Miami Football: Canes' Recruits to Watch in High School All-America Games

By (Featured Columnist) on January 3, 2013

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Kevin Olsen / 247Sports
Kevin Olsen / 247Sports

The Miami Hurricane coaches have been on the recruiting scene a lot this past month and many of the future Hurricanes could be playing in both the US Army All-American Bowl and Under Armour Game this weekend.

There are several players in the games that have Miami listed as one of their favorite choices but have yet to give a verbal commit.

Here are a list of some of recruits that could actually choose Miami, as well as some that have already verbally committed.

Scout.com rankings and information located here.

Matthew Thomas, LB

Scout.com Rating: 5-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'4", 210 pounds

Reminds Me of: D.J. Williams

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Second-string

Note: There may not be a more sought-after player right now then linebacker Matthew Thomas. He has kept his options open, including his hometown of Miami, FL.

Thomas is a quick athlete with a tremendous upside, and if the Hurricanes are able to snag him, their linebacking unit may be the best in nation.

The Hurricanes could also turn him into a defensive end, a position he could start in as early as next season.

Denver Kirkland, OL

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'4", 333 pounds

Reminds Me of: Ereck Flowers

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Second-string

Note: Denver Kirkland is a teammate of linebacker Matthew Thomas and will most likely go wherever the other one goes.

Kirkland has great feet and hands for a 333-pound kid. He is a terrific run-blocker, but he will need to improve his pass-blocking skills at the next level.

Artie Burns, DB

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'0", 183 pounds

Reminds Me of: Brandon McGee

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Second-string

Note: Artie Burns has already verbally committed to Miami, and that is a huge plus for the Hurricanes as they are in need of defensive backs. He primarily played cornerback in high school, but he is a little raw at coverage.

What he lacks in technical skills he makes up for in speed and aggressiveness. Burns could end up a safety, and with Deon bush already in the backfield, the two could be the best pair in the ACC.

Jordan Cunningham, WR

Scout.com Rating: 3-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'1", 175 pounds

Reminds Me of: Robert Lockhart Jr.

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Redshirt

Note: There is not that many wide receivers coming to college next season that has the willingness to head into traffic like Jordan Cunningham. The fearless Ft. Lauderdale native is a tremendous athlete that is willing to catch anything, anywhere.

Not particularly fast, he does possess great quickness and hands. The chances of him landing on Miami's roster seem to be fairly good considering the Hurricanes and Trojans were his favorite schools earlier last year.

Stacy Coley, WR

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'1", 173 pounds

Reminds Me of: Herb Waters

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Third-string/possible redshirt

Note: Stacy Coley is much like Jordan Cunningham in which both players have identical physical traits. Both are 6'1" and weigh in at around 175 pounds.

Although both players run a 4.57/40, Coley is a little quicker. He has great feet and runs routes extremely well.

Yannick Ngakoue, LB

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'2", 230 pounds

Reminds Me of: Tyriq McCord

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Third-string (DE)

Note: Yannick Ngakoue is a complete athlete that can play outside linebacker or defensive end. He is very strong and quick with a non-stop motor.

If he does choose Miami as his school, it is most likely that he will be moved to the defensive end.

Kevin Olsen, QB

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'2", 195 pounds

Reminds Me of: Craig Erickson

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Second-string/possible redshirt

Note Kevin Olsen is the Hurricanes' "prize recruit" for the 2013 class. He doesn't have the strongest arm in the class, but he is accurate enough to make it a non-issue.

Ex-Hurricane Greg Olsen helped the Hurricanes snag little brother Olsen earlier last year. Olsen is coming off a foot injury that sidelined him for multiple weeks this past season.

It will be very interesting to see how well he does in the Under Armour Game and even more interesting if he can beat out Ryan Williams for second-string next season if the coaches will redshirt him.

Reuben Foster, LB

Scout.com Rating: 5-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'2", 242 pounds

Reminds Me of: Jonathan Vilma

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: First-string

Note: There won't be more eyes on any other player than linebacker Reuben Foster during the Under Armour All-American game. The 5-star recruit has caught national attention after he de-committed from Alabama in 2012.

He is a tremendous linebacker and probably the best athlete in the entire country. He reminds me of a Jadeveon Clowney-type player, in which he manhandles anyone in his path.

If the Hurricanes can somehow snag him, he will be a starter for Miami next season. Bank on it.

Tim Williams, DE

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Under Armour

Size: 6'4", 230 pounds

Reminds Me of: Anthony Chickillo

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: First- or second-string

Note: Everyone knows that the Hurricanes defensive line is a mess and Tim Williams could come in and snag a starting defensive end position in a heartbeat. Williams is a handful to block, and although he doesn't have great size, he makes up for it in quickness and great feet.

He tackles well, and once he hones his skill during spring ball, he could be just as good as Anthony Chickillo was in his true freshman season.

Mackensie Alexander, CB

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Army

Size: 5'11", 175 pounds

Reminds Me of: Tracy Howard

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: First- or second-string

Note: The Hurricanes lost their best cornerback this season with the graduation of Brandon McGee. To add fuel to the fire, Thomas Finnie has been suspended indefinitely for stealing laptops. That leaves it wide open at cornerback next year.

Enter Mackensie Alexander.

He may not have gotten the accolades that Tracy Howard did last season, but that doesn't mean he is just as good. Alexander plays tremendous coverage and has terrific closing speed. If he chooses the Hurricanes, he can certainly compete for a starting position next fall.

Derrick Green, RB

Scout.com Rating: 5-star

All-American Game: Army

Size: 6'0", 215 pounds

Reminds Me of: Edgerrin James

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Second-string

Note: Derrick Green would be a monster pick up for the Canes, especially after Alex Collins decided to jump ship late last year.

Green is a bruiser of a back and reminds me of Edgerrin James, but faster. He can go through opposing defenders or around them and is a handful to take down.

Green and Duke Johnson would be an unstoppable force in the backfield for the Hurricanes next season.

Keith Bryant, DT

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Army

Size: 6'2", 292 pounds

Reminds Me of: Marcus Forston

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: First-string

Note: One of the biggest recruits for the Canes' next season is Keith Bryant. Let's be honest, the Hurricanes' worst position is defensive tackle and landing someone of Bryant's caliber would be huge.

Bryant verbally committed to Miami late last season, but decided to not actually commit until NSD. He gets off the line so quickly and should be able to disrupt plays from the start. He's an excellent run-stuffer with enough explosiveness to compete for the starting position as a true freshman.

Alquadin Muhammad, DE

Scout.com Rating: 4-star

All-American Game: Army

Size: 6'3", 230 pounds

Reminds Me of: Olivier Vernon

Where He Lands on the 2013 Depth Chart: Second- or third-string

Note: Much like I have said in many of the slides, the Hurricanes defensive line was horrible last year. Snagging Alquadin Muhammad would help the defense almost immediately.

Muhammad is a terrific athlete with a non-stop motor, and once he adds a little bit of weight, he could be as good as Olivier Vernon was—pre-suspension.

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