Miami Football Recruiting: Meet the Hurricanes' 2012 Recruiting Class

The recruiting season is officially over. Even with the NCAA allegations, the Miami Hurricanes were able to round up 33 recruits.

The final tally, according to scout.com, is two 5-stars, six 4-stars, 22 3-stars and the rest of them at two-star.

Tracy Howard and Duke Johnson were the two lone 5-star recruits.

The Hurricanes got three players to sign on recruiting day that didn't verbally commit earlier: Howard, Jawand Blue and Dequan Ivery.

Here is a short breakdown of every recruit that has signed the letter of intent for the 2012 season.

Note: Information gathered from scout.com.

Randy "Duke" Johnson, RB

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 188

High School: Norland High School (Miami, FL)

Rating: 5

Note: Duke Johnson was the marquee pick-up for the Miami Hurricanes. He has tremendous acceleration and very good lateral movement.

Johnson will need to bulk up a little bit, as he is a little small for the next level.

Taylor Gadbois, OT

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 300

High School/Prep: Fork Union Military Academy (Fork Union, Va.)

Rating: 3

Note: Taylor Gadbois was actually a 2011 recruit for Miami, but enrolled at Fork Union prep school. He enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

David Thompson, QB

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 215

High School: West Minster Christian High School (Miami, Fla.)

Rating: 2

Note: David Thompson is actually better known for his baseball skills than football skills, leading his high school baseball team to state championship as just a freshman.

Football-wise, Thompson has a lively arm and is pretty accurate, but lacks size at the quarterback position.

Gray Crow, QB

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 220

High School: Countryside High School (Clearwater, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Gray Crow is your typical pocket-passing quarterback, but seems to be very mobile in the pocket.  He understands the pro-style offense already and will most likely be competing for a third-string spot if he is not red-shirted.

Crow enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

Jontavious Carter, WR

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 190

High School: Crisp County High School (Cordele, Ga.)

Rating: 3

Note: From a physical standpoint, Jontavious Carter seems like he would be the best receiver in the class. He has great size and speed and runs routes very well. The only flaws are that he is a little raw and was on a sub-par high school team.

Angelo Jean-Louis, WR

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 185

High School: Palm Beach Central High School (Wellington, Fla.)

Rating: 4

Note: Angelo Jean-Louis is one of Miami's best recruits this year, especially at the wide receiver position, considering the losses of Tommy Streeter, LaRon Byrd and Travis Benjamin.

Jean-Louis has very good speed and can play on the inside or outside. He reminds me a lot of Benjamin, as he has the skill to take it to the house anytime.

Raphael Kirby, OLB

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 218

High School: Stephenson High School (Stone Mountain, Ga.)

Rating: 4

Note: Raphael Kirby is personally my favorite 2012 recruit for Miami. If you want to know why, just watch the attached video.

Kirby runs all over the field and hits like a Mack truck. He has good size and is very quick to the ball. I can not wait to watch him and Denzel Perryman this upcoming season.

Kirby enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

Ereck Flowers, OT

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 300

High School: Miami Norland High School (MIami, Fla.)

Rating: 4

Note: For as tall as Ereck Flowers is, he moves very well. He is an agile offensive tackle, and once he gets in better shape, he should be able to become a full-time starter for the Canes.

His run-blocking is far superior compared to his pass-blocking ability (check video).

Flowers will instantly be competing for a back-up role to Seantrel Henderson and Malcolm Bunche.

He enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

Larry Hope, CB

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 160

High School: American Senior High School (Hialeah, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Larry Hope is a bit thin for a cornerback, but makes up for it with his speed and coverage skills.  Hope plays the ball very well and is not afraid to lay a hit when given the opportunity.

He will definitely need to bulk up, and with his six-foot frame, it shouldn't be a problem.

Preston Dewey, QB

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 196

High School: St. Andrew's High School (Austin, Tex.)

Rating: 3

Note: Preston Dewey is one of the Hurricanes recruits that didn't get enough stars behind his name. He has a very good arm and is deadly accurate. He moves well inside the pocket, and I truly believe he is a four-star player.

