Miami Hurricanes Football: My Way-Too-Early 2012 Predictions

Although spring practice hasn't even started yet, it is never to early to think about what is going to happen in the upcoming Hurricane season.

Miami is coming off a 6-6 season while declining their bowl bid due to the upcoming NCAA sanctions—something that should be resolved late spring/early summer.

Here are my early predictions on what the season may hold for the 2012 Hurricanes.

NCAA Sanction Prediction

As everyone already knows, Miami is still awaiting the ruling from the NCAA stemming from the Nevin Shapiro scandal where Miami players took illegal benefits from the crazed ex-booster.

Last year, the NCAA did rule that 12 of the current Hurricane players violated rules in which eight of them had to sit out at least one game. With the ruling to happen sometime this late spring/early summer, it really is hard to determine how hard the NCAA will hit Miami.

The only similar situation regarding improper benefits taken was when Reggie Bush did it at USC.  He and his family allegedly took $290,000 from boosters.

USC was handed down a four-year probation, a loss of 30 scholarships in three years, forced to vacate the last two games from the 2004 season and all of the 2005 season. 

In addition to all of the above sanctions, they were also banned from competing in any bowl games for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

So what does this mean for Miami?

My prediction is they get handed similar punishment that USC received.  I expect a loss of maybe 30-40 scholarships for three to four years, a one to three year bowl ban (one already served) and the possibility of vacated wins.

Either way, the Hurricanes should be able to compete at a high level, just like USC has the last couple years under their probation. Since the ruling came down from the NCAA, USC has gone 18-7, including a 10-2 season last year and ended the season ranked sixth in the final AP poll.

This year, they are being predicted by many publications as being the best football team in the country.

Stephen Morris Has a Good Season

In the eighth game of the 2010 season against Virginia, Jacory Harris got hurt and backup quarterback Spencer Whipple threw two quick interceptions. During halftime, head coach Randy Shannon decided to give true freshman Stephen Morris the ball. 

He wouldn't disappoint—throwing for 162 yards and two touchdowns in the second half of the game.  He brought the Hurricanes back from a 24-point deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Although Miami would lose the game 19-24, Morris showed that he had the skill-set to become a good quarterback.

He would go on to finish his freshman season with four starts, 1240 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions—not bad considering he was just a true freshman.

Since the last game against Notre Dame in the 2011 Sun Bowl, Morris only had one more start—opening day against Maryland last year while Harris was serving a one game suspension. With a depleted team (eight starters never played that game), he threw for 195 yards and two interceptions.

Morris played in four more games last year and in those games, he played very well—completing seven of nine passes for 90 yards and no interceptions.

Morris has a terrific arm and moves very well.  He is an accurate passer, but needs to just be smarter with the ball. He is going into his third season with the Hurricanes, and there is no doubt he will be more comfortable than he has been.

As long as the receivers can improve, Morris is set to have a good season. 

It wouldn't be crazy to predict a 2,500-yard season, with 25 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions.

Two More Make Freshman All-American Team

Anthony Chickillo and Denzel Perryman played so well in their freshman season that they were honored on Freshman All-American teams.

This year will be no different—a few of Miami's true freshmen will be playing a lot of downs this year.

The first to make the team will be Tracy Howard.  With Miami's depleted cornerback position, I think Howard has the skill set to come in and produce right away. He will become one of the best cornerbacks Miami has and will lead the team in interceptions.

The second Hurricane to make the team will be Duke Johnson.  Again, with Lamar Miller gone, the Hurricanes will be lacking depth at running back.

I truly believe Johnson will get the start in the second or third game of the season, and the tandem of Johnson and Mike James will be similar to what James and Miller were last year.

I would not be surprised at all if Johnson gets near, or even surpasses, the 1,000-yard mark in just his freshman season.

Denzel Perryman Leads the Team in Tackles

Denzel Perryman will continue the legacy of great Hurricane linebackers, as he will lead the Hurricanes in tackles, just like Sean Spence did last year.

