I don't usually get into recruiting this early in the season, but I acknowledge this class is particularly important for the Diaz era. A lot of it will depend on what we do during the season, but if these guys are hauled in (big IF), this is what Miami classes should look like year in, year out:
OL
Issiah Walker - He's starting to get the hype now, but a kid with plus, plus feet and movement. Already 285 pounds as a HS junior and his test numbers look closer to an NFL prospect. You take those attributes and his natural ability to drop his *** and anchor on contact, and you let him control a Tackle position for a few years.
Jalen Rivers - I know some of the adults in his life, so I'm biased with insight on this one. Let's put it this way, this is an obviously huge kid who ran a 5.4 shuttle in 2018 and then a near 5.0 flat shuttle a year later AT 330 POUNDS! Been told he's a good, disciplined kid and obviously he has a lot of the attributes. More molding to occur.
Jonathan Denis - This guy is who inspired this thread because, on another thread, someone mentioned we might drop him if we land bigger guys. Maybe, but it'd be a mistake. You don't drop 6' 3" 280 pound HS juniors who run 4.8 shuttles.
DL
Chantz Williams - Again, have been biased on this one because I know adults at Oakleaf who vouch for these dudes' work ethic and mentality. That's more important than most give it weight, but it's really exciting when you combine that with eye-popping attributes. You have a kid who we might luck into for various reasons, and he has an 80 inch wingspan and ripped a sub 4.5 shuttle in 2018?
Elijah Roberts - Some people have underrated him because, in my opinion, they have no vision. If you view him as a DE, he's a nice prospect. If you view him as a 3T DT, he's a potential high level contributor, if not star. 4.81 shuttle at nearly 270 pounds as a HS junior.
Romello Height - Couldn't find any verified numbers, but watched him closely on film and his short area is a plus attribute. Can't project too much, but this is a guy who'd have the time to RS and maintain that change of direction.
Note, these are just the LINEMEN (and I didn't list all).
Modern college football (and the NFL, really) is won and lost in change of direction. Things have become so advanced and analytical that may be true at most levels now. I've long said we (football enthusiasts) are going to get to a point where we need to check for two main attributes: mental processing speed (football processing, not math or literature, ha) and shuttle. Miami Hurricane football should pop off the screen. Like when you watched Jerome Brown, Russell Maryland, Kevin Williams, Daryl Williams, Sapp and later the '00s crew. Some of those guys weren't just fast. They accelerated and changed direction. Happy to see us focusing on prospects who do the same. The stars/accolades issue (which anyone can acknowledge is correlated) will work itself out in their Senior years and as we begin to finally win some f'in football games.
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