UF Recruiting Roundup, 9/9

The Gators certainly suffered a bit of a setback for the Gators on the recruiting trail, with a 21-16 loss to the 'Canes on Saturday. And this is why:

– According to the Miami Herald, more than 100 recruits, and over 350 high school coaches attended the Florida-Miami game on Saturday. The UM coaching staff certainly put a lot on the line, in terms of this being a statement game. It paid off in spades. And a lot of big-time prospects were there to witness the win for the 'Canes.

– Among the major names in attendance who have not given a college pledge: St. Thomas Aquinas defensive lineman Anthony Moten (a former Florida commitment) and wide receiver Travis Rudolph (who at one time was believed to have Florida at the top of his list of schools.) If the Gators hoped to make an impression on both of those guys, they probably fell a bit flat.

– The outcome of the contest might have a bigger impact among the junior class, for whom there were a bunch of highly-regarded uncommited prospects: A pair of defenders from Trinity Christian in Jacksonville – LB Jeff Holland and DB Kevin Toliver – perhaps the top two prospects in the state for 2015. Coconut Creek Monarch DB Shawn Burgess-Becker, Miramar CB Tyrek Cole, Miami Killian DB Jaquan Johnson and a pair of athletes out of the Westminster Academy (RB Tim Irvin and TE Devonaire Clarington.)

– I wrote last week that the outcome of Saturday's game would have little outcome on the decisions of prospects, whether they were there in person or watching on TV. And I stand by that. For Miami, the benefit is this. They've been down for a couple of years now, and in the grand scheme of things, it's been several years since they have been a factor on the national scene in college football. The win against Florida doesn't bring them all the way back, but it helps. And the victory certainly doesn't hurt as a little selling point for Al Golden and his staff on the recruiting trail as well.

– As expected, things aren't quite settled with Florida WR commit Ermon Lane just yet. Reports have the top-rated athlete out of Homestead planning to make an official visit to Miami before National Signing Day. He will likely make a few official visit before making things official. But in any case, Lane tried to soothe the fears of Florida fans following the post-game developments.

Gator Nation To The Death Of Me !! 🐊🐊
— Support #⃣5⃣Jwalk (@_MoneyLane) September 9, 2013

We'll see if he holds to this train of thought or not over the coming months.

– Jacksonville Providence offensive lineman David Sharpe had some interesting comments to make after taking an unofficial visit to Athens for the Georgia-South Carolina game according to 247Sports ($). He's close to making a decision, but he doesn't know when it will happen. No leader, according to Sharpe.

“No team is out front right now,” Sharpe told Rusty Mansell. "I am just not really sure right now.”

I'm of the belief that Clemson has made a big move here. I wouldn't rule Georgia out, either. Dad is in their corner, and could wind up as a sort of compromise pick. I still think Florida is in the driver's seat, but that lead has really shrunk, if it's not gone outright. Will Muschamp and Tim Davis need to get Sharpe back on campus in two weeks for Tennessee, then put together an impressive showing to get the good vibes back. In any case, Sharpe has certainly become the most critical recruit remaining on the board for the Class of 2014.

– Finally, Big County Preps has a report on how the Tampa area will continue to be a hot spot for Florida on the recruiting trail. A trio of 2015 prospects, QB James Pensyl (6-5, 210, Land O'Lakes), RB T.J. Simmons (6-0, 190, Lakeland Christian) and LB Jaye Miner (6-3, 195, Wiregrass Ranch) are all off to a hot start for this season. Pennsyl is averaging nearly 300 yards a game passing, while Simmons is putting up over 200 yards per game on the ground and Miner has recorded nearly 40 tackles through two contests. All three players are very much on the radar for the Gators in looking ahead to next year.

Al Golden: Friend ... or foe?

First off, let me say I have a lot of respect for the type of coach and CEO Al Golden is. He revived a moribund program at Temple to phenomenal results. So much so, that you could his tenure in Philadelphia likely spurred two head coaching promotions (himself and Steve Addazio) into the ranks of the ACC.

And, hey ... if Andrew Dice Clay is a fan of your work, what's not to like?

However, I've found his recruiting methods quite curious at Miami. SB Nation team site State Of The U took an interesting look at Golden's first full recruiting class following their first year on campus. The results of that 33-man recruiting class, as many pundits projected in February of 2012, have been predictably mixed.

Golden assembled a group that was headlined by a few South Florida stars (DB Deon Bush, DL Jelani Hamilton, DB Tracy Howard and RB Duke Johnson) along with one from Georgia (Raphael Kirby). Golden's staff also showed some savvy scouting by nabbing several other diamonds in the rough from around the state (notably OL Ereck Flowers, OL Danny Isidora, DB Rayshawn Jenkins and WR Herb Waters).

But then, the Jekell and Hyde nature of Miami's recruiting under Golden rears its ugly head. Already, nine members of the 33-man recruiting class have left the program. In just a year. That's more than a quarter of the guys they signed in February of 2012, gone within 18 months. And there appear to be a handful of other players (at least five, by my count) who probably aren't too far from hitting the door as well.

So, here's my question. What's the future of Miami going to be like if Golden is going to continue bringing in classes like this? If he takes the Nick Saban approach, and signs 30 guys every year, I'd say Miami is probably in good hands, personnel-wise (even if they probably could use a few tweaks on the coaching staff). However, if Miami's largely disappointing showing in the Class of 2013 is any indication (just 19 signees, only 16 of which made it to campus), then Hurricanes fans are going to be in for a roller coaster ride during the tenure of Al Golden.

For those who will counter with the Nevin Shaprio stuff ... yes , I get that Miami has the pall of NCAA sanctions hanging over their heads. Surely, that is not helping matters on the recruiting trail any, I get that. But with the feast-or-famine duality of Al Golden's recruiting methods, I still think the jury is out on whether or not he will be able to really turn the Miami program around. Regardless of what the NCAA decides on the future fate of the 'Canes.

8/24 UPDATE: Not even 48 hours after I posted this, the announcement that WR Jontavious Carter is transferring was made public by the SID. That's now 10 players out of 33 (nearly one-third of the class) who are not a part of the roster just over 18 months after signing with Miami. And, as I wrote on Thursday, there are still a few other guys who very likely will not be a part of this program by the time year three begins next fall. Here's a list of the players, and the reasons they are no longer a part of the 'Canes, listed below:

DT Jacoby Briscoe (transfer)
WR Jontavious Carter (transfer)
DB Vernon Davis (transfer)
RB Danny Dillard (transfer)
DT Dequan Ivery (transfer)
WR Angelo Jean-Louis (failed to qualify)
WR Robert Lockhart (transfer)
DE Gabriel Terry (dismissed from team in April)
QB David Thompson (baseball)
LB Josh Witt (concussions)