University of Miami Football Signees Announced

Hurricane Headquarters

Feb. 4, 2004

Class of 2004 Rankings

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami head football coach Larry Coker has announced the Hurricanes’ 2004 signees as 27 student-athletes signed letters of intent to play football for the Hurricanes on Wednesday. Traditionally a program that recruits heavily in South Florida while also scanning the nation for top talent, Miami stayed true to that tradition this year.

Feb. 5, 2004 Update
The University of Miami program has completed its 2004 recruiting class with this morning’s signing to a national letter of intent by Calais Campbell of Denver (Colo.) South High School. With Campbell’s signing, the Hurricanes’ 2004 list of signees now stands at 28 student-athletes who have signed letters of intent to play football for the Hurricanes.

With the approval of Campbell’s paperwork this morning, the Hurricanes had signed 13 players from the state of Florida and maintained its status as a national recruiter as the class was geographically diverse with signees from 10 different states and Canada. Four players from Texas, three players from Pennsylvania, and one player each from Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin have signed on to the Hurricanes football squad.

2004 University of Miami Hurricanes Football Signees

*enrolled at UM for the spring 2004 semester

Geographic Breakdown
Florida – 13, Texas – 4, Pennsylvania – 3, Colorado – 1, Georgia – 1, Louisiana – 1, New Jersey – 1, Ohio – 1, Tennessee – 1, Wisconsin – 1,Canada – 1.

Position Breakdown
DL – 5, OL – 5, ATH – 5, DB – 4, LB – 3, RB – 3, WR – 2, QB – 1.

Rhyan Anderson
ATH, 6-6, 245
Oak Creek, Wisconsin/Oak Creek HS
Tremendous all-around athlete who is considered the top prospect in Wisconsin and is a consensus National Top 100 player… widely regarded as one of the nation’s top defensive ends… has excellent agility, balance and strength… his quick hands allow him to shed blockers quickly… has great burst up the field… a dominant player from the defensive end position… a two-time All-State selection… has been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash… bench presses 405 pounds and has a best in the squat of 525… has a vertical leap of 35 inches… a native of Florida (Tampa Bay area), he moved to Oklahoma for grades four through eight before moving to Wisconsin for his high school years… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the no. 27 player in the nation on SuperPrep’s National Elite 50… rated the nation’s no. 6 defensive lineman by SuperPrep… rated the no. 5 player in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) by SuperPrep… rated the no. 54 prospect in the nation by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the nation’s no. 51 player on the Rivals.com National Top 100…rated the nation’s no. 1 strongside defensive end by Rivals.com… rated the no. 12 player on the Rivals.com Midwest Major 50… rated the no. 1 prospect in Wisconsin by Rivals.com… an EA Sports All-American… named the Lineman of the Year and the Player of the Year by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel… Wisconsin’s Gatorade Player of the Year… the no. 1 prospect in Wisconsin by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel… as a senior in 2003, he made 118 tackles, had 27 quarterback sacks, knocked down five passes, forced four fumbles and intercepted three passes… led Oak Creek to a 12-1 record and the semifinals of the state playoffs in 2003… as a junior, he made 91 tackles, including 21 quarterback sacks… chose Miami over Ohio State, Oklahoma, Southern California and Florida… coached by Joe Koch.

Carlos Armour
DB, 6-3, 200
Memphis, Tennessee/Melrose HS
Big corner who has the athletic ability to play several positions… intelligent player who has grasped several different coverage concepts… has excellent size and speed… has good feet and hips… a physical player who is excellent at jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage… has an aggressive playing mentality that aided his quick development as a defender… has been timed consistently at 4.40 in the 40-yard dash… has bench pressed 225 and squatted 275… rated the no. 10 player in Tennessee by SuperPrep… named to the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s 2003 “Best of the Preps” Team… played cornerback and wide receiver as a senior after playing tight end and receiver in previous years… moved to defense for the first time in the spring before his senior season and was an immediate impact player… as a senior in 2003, he intercepted six passes while leading Melrose to the Class 4A state semifinals… Melrose was 11-2 in his senior season… also plays basketball and runs track… was the runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles at the 2003 Tennessee Track & Field Championships… has run a best of 14.3 in the 110 hurdles… chose Miami over Auburn, Arkansas, Louisville and Mississippi… began playing organized football at age six, at the urging of his grandmother… coached by Kenny Ingram.

