/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6702947/20120922_kdl_al3_139.0.jpg)
National Signing Day is just a few weeks away, and recruiting season is starting to hit a fever pitch. Guys are getting their televised announcement times, others are taking their final visits before making their final choices. It's gearing up to be a very hectic timeline, with many top recruits still undecided.
Al Golden and his Miami staff are getting set for the biggest recruiting weekend of the season this week, with a big list of current commits and high priority targets scheduled to be on campus. The weather looks to be favorable, and the guys that are committed that will be there are getting ready to recruit for Miami as hard as they can. So who exactly is coming? I'll break down the list for you by separating the current commits and the guys they'll be attempting to reel in.
First up, the guys that have already chosen:
Ray Lewis III | Ray the Younger is being recruited as an athlete, although most see him as a heavy RB lean with a chance of DB. It's very doubtful the his father will accompany him on the trip, although stranger things have happened (cough...Manti...cough). |
Alex Gall | Strictly an offensive lineman, Gall has been extremely vocal about wanting to recruit others as much as possible. He has routinely asked Golden for other guy's numbers so that he can get in touch with them. Him being on campus this weekend will be big. |
Standish Dobard | Seemingly everyone's favorite recruit that's already committed, Standish surprised everyone with his choice and has stuck to it. A tight end coming out of Louisiana, he is all Miami, all the time, and will be directly in the ear of the guys that are visiting Miami this weekend that aren't yet committed. |
Jamal Carter | Jamal is a safety recruit that is in the vein of guys that just love to go out and hit people. He's a gifted athlete that still needs refining, but he will be a great asset to the defense for sure. |
Artie Burns | Artie is a safety/CB hybrid that was one of the first big gets for Golden. He will instantly impact the defense and will fight for a starting job at whichever position he is put into. People are fairly split as to which position that will end up being. He has been rumored to be wavering in his commitment, but is solid to UM and will be a big help in recruiting others. |
Kevin Olsen | The QB of the future and little brother of former Cane TE Greg Olsen, Kevin was a huge need in this class and Golden landed him early. His highlights are a bit thin after this year's foot injury, but with a year of redshirting and learning under Fisch and Morris, Olsen will look to be the lead QB on the depth chart going into 2014. |
Of note: 4 guys that have already enrolled and are already on campus that will definitely help this weekend are Hunter Knighton, Sonny Odogwu, Beau Sandland, and Alex Figueroa
As far as the recruits that will be on campus who have not yet committed (this list will be updated if anything happens between now and tomorrow):
Alex Collins | Easily one of the highest priority targets left for Miami, aside from Matthew Thomas. Collins is a big, fast, powerful running back that would be a perfect compliment to Duke Johnson. FSU, UF, and Arkansas are all rumored to be in it along with Miami. He said recently that he will be looking to see if he can imagine himself at Miami for 4 years this weekend, and if he comes away with the feeling that he can, that coupled with turnover at FSU, crowded UF backfield, and what the hell is Arkansas, should put Miami in good shape. |
Denver Kirkland | Kirkland is a very high value offensive lineman,and is believe to be a package deal with LB Matthew Thomas. Since Thomas is not making the trip to Miami this weekend, look for Kirkland to be one of the coach's focal points. Offensive line will be a position of need after this year, and Kirkland by himself is a fantastic prospect. |
Jaynard Bostwick | Bostwick is a bit of an interesting case. He has long been rumored to be a heavy Miami lean, but questions about his grades have thrown his recruitment into a bit of a murky mess. It seems to be about 50/50 as to whether or not that high priority defensive lineman will qualify. Miami will be on him hard this weekend, and if he gets the grades he needs, look for him to be in orange and green come fall. |
Keith Bryant | Ah, Keith Bryant. Almost none have played the recruiting game quite like he has so far. A very active twitter user, he has effectively trolled every fan base that seems to think they will get him. He has long been looked at as either a Cane or a Nole, although lately South Carolina and Tennessee have seemingly crept in. His actual visit date has been shuffled around as of late, but he is on this list because according to his tweets, he will be here this weekend. His talents on the defensive line are a must have, and Miami will be in full court press mode for him this weekend. |
Ufomba Kamalu | An out of nowhere visitor this weekend, Kamalu is a Rivals-ranked 2 star JUCO defensive end. Listed at around 6'6" and 270 lbs, his highlight tape (which can be found here) shows him as a fairly effective defensive lineman. His size would be a huge plus on the line, as he would likely add a bit of weight and line up towards the middle of the line. |
Other visitors may pop up, and if they do, they will be added. One name that is not on this list but has been a high priority for a while is linebacker Jermain Grace. According to sources, he will be visiting Louisville this weekend and then making his final choice next Tuesday between Miami, Louisville, and Tennessee. Grace has been a heavy Miami lean for a while now, and there is no real reason to expect anything else.
Any questions about these guys or other recruits? Leave them in the comments below!