Dewey already enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

Jake O'Donnell, DE

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 235

High School: Central Bucks High School-East (Doylestown, Penn.)

Rating: 3

Note: I have yet to see any tape on Jake O'Donnell, but from what I have read, scouts have been impressed with his lateral movement on the defensive line. 

He is a very tall lineman that needs to gain some weight and should have no problem doing that once he gets to Miami.

Vernon Davis, CB

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 170

High School: Coral Reef Senior High School (Miami, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: What Vernon Davis lacks in height, he makes up for quickness and good tackling technique. There is no doubt he will be able to play solid against the run for the Hurricanes.

From his videos, he may be used this upcoming year as a kick/punt returner.

Dwayne Hoilett, DE

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 215

High School: Vero Beach High School (Vero Beach, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: After watching some highlights of  Dwayne Holett, he could very well be the surprise recruit of the bunch.

He is a very quick defensive lineman that extends his arms very well on the line. He seems very strong for his size, and once he adds on more bulk, he may be a force to be reckoned with.

Jelani Hamilton, DE

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 245

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)

Rating: 4

Note: Jelani Hamilton is another 4-star recruit that deserves that fifth star. He is an extremely talented defensive end with great footwork and lateral movement on the line.

I honestly believe that Hamilton with be on the field a lot for the Hurricanes this season.

D'Mauri Jones, WR

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 185

High School: Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Fla.)

Rating: 2

Note: D'Mauri Jones got ripped off when the stars were handed out by scouts across the country. There is no doubt in my mind that Jones is at least a 3-star, if not 4-star player.

Jones has excellent size, and once he adds on a few pounds, he may turn into a Tommy Streeter-type player. 

Josh Witt, OLB

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 210

High School: Cypress Bay High School (Weston, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Although a bit undersized, Josh Witt could very well pan out at the linebacker position for the Hurricanes. He has good speed and great quickness and is an extremely good tackler.

He, like many other Hurricane recruits, will need to bulk up some to play well at the college level.

Witt enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

Herbert Waters, WR

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 170

High School: Homestead Senior High School (Homestead, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Herb Waters was a quarterback and a wide receiver for Homestead High School, but Miami is more interested in him for a full-time receiver.

He has great hands and is a very quick player. He is a very athletic player that can play multiple positions.

Nate Dortch, CB

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 165

High School: South Fort Myers High School (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Nate Dortch is a very solid cornerback with excellent hands and quickness. He doesn't have terrific top speed, but makes up for it with his recovery speed.

Earl Moore, DT

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 280

High School: Hillsborough Senior High School (Tampa, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: I don't have much information on Earl Moore besides the fact that he is physically a freakish athlete. He is very mobile for his 280-pound frame.

From what I have read, he seems to be a little raw and needs to use his hands more against the offensive linemen.

Danny Dillard, RB

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 200

High School: Venice Senior High School (Venice, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Danny Dillard isn't going to blow by defenders with his speed, but he is not afraid to go through them. 

Dillard seems to be built more like a linebacker or safety than he is a running back, but had a very successful high school career in Venice.

Rayshawn Jenkins, S

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 190

High School: Admiral Farragut Academy (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Rayshawn Jenkins is a pure athlete, having played quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back in high school.

Miami wanted him as a safety, and he obliged. He has terrific quickness and a good frame to play safety at the next level.

Malcolm Lewis, WR

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 185

High School: Miramar High School (Miramar, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Malcolm Lewis could very well be Miami's next great playmaker. He has good acceleration and catches everything thrown his way.

What he lacks in size he makes up with strength, as he does not go down easily.

Lewis was also an outstanding punt returner for Miramar.

Gabriel Terry, OLB

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 210

High School: Palm Beach Central High School (Wellington, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Gabriel Terry is a speed rusher with a great motor and good speed for a defensive lineman. The only weakness I see is that he is a undersized for a defensive end, weighing only 210 pounds.