James Bryant
LB, 6-3, 240
Reading, Pennsylvania/Reading HS
An exceptional two-way player who is regarded as one of the nation’s top linebacker prospects… described by at least one recruiting service as, “the nation’s most physically imposing LB”… an outstanding all-around athlete… has exceptional speed and is a tremendous closer in pursuit… can cover the entire field because of his range… a big hitter who loves contact… has also shown the ability to overpower blockers who get in his way… can bench press 405 pounds… has a best in the squat of 540 pounds… can vertical leap 30 inches… has been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash… a First-Team USA Today All-American… a U.S. Army All-American… a SuperPrep All-American… the no. 50 player on the SuperPrep National Elite 50… the nation’s no. 9 linebacker by SuperPrep… rated the no. 3 prospect in Pennsylvania by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 59 prospect by Rivals.com on their National Top 100… rated the nation’s no. 6 linebacker prospect by Rivals.com… rated the no. 14 player on the Rivals.com Midwest Major 50… rated the no. 8 player on the Rivals.com Atlantic East Amazing 80… rated the no. 5 player on the Rivals.com Pennsylvania Top 50… rated the nation’s no. 24 prospect on Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report National Top 100… rated the nation’s no. 2 outside linebacker prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… a First-Team All-State selection as a senior… a Second-Team All-State selection as a junior… also a starter on the basketball team… was the MVP at linebacker at the Nike Camp at Penn State in 2003… won the same award at the Nike Camp in Miami 2002…as a senior, he was named First-Team All-State by the Associated Press and the Pennsylvania Football News at linebacker… was named to the Patriot-News Platinum 33 team… a First-Team selection to the All-South Team by Fox Sports Net’s Countdown to Signing Day show… as a senior, made 182 tackles, had eight quarterback sacks, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and returned two fumbles for scores… rushed for 950 yards and 13 touchdowns as a tailback on offense… a brother, Sam, is a linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh… chose Miami over Florida, Ohio State and Pittsburgh… coached by Al Wolski.

Tyrone Byrd
OL, 6-6, 260
Sugar Land, Texas/Fort Bend Hightower HS
Quick, strong and agile lineman who was a dominant player in one of the nation’s toughest high school districts… an aggressive player who has long arms and excellent blocking technique… dominant in zone blocking due to his long reach… his long arms enable him to seal the edge on stretch plays and redirect speed rushers… can pull and trap well… could play guard or tackle… from a program that has a reputation for producing excellent college linemen… finishes his blocks and is an effective blocker on the second level… moves well for a player of his size… has excellent footwork… still has room to grow on a large frame… has bench pressed 300 pounds… has been timed consistently at 5.0 in the 40-yard dash… rated the no. 31 player in Texas by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 10 offensive tackle by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the no. 26 player in Texas on the Austin American-Statesman’s Fab 55… a key player in the development of one of Houston’s newest programs into a regional power… Hightower rose from junior varsity status in 2001 to a playoff appearance in 2003… the District 20-5A Offensive Player of the Year… a two-time first-team all-District 20-5A honoree in 2002 and 2003… attended the 2003 UM Football Camp last summer and was named Offensive Most Valuable Player… played defensive end as a freshman in high school and moved to offensive before his sophomore year… nicknamed ‘T-Byrd’… chose Miami over Notre Dame, LSU, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Ohio State and Oklahoma State… coached by Kevin O’Keefe.

Calais Campbell
ATH, 6-7, 230
Denver, Colorado/South HS
Fast, mobile, athletic player who excelled as a rush end in high school…dazzled scouts with his intelligence, drive and athletic ability…has a startling burst of speed…has quick hands and feet…manages to get under the pads of opposing linemen, despite his 6-7 height…amassed a state-record total of 57 quarterback sacks in his career, 38 over the final two seasons…an accomplished all-around athlete who was an All-State basketball selection as a junior (only non-senior chosen) in 2002-03…rated the nation’s no. 11 player by SuperPrep…a member of the SuperPrep Elite 50 nationally…a SuperPrep All-American…rated the nation’s no. 4 defensive lineman by SuperPrep…rated the no. 2 prospect in Colorado by SuperPrep…SuperPrep’s Midlands Defensive Player of the Year for 2003…listed on Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report National Top 100…the nation’s no. 11 defensive end by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report…a two-time all-State football performer as a junior and senior…started at defensive end all four years of his high school career…also played offensive tackle as a sophomore and tight end as a junior and senior…has been timed at 4.65 in the 40-yard dash…as a senior at defensive end, had 19 sacks 118 total tackles, three knockdowns and two interceptions…on offense as a senior, had 38 receptions for 412 yards with four touchdowns…had receptions of 68 and 72 yards, both on tight end screens…on defense as a junior, had 19 sacks, 109 tackles and five touchdowns off blocked kicks and fumble returns, in addition to blocking three punts…as a junior on offense, had three receptions for 56 yards…also played basketball, averaging 22.7 points (4th best in Colorado) and led the state in rebounding (16.0 per game) and blocked shots (3.3 per game) in his junior season…also competed in track and field, qualifying for the state meet in the discus and shot put in 2003..his track and field personal bests: 21 feet in the long jump, 48 feet in the shot put, 135 feet in the discus and 44 feet, 2 inches in the triple jump…chose Miami over Colorado State, Nebraska, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma and San Diego State…has a brother, Ciare, who plays football at Colorado State, and another brother, Raj, who plays football at Butte Junior College in California…coached by Ryan Mullaney.

