Miami left in lurch by QB's late scramble
By CRAIG HANDEL
chandel@news-press.com
Published by news-press.com on January 29, 2005
Less a week from National Signing Day, the University of Miami football team doesn't have a firm commitment from a quarterback.
There also is a dearth of skilled-position players.
Still, Miami's 2005 recruiting class, heading into Wednesday's signing day, continues to be highly rated.
When Oceanside (Calif.) High quarterback Derek Shaw de-committed from Miami recently, he left the Hurricanes in a lurch. Miami coaches now are focusing on Carlton Hill, who visited Miami last weekend. After the visit, he said the Hurricanes and South Florida are neck-and-neck.
"Hill is touch-and-go,'' CaneSports managing editor Matt Shodell said. "It seems they're trying to go after a more multi-dimensional quarterback. He's a tremendous athlete. He can throw like (Ken) Dorsey and scramble real well. He can cause problems for a defense.''
Miami traditionally has done best with quarterbacks who are throwers, not runners, but the Hurricanes now are in a bind after Shaw's decision. After verbally committing to Miami in the fall, Shaw called California players and tried to convince them to follow him.
Reality hit, though, after Shaw played in the Florida-California High School All-Star Game in Miami. He realized how far he was from home. He then wrote Hurricanes coach Larry Coker and told him of his feelings.
"They stopped recruiting a lot of quarterbacks. Now, three weeks before (the signing date), he de-commits,'' Shodell said. "A lot of quarterbacks committed elsewhere. If coaches don't feel Hill is coming, they're going to have to pull something out of their hat, I don't know what. I can't see them going with just two scholarship quarterbacks.''
Miami's two quarterbacks on scholarship going into spring practice are redshirt sophomore Kyle Wright and redshirt freshman Kirby Freeman. Both were bothered by injuries last season.
The Hurricanes received a verbal commitment this week from their lone wide receiver to this point, Lavar Lobdell of Syracuse, N.Y. They don't have a tailback committed and may not sign one if Pahokee's Antone Smith doesn't come. Smith, considered one of the nation's top backs, visited Miami last weekend. A family member said he'll be visiting Florida State this weekend.
"Antone is very important, one of the guys still remaining who's a high priority,'' Shodell said. "But it's not the end of the world if he doesn't come. They've still got some good running backs.''
Miami's other more-recent commitments are offensive lineman Matt Pipho of Iowa and defensive lineman Luqman Abdallah of New Jersey.
Recruiting services have the Hurricanes ranked around the top 10. They have commitments from four of the top 100 players, according to Rivals.com, led by offensive lineman Reginald Youngblood of Houston.
Miami has focused much of its recruiting on linebackers and offensive linemen.
The Hurricanes have about 20 scholarships to give after juniors Frank Gore, a tailback, and Roscoe Parrish, a wide receiver, left for the NFL, and cornerback Travarous Bain and tight end Brandon Sebald transferred to Hampton and Hofstra, respectively.
Miami's verbal commitments
• Luqman Abdallah, DL, Princeton, N.J., 6-4, 310
• Spencer Adkins, LB, Naples, 6-4, 210
• Dajleon Farr, TE, Galena Park, Texas, 6-6, 235
• Courtney Harris, DE, Jupiter, 6-4, 230
• Eric Houston, LB, Miami Coral Reef, 6-2, 220
• Bruce Johnson, DB, Live Oak, 6-0, 170
• Lavar Lobdell, WR, Syracuse, N.Y., 6-3, 195
• Jerrell Mabry, RB, Columbus, Ga., 6-0, 255
• Randy Phillips, DB, Belle Glade Glades Central, 6-0, 181
• Matt Pipho, LB, La Porte City, Iowa, 6-6, 265
• Daryl Sharpton, LB, Coral Gables, 6-0, 210
• Dmitri Stewart, LB, Oakland Park, 6-3, 199
• A.J. Trump, OL, Clearwater Catholic, 6-4, 285
• Reginald Youngblood, OL, Houston, 6-5, 280
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