice as bad with the early signing period.

But as @Lance Roffers pointed out in his great series "College Football's Legs Race," this class is very athletic. The combine testing confirms that statement. What the class lacks is college-ready, instant impact guys.

That's where the Portal comes in. It was perfect timing- we needed age and we had room. The Portal provided the rest.

-Jason Blissett is 270-pound tailback that needs to add some DT weight. Jared Hunte is a high-flying basketball convert with an NFL body. Let them sit while Chigozie Nnoruka provides strength and experience at a grown-man position.

- Jahfari Harvey and Cam Williams have the length and twitch but weigh less than 240 lbs. Trevon Hill gives us an instant pass rusher while those two sit at the training table.

- Keontra Smith is an elite talent who would have been counted on to start right away. Bubba Bolden is another elite talent who is already in his twenties. Now, we don't have to rush Smith's development as he transitions from LB.

- We didn't sign a high school running back. Asa Martin provides a 215 lbs. physical runner to complement the track stars in the '18 class (CamRon, Lingard) and the '20 class (Don Chaney).

- Sam Brooks and Avery Huff are two of the most talented players in Florida. They have the production, speed and versatility. All they lack is weight. Although Shaq and Pickney didn't come from the Portal, their return gives Brooks and Huff time to grow into monsters.

- Peyton Matocha is a late bloomer who is transitioning from low-level, private school Texas football. Tate Martell takes some of the immediate pressure off him.

- Zion Nelson is already physical, long and explosive. The only drawback is that he weighs 240 pounds. Adam El-Gammal just finished his first year of football and needs to learn the game. Tommy Kennedy gives them both some time to grow.

- The WR room needed some age and maturity. Jeremiah Payton is a Clemson-level talent but he's still a teen. KJ Osborn is a driven worker who is striving for the NFL. He is exactly what the doctor ordered.

We signed some other really good pieces. Te'Cory Couch has everything you need at corner- long arms, quick feet, speed, ball skills and competitiveness. All he needs is weight. Christian Williams combines some of the best attributes of Michael Jackson and Sheldrick Redwine. I love how he makes plays in every phase of the game. Jalar Holley opened a lot of eyes as a senior, is young for his class and works hard. He could be the Kendrick Norton-type we've been looking for.

Offensively, Larry Hodges did everything at Jesuit. He lined up wide, blocked, returned kicks and ran the ball out of the backfield. He will fit like a glove in Enos's formation-heavy offense. Jakai Clark has been playing big-time Georgia football for years at an All-State level. His leadership will fit well at center once he gets in college shape. The punter, Louis Hedley, is already viral and will be a legend if he reclaims our place as Punter U.

All these guys have a chance. But the biggest reason for optimism is obvious. Six weeks ago, Jon Richt was our QB coach. Mark Richt was justifying a 30-year-old playbook. Thomas Brown was questioning whether eating shrimp turned men ***. We were headed to a slow death. Now we have new life.

Spring can't get here soon enough.
Click to expand...
Spot on as usual bud - this close shows the genius and passion of Manny Diaz. Still need to win on the field but the man gets it and will use every single tool out there (including our practices during bowl season).
 
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DMoney said:
I won't sugarcoat the class. We are ranked about where we should be. It was a nightmare season followed by a transition, which hurts you twice as bad with the early signing period.

But as @Lance Roffers pointed out in his great series "College Football's Legs Race," this class is very athletic. The combine testing confirms that statement. What the class lacks is college-ready, instant impact guys.

That's where the Portal comes in. It was perfect timing- we needed age and we had room. The Portal provided the rest.

-Jason Blissett is 270-pound tailback that needs to add some DT weight. Jared Hunte is a high-flying basketball convert with an NFL body. Let them sit while Chigozie Nnoruka provides strength and experience at a grown-man position.

- Jahfari Harvey and Cam Williams have the length and twitch but weigh less than 240 lbs. Trevon Hill gives us an instant pass rusher while those two sit at the training table.