Romeo Davis
LB, 6-3, 215
Miami, Florida/Northwestern HS
A tall, rangy, and athletic player who also runs well… has shown the versatility to play as a down lineman or as a linebacker… has been timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash… Second-Team All-Dade as a senior… also a standout wrestler… as a senior, made 139 tackles, blocked two punts and a pair of field goal attempts, in addition to returning a kickoff for a touchdown… played two games as a down lineman in 2003 and recorded five sacks against Miami Norland from his end spot… as a junior, he made 86 tackles and two quarterback sacks… had an unusual high school career as he did not play as a freshman, played on junior varsity as a sophomore, made varsity as a junior but was injured in his seventh game and missed the remainder of the season before starring as a senior… made 86 tackles and had two quarterback sacks as a junior in only seven games of play… chose Miami over South Florida, Central Florida, North Carolina State, Western Illinois, Indiana, Florida International and Florida Atlantic… coached by Roland Smith.

Antonio Dixon
DL, 6-4, 319
Miami, Florida/Washington HS
Aggressive lineman who has the frame and talent to excel at the collegiate level… has good size and strength… showed excellent balance for a player his size… shows good technique… gets a strong push on the defensive front… played both offensive and defensive line, grading out at better than 90 percent in his offensive blocking assignments… has quick feet and good flexibility… one of the most athletic linemen in Florida… has bench pressed 355 pounds… has been compared to former Hurricanes star Vince Wilfork… rated the no. 19 player in Florida on the Rivals.com Top 50 in Florida list… as a senior, made 62 tackles and had 10.5 sacks… chose Miami over Florida, Florida State, Rutgers and South Florida… coached by Tim Harris.

Kirby Freeman
QB, 6-2, 188
Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood HS
Graduated high school early and is enrolled at UM for the spring semester… has a strong arm and is an accurate passer… showed good ability to read coverages… a coach’s son who is a student of the game… an accomplished all-around athlete who also has run the 300-meter hurdles in 38.6 seconds… has bench pressed 330 pounds and has a best vertical leap of 31 inches… has been timed at 4.62 in the 40-yard dash… can hurt a defense as a passer or a runner… throws well on the run… committed to Miami last summer, effectively ending the recruiting process before his senior season began… has been playing football since age four… played on the varsity at Brownwood all four years of his high school career… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the no. 12 quarterback in the nation by SuperPrep… rated the no. 13 prospect in Texas by SuperPrep… the nation’s no. 42 prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the nation’s no. 10 quarterback by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the no. 16 player in Texas on the Rivals.com/Dallas Morning News Texas Top 100… rated the no. 26 player on Rivals.com’s Midlands Sweet 66… rated the nation’s no. 6 dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com… rated the no. 19 player in Texas on the Austin American-Statesman’s Fab 55… named the Class 4A-5A All-Big Country Defensive Player of the Year for his punting prowess in 2003 by the Amarillo Reporter-News… as a senior in 2003, threw for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions on 71-of-123 passing… also ran for 956 yards and 14 touchdowns on 128 carries… as a punter, averaged 43.7 yards per punt, pinning opposing offenses deep in their own end of the field several times… led Brownwood to an 11-1 season in 2003 reaching the Class 4A Area round… played in eight games of his senior season, missing four with injuries… as a junior in 2002, passed for 1,487 yards while completing 87 of 150 passes, 14 for touchdowns, with eight interceptions, for a team that advanced to the Class 4A Division I State Semifinals… rushed for 1,135 yards on 173 carries, averaging 6.56 yards per carry, and reached the end zone 18 times on the ground… chose Miami over Purdue, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska and UCLA… coached by his father, Steve Freeman.

