Miami Hurricanes Recruiting: Shaquille Quarterman Talks Junior Day And More
The Miami Hurricanes’ 2016 recruiting class is off to a blazing fast start and is currently ranked as the top class in the country. A major piece of this 2016 class is linebacker commit, Shaquille Quarterman. Quarterman is rated as the #1 inside linebacker in the country by 247sports and the #53 overall player in the country. The 6’1-230 prospect from Oakleaf high school in Central Florida already has offers from nearly 20 schools, including Clemson, Auburn, Florida and Ohio State. I spoke with Shaquille Quarterman after his visit to Miami’s annual Junior Day event.
First, Shaquille discussed his strengths as a linebacker.
“My play recognition and picking up blocking schemes, I do that very well. Coming downhill and attacking the line. I use my hands very well too.”
Then, he spoke on what he needs to work on over the next year before he gets to college.
“I need to continue to work on my technique a little more. At the next level, bending is a really important part of block destruction. I want to improve my hand placement as well as just being more precise in my movements.”
Junior Day
Shaquille Quarterman was one of many juniors on campus this Sunday for Junior Day. All 7 of Miami’s 2016 commits were there and the Canes ended up adding 4 more 2016 commits on Sunday and 1 on Monday as a result of the event. I asked Shaquille for his take on the visit.
“I had an amazing time. Meeting up with possibly all of my future teammates and things like that. It was just a great experience.”
Quarterman spent a lot of time with fellow 2016 Miami linebacker commits, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud. Both Pinckney and McCloud are also ranked among the top 15 linebackers in the country for 2016. Quarterman spoke about meeting up with the two of them.
“I think those are two really great guys, really humble guys. They work hard all the time, not just on game days.”
Quarterman mentioned 2015 Miami commit Lawrence Cager, as well as 2016 Miami commits Sam Bruce and Jack Allison as other recruits that he met. Bruce is the ranked as the 3rd best receiver in the country and Allison is ranked as the 7th best QB in the country for 2016.
Shaquille Quarterman also got to spend some time with the Miami coaches.
“I got to talk with Miami’s defensive coordinator, Coach D. I also spoke with my position coach, Hurlie Brown, and I talked to Coach Al a little bit too. I love the coaches. I think they’re a great bunch of guys and really great men also. Even aside from the X’s and O’s, I think they’re just great men. They have principles and they really stick to those principles.”
Lastly, I spoke with Shaquille Quarterman about the impact his father has had on him. Quarterman’s dad is a big Miami fan and has become pretty well known on Miami Hurricane message boards.
“As a football player, he has helped me become who I am today. On the field and off the field, he teaches me things and points out the things that I may lack on. He shows me that it’s about doing all the little things. In my recruiting process, he tells me just to look for the right things in the college that I choose, because it’s more than just a decision about where I want to play football. It’s also about the lifestyle and the choices after football.”
Quarterman ended with this message to Miami fans about the class of 2016.
“We’re a very dangerous class. God willing, we will all be Canes and if that happens, they should look forward to another strong dynasty.”
Shaquille Quarterman said that Florida, Florida State, and Michigan are a few of the many colleges that are really coming after him, but stated emphatically that he is very solid in his commitment to Miami.
Quarterman finished his Junior season with 137 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. You can check out some of his Junior highlights here.