- Keontra Smith is an elite talent who would have been counted on to start right away. Bubba Bolden is another elite talent who is already in his twenties. Now, we don't have to rush Smith's development as he transitions from LB.

- We didn't sign a high school running back. Asa Martin provides a 215 lbs. physical runner to complement the track stars in the '18 class (CamRon, Lingard) and the '20 class (Don Chaney).

- Sam Brooks and Avery Huff are two of the most talented players in Florida. They have the production, speed and versatility. All they lack is weight. Although Shaq and Pickney didn't come from the Portal, their return gives Brooks and Huff time to grow into monsters.

- Peyton Matocha is a late bloomer who is transitioning from low-level, private school Texas football. Tate Martell takes some of the immediate pressure off him.

- Zion Nelson is already physical, long and explosive. The only drawback is that he weighs 240 pounds. Adam El-Gammal just finished his first year of football and needs to learn the game. Tommy Kennedy gives them both some time to grow.

- The WR room needed some age and maturity. Jeremiah Payton is a Clemson-level talent but he's still a teen. KJ Osborn is a driven worker who is striving for the NFL. He is exactly what the doctor ordered.

We signed some other really good pieces. Te'Cory Couch has everything you need at corner- long arms, quick feet, speed, ball skills and competitiveness. All he needs is weight. Christian Williams combines some of the best attributes of Michael Jackson and Sheldrick Redwine. I love how he makes plays in every phase of the game. Jalar Holley opened a lot of eyes as a senior, is young for his class and works hard. He could be the Kendrick Norton-type we've been looking for.

Offensively, Larry Hodges did everything at Jesuit. He lined up wide, blocked, returned kicks and ran the ball out of the backfield. He will fit like a glove in Enos's formation-heavy offense. Jakai Clark has been playing big-time Georgia football for years at an All-State level. His leadership will fit well at center once he gets in college shape. The punter, Louis Hedley, is already viral and will be a legend if he reclaims our place as Punter U.

All these guys have a chance. But the biggest reason for optimism is obvious. Six weeks ago, Jon Richt was our QB coach. Mark Richt was justifying a 30-year-old playbook. Thomas Brown was questioning whether eating shrimp turned men ***. We were headed to a slow death. Now we have new life.

Spring can't get here soon enough.
Click to expand...

and if you were unclear as to whether he has the IQ of a box of rocks, well that pretty much gives you all you need to know.

great summary, D$. it's the optimistic view, but I think it's a realistic one.
 
DMoney said:
I won't sugarcoat the class. We are ranked about where we should be. It was a nightmare season followed by a transition, which hurts you twice as bad with the early signing period.

But as @Lance Roffers pointed out in his great series "College Football's Legs Race," this class is very athletic. The combine testing confirms that statement. What the class lacks is college-ready, instant impact guys.

That's where the Portal comes in. It was perfect timing- we needed age and we had room. The Portal provided the rest.

-Jason Blissett is 270-pound tailback that needs to add some DT weight. Jared Hunte is a high-flying basketball convert with an NFL body. Let them sit while Chigozie Nnoruka provides strength and experience at a grown-man position.

- Jahfari Harvey and Cam Williams have the length and twitch but weigh less than 240 lbs. Trevon Hill gives us an instant pass rusher while those two sit at the training table.

- Keontra Smith is an elite talent who would have been counted on to start right away. Bubba Bolden is another elite talent who is already in his twenties. Now, we don't have to rush Smith's development as he transitions from LB.

- We didn't sign a high school running back. Asa Martin provides a 215 lbs. physical runner to complement the track stars in the '18 class (CamRon, Lingard) and the '20 class (Don Chaney).

- Sam Brooks and Avery Huff are two of the most talented players in Florida. They have the production, speed and versatility. All they lack is weight. Although Shaq and Pickney didn't come from the Portal, their return gives Brooks and Huff time to grow into monsters.

- Peyton Matocha is a late bloomer who is transitioning from low-level, private school Texas football. Tate Martell takes some of the immediate pressure off him.