Kellen Heard
DL, 6-6, 335
Wharton, Texas/Wharton HS
One of the most dominant defensive players in the talent-rich state of Texas… was a disruptive force for offenses from his defensive tackle position… has quick feet and shuffles well, an ability that also made him an excellent offensive lineman, in addition to his considerable defensive skills… has exceptional quickness and flexibility for a player his size… a quick starter as a blocker, he’s also an explosive rusher in the defensive interior… the strongest football player in Wharton’s history, holding school records for the squat (525 pounds), power clean (300) and bench press (370)… moves well for his size, having been timed consistently at 4.9 in the 40-yard dash… rated the no. 41 prospect in Texas by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 14 offensive tackle prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the no. 26 prospect in Texas by Rivals.com and the Dallas Morning News… rated the no. 35 player in Texas on the Austin American-Statesman’s Fab 55… rated the no. 41 prospect in Texas by SuperPrep… rated the no. 19 offensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com… rated the no. 42 prospect on the Rivals.com Midlands Sweet 66… rated the no. 33 player in Texas on the Rivals.com Texas Top 100 list… a Second-Team selection on the 2003 Texas Football magazine Super Team of top high school players… as a senior in 2003, he played defensive tackle, offensive tackle and fullback on an 8-4 team that advanced to the second round of the Texas Class 3A playoffs… a two-time First-Team All-District 28-3A selection… as a junior, he led his team to a 7-5 record and the Regional finals of the 2002 Texas Class 3A playoffs when he had 106 tackles, 15 sacks, three caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries … also played basketball in high school, averaging 27 points per game as a junior in 2002-03… also received scholarship offers in basketball… chose Miami over Texas A&M, Baylor, North Carolina, Nebraska, Michigan and Texas… coached by Russell Roberts.

Dwayne Hendricks
DL, 6-4, 246
Millville, New Jersey/Millville HS
A standout at both defensive tackle and end in high school, he projects as an end on the college level… a rangy player for his size… has excellent mobility and footwork… has been consistently timed at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash… has a top vertical leap of 28 inches… very quick and powerful… was constantly double- and triple-teamed in high school… excellent in run support as he is quick off the snap… has exceptional lateral speed… has the intensity and work ethic to develop into a top pass rusher on the collegiate level… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the no. 19 defensive lineman in the nation by SuperPrep… rated the no. 3 prospect in New Jersey by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 5 defensive tackle prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… the no. 59 prospect in the nation by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the no. 11 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com… rated the no. 4 prospect in New Jersey on the New Jersey Top 25 by Rivals.com… rated the no. 18 player on the Rivals.com Atlantic East Amazing 80 list… named All-Cape Atlantic, All-state Group IV and Second-Team All-South Jersey as a junior and a senior… as a senior, he had 65 tackles, 15 tackles for losses, and four quarterback sacks… also competed in track and field, posting a shot put best of more than 50 feet… older brother, Damien, played offensive line at Temple… chose Miami over Virginia, Iowa, Michigan, Florida and Penn State… coached by Dave Heck.

Cedric Hill
ATH, 6-3, 206
Valdosta, Georgia/Valdosta HS
Lanky receiver who has shown startling big-play ability… speedy receiver who has good body control… played for the nation’s winningest high school program at Valdosta… has been timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash… has bench pressed 250 pounds and has a best in the squat of 275… has experience as a wide receiver, tight end and defensive end… played both wide receiver and tight end during his senior season… as a senior in 2003, caught 24 passes for 574 yards and eight touchdowns… led the team in receptions and receiving yards in 2003… had touchdown catches of 74 and 61 yards in the state semifinals against Westside High School… played defensive end part-time as a senior, registering four quarterback sacks… as a junior in 2002, was second on the team with 20 catches for 97 yards and one touchdown, despite being hindered with a thigh injury… chose Miami over Auburn, Georgia, Louisville and Troy State… coached by Rick Darlington.