He definitely has a frame that he can put weight on, and once he does, he may be a surprise recruit.

Terry also played outside linebacker in high school.

Danny Isidora, OG

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 300

High School: Cypress Bay High School (Weston, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Danny Isidora at times last year looked like a man playing amongst boys, as he dominated defensive linemen all season long.

He is a very big kid that moves surprisingly well for his size.  

Ladarius Gunter, CB

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 200

Junior College: Fort Scott (Fort Scott, Kan.)

Rating: 2

Note: Ladarius Gunter is basically an unknown to me. He played his high school ball in Alabama before playing junior college in Kansas.

He has great size and speed for a cornerback, and with a little coaching, could be another surprise recruit.

Gunter enrolled at Miami on Jan. 16.

Deon Bush, S

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 185

High School: Christopher Columbus High School (Miami, Fla.)

Rating: 4

Note: When I watch Deon Bush's highlights, Ed Reed comes to mind. Bush is an extremely talented safety that is all over the field.

Bush is a very opportunistic safety, but it's what he does after the interceptions that makes him remind me of Reed.

He is a very shifty player with good acceleration and speed. He was a surprise recruit for Miami, and if he plays as well as he did in high school, he may be the best 2012 recruit the Hurricanes got.

Robert Lockhart, WR

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 180

High School/Prep: Fork Union Military Academy (Fork Union, Va.)

Rating: 3

Note: When watching videos on Robert Lockhart, it's hard to imagine scout.com only giving him three stars. Lockhart has good speed and great hands.

His biggest asset, though, is yards after the catch, as he is a playmaker, pure and simple.

Tyriq McCord, DE

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 223

High School: Jefferson Senior High School (Tampa, Fla.)

Rating: 4

Note: Tyriq McCord was an absolute terror in high school, as he dominated any blocker that was put up in front of him.

He is a very strong defensive lineman with a terrific motor. He is more of a pass-rusher right now, but once he puts more weight on his 6'3" frame, he will be a menace to opposing offensive linemen.

McCord will definitely be needed on the line, as Miami lost four defensive linemen last season.

Jacoby Briscoe, DT

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 310

High School: Carencro High School (Lafayette, La.)

Rating: 3

Note: Jacoby Briscoe reminds me a lot of what Marcus Forston was when he was with Miami—a surprisingly quick lineman for his size.

He primarily played defensive end in high school, but I believe he will be moved to the tackle position at Miami.

Antonio Crawford, WR

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 180

High School: Plant Senior High School (Tampa Bay, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Antonio Crawford was a verbal commit to Georgia Tech until he visited Al Golden and staff in Coral Gables.

Crawford recently changed his mind and will play for the Hurricanes.

He is a very quick athlete that can play both sides of the ball, but will most likely play wide receiver for the Canes.

Tracy Howard, CB

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 175

High School: Miramar High School

Rating: 5

Note: The Hurricanes got their biggest news of the day with the signing of Tracy Howard from Miramar, Fla.

Howard, a true cornerback, is physically ready for the next level. He has great closing speed and really attacks the ball.

He also isn't afraid to hit somebody, but needs to learn to wrap up his tackles. Overall, this was a huge pick-up for the Hurricanes.

Dequan Ivery, DT

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 310

High School: Columbia High School-North (Lake City, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Dequan Ivery had a verbal commit to Louisville right up to Wednesday morning, when he changed it to become a Hurricane.

With the absence of Marcus Forston, Miami needed another big body on the defensive line, and Ivery fits that bill.

Not the quickest guy, but sheds blockers well and can definitely contribute as a run-stopper.

Jawand Blue, LB

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 200

High School: West Boca Raton High School (Boca Raton, Fla.)

Rating: 3

Note: Jawand Blue verbally committed to Virginia Tech last year, but decided to play his college ball at Miami.

This is the second recruit that left Virginia Tech for Miami. High school teammate Robert Lockhart also left for Miami.

Blue is a very quick linebacker that has tremendous lateral movement. He will need to add some weight to his 6'1" frame.