Miami Football: Top 5 Recruits the Hurricanes Must Land

According to scout.com, Miami has 28 recruits that have verbally committed to playing for the Hurricanes next year, ranking them eighth overall.

That is fantastic news for Hurricane fans but don't bet on all of them keeping their commits as every year there are a handful of kids that change their minds at the last second.

In fact, Miami has already lost a handful of recruits that jumped shipped earlier this year.

With the ongoing NCAA investigation and sub-par year, Miami could very easily lose more.

Here are five current recruits that Miami must land for the 2012 season.

No. 5: Ereck Flowers, OT

High School: Miami Norland High School (FL)

Scout.com star ranking: 4-star

Other possible schools: Florida State, Illinois, Purdue, South Florida, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.

Note: Although the Hurricanes probably have five starting offensive linemen for next season, there is no doubt that depth is going to be a major concern.

Ereck Flowers could significantly boost the offensive line next season.

Flowers, a teammate of highly-touted running back Duke Johnson, is a 6'6", 300-pound monster that absolutely destroyed defensive ends all season long.

If you have yet to see the young man play, check out his YouTube highlights I linked to the slide. His power is simply amazing.

No. 4: Jelani Hamilton, DE

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)

Scout.com star ranking: 4-star

Other possible schools: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Texas.

Note: The Hurricanes lost a few big-time starters on the defensive line this year.  Adewale Ojomo did not get granted a sixth year of eligibility while Marcus Forston and Olivier Vernon decided to forgo their senior seasons at Miami.

That leaves huge questions marks on who is going to take their places.  Freshman Anthony Chickillo will be one of them while Curtis Porter and Jalen Grimble should plug up the middle.

In other words, Miami must land 4-star recruit Jelani Hamilton. 

Hamilton is 6'6" 245-pound defensive end that is very quick off the line.  He has excellent size and is a very good tackler.

No. 3: Raphael Kirby, LB

High School: Stephenson High School (GA)

Scout.com star ranking: 4-star

Other possible schools: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, LSU, etc. (list of 18 according to scout.com)

Note: The Hurricanes will only be losing one starting linebacker this year, but it just happens to be one of the best ones in the country, Sean Spence.

Although Spence is leaving a gaping hole at the linebacker position, I feel as though freshman Denzel Perryman will admirably be able to fill that spot.

That means depth will be another issue at the linebacker position, and it would help the Hurricanes in a major way to get speedster Raphael Kirby.

The lack of tackling was a major issue for the Hurricanes last season and there is no doubt in my mind that Kirby would be a huge part of next year's team.

No. 2: Angelo Jean-Louis, WR

High School: Palm Beach Central High School (FL)

Scout.com star ranking: 4-star

Other possible schools: Miami, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, South Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and West Virginia

Note: I honestly felt that losing Travis Benjamin wouldn't be that huge considering they had Tommy Streeter coming back next year, until Streeter decided to forgo his senior season for the NFL.

That puts Miami into a huge dilemma at wide receiver.

Once again, it's not that they aren't capable receivers, because Allen Hurns, Phillip Dorsett and Rashawn Scott have the skills to become a good, solid unit.

Adding Angelo Jean-Louis would only make it better.

Jean-Louis is a star in the making and could very well be the next Santana Moss-type player.

What he doesn't have in size (6'0" 185 pounds), he makes up with speed and quickness.  He honestly doesn't have many of the flaws that you see in many young players.

His acceleration is over the top, his route running skills are dang near perfect and he never drops a pass.

Jean-Louis is a terrific football player and is a must-have for the Hurricanes.

No. 1: Duke Johnson, RB

High School: Miami Norland High School (FL)

Scout.com star ranking: 5-star

Other possible schools: Miami, Florida, Florida State, Georgia

Note: With Lamar Miller leaving early for the NFL, the Hurricanes are seemingly in trouble at running back.

Normally I would believe that to be true, but Mike James is a very capable running back and 5star recruit Duke Johnson has the ability to be even better.

Everyone who follows Florida high school football already knows who Duke Johnson already is.

If you need a reminder, just take a look at what he did for the Miami Norland high school football team in the playoffs this season.

Johnson is a smaller running back (5'9" 180 pounds) but is very elusive and quick. He is also very strong for his size and runs a 4.4(40).

Johnson will be a vital part of the running game next year for the Hurricanes.