Miami Football Recruiting: Updates on 2013 Commits and Targets

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami football program may not be what it once was, but that doesn't meant "The U" can't get back on track.

Head coach Al Golden is a good recruiter, and Miami is still one of the premier college football programs in the country. The Hurricanes have produced some great football teams and individual players throughout the years, so Miami is undoubtedly a major draw for elite recruits.

Things can turn around for Miami, and that all starts with recruiting.

If you're a fan of Miami football or even just college football recruiting in general, consider this to be your "one-stop shop" for Miami recruiting.

You'll find all the news, analysis and updates on commitments and targets that you'll ever need right here.

Note: All 2012 stats via 247Sports unless otherwise noted.

Latest News

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Update: DE Alquadin Muhammad commits to Miami during the Army All-American Bowl game on 1/5/13

Update: Miami 4-star quarterback commitment Kevin Olsen was one of six quarterbacks to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-America game. Olsen showed great potential, despite completing only 5-of-15 passes for 22 yards. --End of Update 1/4/13

Update: Miami is in the running for big-time 5-star linebacker recruit Matthew Thomas. According to a video interview with Nick Krueger of Rivals.com, Thomas' hometown Hurricanes are "in good shape." 

Thomas stated that he stays in contact with Miami a lot, which is a great thing to hear if you're a Hurricanes fan.

Landing Thomas' commitment would be a signature recruiting win for Golden and his staff, and it would go a long way towards building positive momentum this offseason. Miami is in the top two for Thomas along with Florida State, according to his interest list on 247Sports.

--End of Update 1/1/13.

Quarterbacks

Kevin Olson Via 247Sports

Targets:

Already Committed:

Kevin Olsen- 4-star pro-style QB, 6'3", 195 lb. (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 448 YD, 5 TD (via maxpreps.com)

All-Star Game: Under Armour 1/4 5pm ET

 

Analysis: 

Olsen is a very important recruiting pickup for the Hurricanes, and he could end being one of the marquee recruits for their class. Miami doesn't have an immediate need at quarterback, so it can afford to give Olsen a redshirt right away. He has good height, but he'll need to bulk up a bit in order to truly compete at the college level.

Overall though, Miami has to feel pretty good about landing Olsen's commitment.

Running Backs

Ray Lewis III Via 247Sports

Targets:

Alex Collins- 5-star all-purpose back, 5'11'', 204 lb. 4.45 40 (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 1,400 YD

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Florida, Florida State, Arkansas, Wisconsin

Derrick Green- 5-star RB, 6'0'', 220 lbs., 4.4 40 (Rivals)

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5 1 p.m. ET

Biggest competition for commitment: Auburn, Tennessee, Florida State Oregon, Michigan

Already Committed:

Ray Lewis III- 3-star RB, 5'9", 175 lb. (247Sports)

1,898 YD, 20 TD, 31 REC, 676 REC YD, 4 REC TD (via maxpreps.com)

Analysis:

Duke Johnson is only a freshman so Miami doesn't have to worry much about finding a marquee running back through the 2013 class. It never hurts to have two star running backs though, so Alex Collins continues to be a main recruiting target for Miami. 

Ray Lewis III is also an interesting recruit who will be a versatile player for the Hurricanes on offense.

Miami has to be feeling good about the next few years at the running back position, especially if it can land Collins.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Beau Sandland Via 247Sports

Targets:

Stacy Coley- 4-star WR, 6'1'', 175 lb. 4.50 40 (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour 1/4 5pm ET

Competition for Commitment: Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Florida State

Jordan Cunningham- 4-star WR, 6'3'', 175 lb. 4.50 40 (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour 1/4 5pm ET

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Stanford, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Florida State

 

Already Committed:

Beau Sandland- (Signed) 4-star TE, 6'6", 260 lb. (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 24 REC, 267 YD, 3 TD

Standish Dobard- 3-star TE, 6'4", 241 lb. 4.85 40 (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 45 REC, 726 YD, 9 TD

Jeremy Kerr- 2-star TE, 6'5.5", 266 lb. (247Sports)

Analysis:

Bringing in a few wide receiver recruits is important for Miami, so both Coley and Cunningham are big targets for the Hurricanes. Miami is in the top two for Cunningham and top five for Coley, both according to 247Sports.

As far as tight ends are concerned, Beau Sandland has the potential to be a star. He has great size and will be a good pass-catching tight end as well. He's ranked as the No. 1 JUCO tight end according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, so getting his signature was big for Miami.

