Mark Richt inefficient recruiting on OL with Miami follows pattern at UGA

Penny felt that Richt puts too much emphasis on the skill positions and not the offensive line. Miami has an exceptional group of wide receivers in the 2018 Class but will there be enough offensive linemen in the future?

Penny illustrated that with Miami’s 2019 Class and the Hurricanes pursuit of Five-star wide receiver Jadon Haselwood who is from Ellenwood, Georgia. The Dawn of the Dog expert felt that Richt doesn’t focus enough on the offensive line in recruiting.

"“Your (Miami’s) recruitment of Jadon Haselwood is the most Mark Richt of all recruitments…You’ve got a top 20 class, loaded with fast athletic receivers and linebackers but only two offensive linemen, one of whom shouldn’t count because he’s ranked 768th in the country… Rather than trying to improve that (the offensive line), he’s putting all his efforts into the nations top receiver in Haselwood…Haselwood is amazing and we want him back badly at Georgia. But if he goes to Miami, he won’t bring you a title on his own… And this was what Richt did at Georgia, he signed AJ Green, Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and so on and so on, but no offensive line….That’s the Mark Richt experience”"

The offensive lineman in question that Penny was talking about is guard Kingsley Eguakun. In addition to being the 768th ranked player in the Class of 2019, he is the 33rd ranked guard and 104th ranked player in Florida. While those final two rankings don’t sound bad it shows the change in mindset that Smart has fostered at Georgia.

Miami also has a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Michael Tarquin. He is the 283rd ranked overall player for 2019, the 28th ranked offensive tackle and 40th ranked player in Florida.

The Hurricanes definitely have to do a better job signing elite offensive linemen. If they don’t all those star skill positions players won’t the time or the holes to be able to thrive.