Miami Hurricane Football: 5 Best, 5 Worst Offseason Developments
The Hurricanes offseason has been pretty busy with the first wave of freshman coming in, transfers and questions regarding the program.
Fall will be here before we know it and Miami, just like many other programs, has questions to answer before that happens.
Don't get the wrong idea, there have been plenty of positive things happening in Coral Gables as well.
Here are the five worst and best developments this offseason in Miami.
Worst: Tate Forcier Coming and Going
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Ex-Michigan quarterback, Tate Forcier, was to come to Miami this year and contend for the starting position in 2012.
Problem was he never showed up.
A week after Memphis quarterback Ryan Williams signed with the Hurricanes, Forcier pulled back his commit stating it was too far away from his family.
Although some believe Forcier wouldn't have been a very good addition, I believe any quarterback would help right now considering that is the major issue in Miami right now.
Coach Golden has stated he wants five to six quarterbacks on the roster next year.
Worst: Players Transferring from Miami
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The Hurricanes are going to be a different team this year, there is no doubt about that.
Coach Golden has already stated they are going to run the ball more then they have in a very long time.
Before the spring started, Miami had one of the deepest running back cores in college football with Lamar Miller, Mike James and super sophomore Storm Johnson.
Problem was Johnson wasn't too interested in competition and decided to transfer from Miami.
Then defensive backs Jamal Reid and Devont'a Davis decided to transfer out as well.
The worst transfers came from the already shallow linebacker position when Travis Williams and Kevin Nelson decided to leave.
There are always players leaving for whatever reason, but Miami's linebacker and cornerback positions are already question marks.
Worst: Ex-Hurricane Ryan Hill's Statement on the Current Hurricane Players
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This is a very interesting developing story yet at the same time, is problem around the country.
The Miami Herald did a story from ex-Hurricane Ryan Hill who stated that many of the current Hurricane players are very immature.
Marijuana seems to be the issue according to Hill, not to mention ex-Cane, Javarris James who was arrested for marijuana possession yesterday.
There has been speculation that the players who transferred and a few others who are going to be suspended have also been caught with marijuana.
It wasn't just drugs that was the main problem last year with the Hurricanes; it was the lack of commitment from the team.
According to Hill, players were making excuses to miss practice and showed up to meetings late.
Although I am sure Miami isn't the only school with these problems, if they really want to become the Hurricanes of old, they are in need of a serious attitude adjustment.
This is something that has to be brought up before the season, instead of during the season, because if Miami wants any chance of a title, they need to get their heads right now.
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Worst: Trouble in Paradise
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Ramon Buchanan was the first to get in trouble as he was arrested for resisting arrest and for spitting on a police officer, a felony that is being dropped due to him taking a pre-trial diversion program.
Next there were words of players being suspended for the season opener against Maryland because of academic reasons, although rumor has it, it is due to players breaking Golden's team policy rules.
One of the players who was supposedly going to be suspended was Devont'a Davis, but he transferred earlier this spring.
There has been a rumor that Davis was actually suspended due to being caught with marijuana.
All in all there is still speculation on to who, if any, will be suspended for the opening game.
Worst: The Everlasting Questionmark at Quarterback
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I've been saying it for over a year now, and I'm saying it again.
The Hurricanes top focus this summer and fall will be at quarterback.
Don't believe me?
Read all the preseason publications out there, and you will see it just isn't me writing about Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris all the time.
This spring really didn't answer any questions as both quarterbacks threw two interceptions a piece.
This summer won't necessarily answer any questions, but at least the coaches will be able to see who really wants this more.
According to Golden, there is no one leading the competition.
Best: Summer Session No. 1 Begins
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Six of Miami's 2011 recruiting class started class on May 18th, and that bodes well for them as they can now get an early start at the season.
Memphis transfer quarterback Ryan Williams was one of the transfers but is unable to play this year due to transfer rules.
Wide receivers Rashawn Scott and Phillip Dorsett will get an opportunity to fight for the third receiving position behind Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd.
Defensive back Michael Williams is also someone Miami needs to step up since they lost two defensive backs due to transfers.
Linebacker, Gionni Paul, is one of my personal favorites as I believe he will turn heads this year as his motor is nonstop, and he is a terrific athlete who has a knack to be around the ball.
Darius Smith, defensive tackle, is another outstanding lineman that signed late for the Hurricanes and will be eligible to play.
Best: Four New Recruits Sign and Are Eligible to Play This Year.
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Since the spring game, Miami has signed five players: quarterback Ryan Williams, safety Thurston Armbrister, cornerback Michael Williams and defensive tackles Darius Smith and Corey King.
What is even better is all, except Williams, are eligible to play this year.
The latest, Armbrister, was a late academic qualifier and had an offer from Cincinnati, but Golden persuaded him to Miami.
The 6'3", 195-pound safety will most likely red shirt this year.
Best: NFL Lockout Is a Blessing for the Hurricanes
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Every year there are a lot of ex-Hurricanes that come back during the offseason to stay in shape and work out with the current Miami team.
This year with the lockout, there has been up to 150 that have come back to workout due to the fact they are unable to work out with their respective teams.
This is helping the current Hurricanes more then you can imagine.
Each player is not only able to workout with some of the best players in the NFL, but they are getting attitude adjustment many are needing.
Best: 2012 Recruiting Is Golden.
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Every day it seems as though there is another player that is verbally committing to the Miami Hurricanes.
Last year, Miami had a total of just 16 recruits sign with them; a low number to what Miami usually is expected to get.
Miami did get six more players this offseason, but still a far cry from the 33 they got in 2008.
For the 2012 season, Golden and his coaches have been hot on the recruiting trail and have already gotten 13 verbal commits.
According to ESPN.com, six of them are 4-star prospects and five are on the ESPN Top 150, compared to the two that were 4-stars last year.
Miami is well on the way to possibly having one of the best recruiting classes in years.
Best: Inaugural Pony Express Award Watchlist Includes Two Hurricanes
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Miami has been honored in many magazines this offseason with preseason awards.
The latest Hurricanes to be put on a watchlist were Ray Ray Armstrong and Sean Spence.
The inaugural Pony Express Award, created by SMU's famous "Pony Express backfield" Craig James and Eric Dickerson, is to honor the best two- or three-player teammate groups in the country.
Spence ranked second the the Hurricanes last year with 111 tackles, while Armstrong was third with 79 tackles.
Both players are expected to have breakout years and be a cornerstone for the Hurricanes defense this year.
There are 48 groups total, 28 defensive groups and 20 offensive groups.
The award will be announced at the end of the 2011 season by a panel of experts.
(information taken from hurricanesports.com)
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