Andrew Johnson
ATH, 6-0, 205
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania/North Hills HS
Widely regarded as one of the nation’s top running back prospects… has breakaway speed and an exceptional burst… has good peripheral vision… also has been tough running between the tackles… runs with authority and gets the tough yardage inside… has been consistently timed in the sub-4.4 range in the 40-yard dash… can bench press 300 pounds… has a best in the squat of 450… can vertical leap 36 inches… an accomplished sprinter in track, he was the 2003 Pennsylvania scholastic champion in the indoor 60-meter dash (6.90 seconds)… rated the nation’s no. 82 prospect in the Rivals.com National Top 100… rated the nation’s no. 9 running back by Rivals.com… rated the no. 17 prospect on the Rivals.com Midwest Major 50… rated the no. 14 prospect on the Rivals.com Atlantic East Amazing 80… rated the no. 7 prospect on the Rivals.com Pennsylvania Top 50… a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 Team… a member of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25… selected to the 2003 Associated Press All-State Team… named All-Conference and Third-Team All-State in 2001 as a sophomore… rushed for 3,670 yards and 54 touchdowns in his high school career… played on his senior season at North Hills HS after beginning his high school career at Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS… as a senior, rushed for 1,276 yards on 220 attempts and scored 21 touchdowns… as a junior in 2002, he rushed 103 times for 704 yards and eight touchdowns as he was hindered much of the season by a severe ankle sprain that caused him to miss five games… … as a sophomore, he ran for 1,690 yards and scored 23 touchdowns despite missing two games due to an ankle injury… chose Miami over Pittsburgh, Florida, Ohio State and UCLA.

Charlie Jones
RB, 5-11, 200
Homestead, Florida/South Dade HS
One of the nation’s most coveted running back prospects… tough, straight-ahead runner who can get the tough yards or break loose for a big play… was one of the most durable backs in the nation over the last two seasons… impressed coaches with his work ethic, particularly in the weight room… has a thick frame and good lower body strength… a shifty runner who make quick moves… described by coaches as a “do it all” type of back who can run, block and catch equally well… regarded as one of the finest players to come from South Dade in the last 30 years, one of the nation’s top producers of college talent… has exceptional vision and acceleration… consistently timed at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash… has a bench press best of 300 pounds and has a best in the squat of 425… has power cleaned 250… has a vertical leap of 37 inches… rated the no. 35 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 17 tailback prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the no. 7 prospect on the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100 list… a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100… rated the no. 57 prospect in the nation by Rivals.com… rated the nation’s no. 5 running back prospect by Rivals.com… rated the no. 19 prospect on the Rivals.com Southeast Elite 88 list… the no. 6 prospect in Florida on Rivals.com’s Top 50 In Florida list… as a senior in 2003, rushed for 748 yards and six touchdowns despite missing three games with an injury… rushed for 348 yards in a single game as a junior (a Dade County record)… as a junior in 2002, was named First-Team All-Dade County and Second-Team All-State… rushed 202 times for 1,570 yards (7.8 avg.) and 19 touchdowns as a junior in 2002… chose Miami over Florida, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee… coached by Don Drinkhahn.

Khalil Jones
WR, 6-3, 206
Miami, Florida/Northwestern HS
A big receiver with good hands and a large frame… solid pass catcher and good blocker who also was used at tight end… a hard worker in the weight room whose physical size precedes his age… coaches regarded him as one of the team leaders because of his character… has been timed at 4.39 and 4.41 in the 40-yard dash… a two-year starter for one of South Florida’s top high school programs… rated the no. 19 prospect on the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Top 25… rated the no. 63 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… as a senior in 2003, caught 25 passes for 720 yards (28.8 avg.) and four touchdowns… as a junior, caught 21 passes for 250 yards… chose Miami over Pittsburgh, Indiana, South Florida and Iowa… coached by Roland Smith.

Rashaun Jones
DB, 6-2, 185
Lake City, Florida/Columbia HS
A tall and athletic player widely considered among the top cornerbacks in the nation… an excellent coverage corner with good feet… excellent closer in coverage… displayed solid technique in tight coverage situations… has the size to be an effective press coverage corner… can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, then run with them… has exceptional explosiveness… has good hands and is a great leaper… has been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash… bench presses 280 pounds and has a best in the squat of 400… has a vertical leap of 36 inches… rated the no. 46 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 30 cornerback by Rivals.com… a member of the Florida Times-Union Super 24… as a senior in 2003, he had 60 tackles and a school-record eight interceptions with 19 passes broken up… also had three blocked punts, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery… also made 21 catches for 390 yards as a receiver on offense… as a junior, he made 96 tackles and had six interceptions and caught 12 passes for 346 yards (28.8 avg.) and four touchdowns… as a sophomore, he intercepted three passes in his first season on the varsity team… chose Miami over North Carolina State, Clemson, South Florida, North Carolina, Florida, Syracuse and Tennessee… coached by Danny Green.