- Zion Nelson is already physical, long and explosive. The only drawback is that he weighs 240 pounds. Adam El-Gammal just finished his first year of football and needs to learn the game. Tommy Kennedy gives them both some time to grow.

- The WR room needed some age and maturity. Jeremiah Payton is a Clemson-level talent but he's still a teen. KJ Osborn is a driven worker who is striving for the NFL. He is exactly what the doctor ordered.

We signed some other really good pieces. Te'Cory Couch has everything you need at corner- long arms, quick feet, speed, ball skills and competitiveness. All he needs is weight. Christian Williams combines some of the best attributes of Michael Jackson and Sheldrick Redwine. I love how he makes plays in every phase of the game. Jalar Holley opened a lot of eyes as a senior, is young for his class and works hard. He could be the Kendrick Norton-type we've been looking for.

Offensively, Larry Hodges did everything at Jesuit. He lined up wide, blocked, returned kicks and ran the ball out of the backfield. He will fit like a glove in Enos's formation-heavy offense. Jakai Clark has been playing big-time Georgia football for years at an All-State level. His leadership will fit well at center once he gets in college shape. The punter, Louis Hedley, is already viral and will be a legend if he reclaims our place as Punter U.

All these guys have a chance. But the biggest reason for optimism is obvious. Six weeks ago, Jon Richt was our QB coach. Mark Richt was justifying a 30-year-old playbook. Thomas Brown was questioning whether eating shrimp turned men ***. We were headed to a slow death. Now we have new life.

Spring can't get here soon enough.
Click to expand...
Wow didnt know Thomas Brown was that fried.....that shrimp comment is the dumbest **** ever said by a coach including Alf Gorlden
 
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Tommy Kennedy worries me in that I hope he isn't being handed LT...Don't get me wrong, I agree that we took him, no brainer actually. But what if he just can't handle the speed and strength at this level? I hope he was brought in to compete.
 
orange&green84 said:
Amazingly, Nelson appears to already have gained a lot of weight.

Click to expand...


This is sweet music to the ears. Miami has done fine with OL recruiting but too many guard types have been pushed out to tackle (Scaife, Donaldson, for example.)

Both of those prospects are great, but not optimal to try be keeping weight down on guys who aren’t optimal tackle types.

They could also use a jump from Campbell, Hillery or Herbert.
 
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rsa coral gables said:
where is @Awsi Dooger to balance the OP?
Click to expand...

It's fairly easy in this instance. Mark Richt and Jim Mora did it for me today on the ESPN signing day coverage.

Athletic ability is great. The "Legs Race" threads are terrific, and good evidence that our classes indeed have more NFL numbers potential than the annual ratings suggest. That has been an ongoing theme of the OP and other administrators on this site.

However, from a standpoint of winning huge in contemporary college football, athletic ability is not close to enough. Unless you look the part it doesn't matter if you jump the part. I have made that point repeatedly. I was stunned when I saw Clemson run onto the field before that 2015 game. It immediately looked like an entirely different makeup of human being. One wide-bodied wide-shouldered ultra-strong player after another. Meanwhile it was difficult not to laugh at our most recent Senior Day last November, when all the sloppy offensive linemen ran out to meet Coach Mark Richt. And these were starters, for the most part.

Ohio State is the same. They looked massive compared to USC in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, and the result played out that way. Darnold had little chance because USC was pushed around physically. It was a huge topic on USC boards, where I have dual citizenship, so to speak.

Then Alabama is a slightly higher level than either Clemson or Ohio State, from a body type and strength standpoint. Alabama may have been blown out on the scoreboard but the line of scrimmage belonged to the Crimson Tide, especially in the first half. I am not going to ignore that.

There were several related anecdotes today from Richt and Mora. When discussing Clemson, Richt mirrored my experience from 2015. He said prior to the 2017 ACC Championship Game he was jolted when he saw Clemson take the field. He said it was a big strong team full of men. He said it looked like an SEC team. That comment in particular jumped out at me. Richt clearly distinguished the SEC and ACC in terms of overall physical makeup. He wasn't freed up to be so forthright while still Canes head coach. Today the honesty was front and center.