Offensive Line

Alex Gall Via 247Sports

Targets:

Denver Kirkland- 4-star OT, 6'4'', 330 lb. (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Florida State, South Florida

Already Committed:

Alex Gall- 3-star OT, 6'5", 295 lb. (247Sports)

Sunny Odogwu- 3-star OT, 6'8", 307 lb. (247Sports)

Analysis:

There's not a huge need on the offensive line right now for Miami, so the Hurricanes can feel content if they can keep both Gall and Odogwu's commitments. Both have good size and have the potential to be productive linemen at the college level.

That said, Miami is in the top two (247Sports) for Kirkland, who is a good offensive tackle recruit. Landing his commitment would make this group very impressive.

Defensive Line

Hunter Knighton Via 247Sports

Targets:

Tim Williams: 4-star WDE, 6'3'', 225 pounds (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour, January 4, 5 p.m. ET

Biggest Competition For Commitment: Florida State, USC, Alabama

Jay-nard Bostwick: 4-star SDE, 6'4'', 280 lb. (247Sports)

Biggest Competition For Commitment: Alabama, Florida, Michigan

Alquadin Muhammad- 4-star SDE, 6'4'', 230 lb. 4.65 40 (247Sports)

Update: DE Alquadin Muhammad commits to Miami during the Army All-American Bowl game on 1/5/13

Keith Bryant- 4-star DT, 6'1.5'', 302 lbs. 5.18 40 (247Sports)

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5 1pm ET

Biggest Competition for Commitment: South Carolina, Florida State, Oklahoma

Marcus Hardison- 4-star SDE, 6'4'', 285 lb. (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Arizona State, Kansas State, West Virginia

 

 

Already Committed:

Hunter Knighton- 3-star DT, 6'6", 265 lb. (247Sports)

Alex Figueroa- 3-star weak-side DE, 6'4", 215 lb. (247Sports)

 

Analysis:

Miami is in the running with a lot of elite defensive line recruits, so this group could end up being very good when all is said and done. Tim Williams is the No. 3 weak-side defensive end recruit overall according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and he has Miami listed as his favorite (247Sports). 

He'd be a stellar addition to this 2013 class, and the Hurricanes have a great chance to get his commitment. Both Knighton and Figueroa are good commitments for the Hurricanes, but there's no doubting the fact that Williams is the recruit Miami needs to land.

Linebackers

Targets:

Matthew Thomas- 5-star OLB, 6'3.5'', 210 pounds (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour, January 4, 5 p.m. ET

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Florida State, USC, Georgia, Alabama

Quinton Powell- 4-star OLB, 6'2'', 194 pounds, 4.50 40 (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Florida, USC, Oregon, South Carolina

Yannick Ngakoue- 4-star ILB, 6'3'', 240 lb. (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour 1/4 5pm ET

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Florida State, Maryland, South Carolina

Jermaine Grace- 4-star OLB, 6'1'', 195 lb. (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Tennessee, Louisville, Florida State, Texas A&M

Already Committed:

Devante Bond - 3-star OLB, 6'3", 230 lb. (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 77 TCK, 27 TFL, 17 SCK, 3 FF

 

Analysis:

This could end up being an elite group of linebackers if Miami ends up landing a few of these recruits. Thomas is obviously the main recruit on the board, and he'd be a massive recruiting win for Miami.

That said, Powell, Ngakoue and Grace are good players as well, so Miami would do well if it can get a commitment from any of those three.

Bond is the one linebacker commitment Miami has so far, but I don't expect him to be the lone linebacker when all is said and done.

Defensive Backs

Artie Burns Via 247Sports

Targets:

Michael Paker- 4-star ATH/S, 6'4'', 195 lb. 4.60 40 (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Arizona State

 

Already Committed:

Artie Burns- 4-star CB, 6'1", 180 lb. (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour 1/4 5pm ET

Jamal Carter- 4-star S, 6'2", 193 lb. (247Sports)

 

Analysis:

Miami will be adding two very good depth players right away in Burns and Carter, and in time, both could end up being important players in the Hurricanes' secondary. Burns has good size for a corner, and he's the No. 10 cornerback recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Parker is an interesting target because he's a big, athletic safety recruit. Miami is in his top two, according to 247Sports.

Special Teams

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Targets:

Sam Irwin-Hill- N/R P, 6'3'', 210 lb. (247Sports)

Competition for Commitment: Arkansas, Louisiana Tech, Utah State

 

Already Committed: None

Analysis:

Punter Dalton Botts is a senior so recruiting another punter will be important for Miami. Golden will want to get some depth at the position so that player can start preparing for the future.

Miami is in the top four (247Sports) for Irwin-Hill, who is a junior college recruit.