Miami Hurricanes HC Mark Richt wants recruits to “sign the dadgum’ paperwork”
Speaking on WQAM’s Hurricane Hot Line with Miami Hurricanes announcers Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr., Head Coach Mark Richt said he wants his recruits to “Sign the dadgum thing and get it rolling!”.
Ten to 13 recruits are expected to sign early during the newly instituted December 20-22 signing period. Richt wants all 21 of the Miami Hurricanes verbal commits to “Sign the dadgum thing and get it rolling.
If they can get the 10 to 13 players in the early signing period it would be a huge coup for Richt and his staff. Richt expects 10 to 11 players to sign early, while various reports having it be closer to 12 to 13.
Many of those players are likely to enroll for the winter semester in January. The expected early enrollees form a nice combination of positions, size and speed and three to five-star players.
The Miami Hurricanes recruiting class is ranked between first and fourth depending on the recruiting service used. 247Sports has Miami third in their most recent composite rankings.
CanesInsight’s Peter Ariz through the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson expects around a dozen prospects to sign during the early period. Jackson said:
"“Defensive backs Gilbert Frierson and D.J. Ivey; tight ends Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory; running back Lorenzo Lingard, fullback Realus George; receivers Mark Pope and Daquris Wiggins; offensive linemen Delone Scaife and John Campbell; and linebacker/defensive end Gregory Rousseau.”"
Lingard is a five-star back who can push returning starter Travis Homer for playing time. Jordan, Pope, Mallory, and Frierson are all considered elite prospects, are four-star prospects.
Miami Hurricanes commit Josh Jobe is also planning on signing early per Jackson through CaneSport. Jobe is no longer a guarantee to sign with Miami. He plans on taking his official visit with Alabama before the official December signing date. He does not plan on visiting Miami before then.
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Miami should be able to withstand losing Jobe if he does flip to the Crimson Tide. The Hurricanes bring in a deep and talented group of defensive backs in the Storm ’18 Class.
They are also likely to return their entire secondary except for Dee Delaney. Cornerback Michael Jackson is said to be flirting with the idea of leaving a year early. Jaquan Johnson announced this week he will return.
The Miami Hurricanes lose more on offense. Christopher Herndon IV, Braxton Berrios, and Mark Walton are headed to the NFL from the skill positions on offense. K.C. McDermott and Trevor Darling are departing Seniors on the offensive line.
Defensively in addition to potentially losing Jackson, defensive tackles R.J. McIntosh and Kendrick Norton could leave early. Miami also loses Senior defensive ends Chad Thomas and Trent Harris, plus defensive tackle Andrew Moten. Everyone else in the front seven should be back.
As Richt and his staff continue to build depth on the Miami Hurricanes roster, losing players to the NFL or injury they should be able to absorb those losses better. Richt had said this year they had the playmakers to compete at the highest level, but not the depth.
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It’s amazing that Miami finished 10-2 with all the losses. Walton missed the final eight games of the season, Sophomore wide receiver Ahmmon Richards was never healthy and Herndon was lost for the season in the final regular season game against Pittsburgh.