Jim Mora made multiple remarks today about the West Coast being left behind in terms of overall roster makeup especially in the trenches. The anecdote that stood out was when Mora described **** Vermeil attending a UCLA practice and telling him, "You've got a nice looking team out there." More relayed that UCLA finished 9th in the country that year.

However, not much later **** Vermeil watched Alabama practice. He immediately called Mora: "Remember when I said you had a good looking team? Just don't schedule Alabama. That team is full of men."

Mark Richt laughed at that. "**** Vermeil told you not to schedule Alabama? Well, when I was at Miami I did schedule Alabama."

Everyone on the panel laughed, as Richt expressed relief that he had scheduled a game that another head coach will have to deal with.
 
just glad to be off Richtbation....

Imagine how miserable this day woulda been if Diaz hadn't take over...
 
Feel we need 1 MORE PORTAL OL.

Either an interior guy or a Tackle. I'd love Braun but that will be uphill with UF.
I'm really not that confident in the guys behind Scaife at Tackle and Kennedy will be in for a big jump in talent ( though i think he is better than our depth guys day 1)
 
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skeeter said:
Tommy Kennedy worries me in that I hope he isn't being handed LT...Don't get me wrong, I agree that we took him, no brainer actually. But what if he just can't handle the speed and strength at this level? I hope he was brought in to compete.
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Kennedy needs to prove he can handle power. John Campbell will not be a pushover. Zalontae Hillary has some talent as well, although I like him as an interior guy.
 
gogeta4 said:
Feel we need 1 MORE PORTAL OL.

Either an interior guy or a Tackle. I'd love Braun but that will be uphill with UF.
I'm really not that confident in the guys behind Scaife at Tackle and Kennedy will be in for a big jump in talent ( though i think he is better than our depth guys day 1)
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No doubt...Maybe the Mizzou kid from Jeff Thomas high school will look to transfer. (Doesn't matter if he graduated bc of sanctions, eligible right away)
 
This is your typical Miami class over the past like 15 years. Its lower than usual, but its surely going to produce some good players on the All-Conference spectrum and will produce its fair share of professional football players. Yeah, its athletic.

But, just like all of the Miami classes Coker forward...its defined by who they missed. The class lacks the third grade reading level, blood thirsty heathen Bone Tomahawk cannibals from the Steppe of college football that are required to really win in college football in 2019 forward.

It is, what it is.

We've done a good job with the Portal...especially if these two EDGE players are fully on board...but the lack of umph in the go-home outside of finessing Christian Williams is troubling. I am not sure if Miami's staff is up for the task of what the 2020 class NEEDS to be.
 
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DMoney said:
Kennedy needs to prove he can handle power. John Campbell will not be a pushover. Zalontae Hillary has some talent as well, although I like him as an interior guy.
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You were saying Hillary could end up getting PT as a true frosh at OT this time last season...if I remember correctly. What happened to make you think he’s a guard now?
 
TrueFloridian said:
You were saying Hillary could end up getting PT as a true frosh at OT this time last season...if I remember correctly. What happened to make you think he’s a guard now?
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He got meaningful snaps as a blocking TE so they definitely want to get him on the field.

IMO, his body type plays better at guard. He doesn't have the length of other tackles so he has less margin for error. I think he's athletic and flexible enough to even play center. His biggest strength is his quickness to the second level.
 
Great take. The Portal has changed the landscape of recruiting. Used correctly it can divert a disastrous cycle( see 2019 UM). And Manny has been the Master of the Portal Universe. He has shown us that recruiting and the portal are now joined together, like yin and yang, or CFB version of 69. They may come in and get some of our 4/5 kids recruiting, but we can go and get Some of theirs via the portal. It’s a valuable adjunct to recruiting. Again great read thanks
 
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