Perryman, who only started five games last year, ended the season first among freshmen in the ACC and second on the team in tackles with 69.

He was honored as a first-team Freshman All-American by both Yahoo! and CBS Sports.

Although Ramon Buchanan and James Gaines will be returning for their senior year, Perryman is just an overall better linebacker than both of them.

Perryman has a non-stop motor and barring injury. There is no doubt he ends the season leading the team in tackles with over 100.

The Hurricanes Beat Florida State

Florida State ended last season 9-4 including a bowl win over Notre Dame, and they return 18 starters this year, but it still won't be enough to beat the Hurricanes.

Yes, I am calling this game already.

I know the Hurricanes lost last year to Florida State 19-23, but given the situation and how great the Seminoles were supposed to be, it was rather impressive Miami stayed that close.

In fact, if it weren't for the poor play on special teams and the turnovers, the Hurricanes would have easily come out of Tallahassee with a win.

This year is a different year, and no matter how good Florida State looks on paper, they will still not live up to their early lofty ranking they undoubtedly will receive.

I think the Hurricanes actually have a much improved defense this year and can shut down the Seminoles inconsistent offense.

My super-early prediction is Miami 24, Florida State 20.

The All-American Drought Ends

The Miami Hurricanes haven't had an AP All-American since 2005 when Kelly Jennings, Eric Winston and Brandon Meriweather made the team.

Seantrel Henderson will change that for Miami this year.

After making several Freshmen All-American teams in 2010, an injury forced limited playing time for him last year.

If he is healthy this year, there is no doubt he becomes the first Miami All-American since the trio did it in 2005. He is extremely gifted and when he is on the field, he completely dominates any defender in front of him.

I think Henderson plays his first complete season and ends up on the first or second-team All-American team.

Then, just like that, he enters the NFL draft after his junior year.  Let's just call it a hunch.

Miami Ends Up Third in the Coastal Division

This early prediction can change throughout the offseason, but as of right now, Miami ends the season at 7-5 (if banned from bowl game) and third in the ACC Coastal Division at 5-3.

I think Virginia Tech or even Virginia will come away with the Coastal division title this year.  Yes, the Virginia Cavaliers who return a lot of players—including one of the best running backs in the ACC, Perry Jones.

The Hurricanes just have too many question marks at multiple positions this early in the season to rank them any higher.

I will be making another prediction right before the season begins in early September.

Jake Wieclaw Is a Lou Groza Award Finalist

One of the best and most surprising players last year for the Hurricanes was kicker Jake Wieclaw. 

Wieclaw had huge shoes to fill before the season began. He was to replace the NFL-bound Matt Bosher.

Having never kicked at the college level, the junior converted all 39 extra points and hit 11 of 14 field goals, including a game winner against South Florida as time ran out.

Wieclaw's season was so good he was honored as a Lou Groza Award (nation's best place kicker) semi-finalist.

He never made the final cut of three, but proved to everyone in the country that he was one of the best kickers in the nation. With question marks on offense, the Hurricanes will most likely rely a lot on Wieclaw this season, and I truly believe he has the chance to win the award.

My prediction is he will certainly end up a finalist, if not the winner.

Miami Hurricanes Represent Six on the All-ACC Team

There were only three Miami Hurricanes on the 2011 All-ACC team—Sean Spence, Tyler Horn and Lamar Miller. Only Spence was honored on the first-team.

This season, Miami will produce six All-ACC players, including one true freshman, and two honorable mentions.

I am predicting that Seantrel Henderson and Jake Wieclaw will make the first-team list while the second-team list will consist of Anthony Chickillo, Denzel Perryman, Allen Hurns and Duke Johnson.

The other true freshman—Tracy Howard and Vaughn Telemaque—will make the honorable mention list. 

If Ray Armstrong were to play to his potential, there is no doubt that he not only makes the All-ACC team, but the All-American team as well.