Joe Joseph
DL, 6-4, 270
Orlando, Florida/Oak Ridge HS
Excellent pass rusher who played end and tackle in high school, but projects as a tackle on the college level… hustles to the whistle on every play and has shown exceptional agility for player his size… has great footwork and gets leverage against blockers… has been timed at 4.9 in the 40-yard dash… has bench pressed 325 pounds and has a best of 485 in the squat… has a best vertical leap of 24 inches… rated the no. 32 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the no. 32 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com… rated the no. 25 prospect in Florida on The Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100… was a four-year starter for Oak Ridge… as a senior in 2003, he made 68 tackles (46 solos) including nine for losses, fighting through double-teams for most of the season… chose Miami over Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee… coached by Marc Jackson.

Josh Kerr
OL, 6-5, 280
Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville HS
Strong, versatile offensive lineman who was unheralded until late his high school career… a hard worker in the weight room… coaches praise him for his attitude, work ethic and finishing ability as a blocker… played every position on the line during his prep career, but projects as a guard on the college level… has a bench press best of 325 pounds… has been timed at 4.9 in the 40-yard dash… a two-year starter at guard and tackle, he graded out at 94.4 percent for his 26-game varsity career… allowed just two sacks in more than 350 pass plays in his career… an All-Ohio selection in 2003… as a senior, was named to the All-Cuyahoga County Team by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer newspaper… was at the point of attack on 73 percent of the Mustangs’ running plays… averaged 7.6 knockdown blocks per game… in 2002, was hampered by a shoulder injury for much of his junior season… chose Miami over West Virginia, Cincinnati, Ohio State and Miami of Ohio… coached by Russ Jacques.

Lance Leggett
WR, 6-4, 178
Arlington, Texas/Grace Preparatory Academy
Tall, lanky player who showed the ability to consistently make big plays… grew up in Bartow, Florida (outside of Tampa/St. Petersburg) before moving to Texas prior to his junior season… was a superior athlete to most players he faced in the Texas private schools… has exceptional burst of speed and is elusive… repeatedly broke loose from packs of high school defenders by simply using his speed… tough to contain in the open field or in a closed space… became a more consistent pass catcher in his junior and senior seasons… runs excellent routes… comes from a program that won Texas Private Schools State Titles the last two seasons… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the nation’s no. 15 receiver prospect by SuperPrep… rated the no. 10 prospect in Texas by SuperPrep… rated the no. 21 prospect in the nation by Rivals.com… rated the no. 4 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com… the no. 5 prospect on the Rivals.com Midlands Sweet 66 list… the no. 10 player on the Texas Top 100 list by Rivals.com and the Dallas Morning News… rated the no. 8 prospect on the Austin American-Statesman’s Fab 55… as a senior in 2003, he had 42 receptions for 950 yards (22.6 avg.) and 18 touchdowns… as a junior in 2002, he averaged 22 yards per catch with 40 receptions for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns… nicknamed “Spider Man”… chose Miami over Florida, Oklahoma, Purdue and Texas A&M… coached by Mike Barber.

Tyler McMeans
OL, 6-5, 350
Shippenville, Pennsylvania/Clarion HS/Lackawanna JC
Enrolled at Miami for the spring semester… a 23-year old veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who played one year of high school football… graduated high school in 1998… spent four years in the Marines, serving much of his tenure with a unit that specialized in closed-quarters battle operations… rose to the rank of corporal before being discharged from the Corps… a guard who hails from the same junior college that produced former Miami great Bryant McKinnie, the 2001 Outland Trophy winner… a natural at run blocking, he excelled at it from the start… developed into an excellent pass protector during his Lackawanna career… started 20 of 21 games over two seasons at Lackawanna… earned junior college All-America honors both seasons at Lackawanna… wears a size 18 shoe… coached by Mark Duda.

Lovon Ponder
DB, 6-1, 190
Miami, Florida/Monsignor Pace HS
One of the top defensive backs in Florida… a four-year starter at safety for Pace… speedy safety who is a big hitter… has good instincts and is usually around the football… was solid in run support and a devastating hitter in pass defense… has good strength and quickness… has good feet and hips… has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash… bench presses 250 pounds and has a best in the squat of 375… has a vertical leap of 36 inches… rated the no. 41 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 13 safety prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the nation’s no. 8 safety by Rivals.com… rated the no. 72 prospect in the Southeast on the Rivals.com Southeast Elite 88… rated the no. 26 prospect on the Rivals.com Top 50 in Florida… rated the no. 8 prospect on the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Top 25… rated the no. 23 prospect in Florida on the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100… as a senior in 2003, had 106 tackles, four interceptions and recovered five fumbles while helping lead Pace to a state championship… as a junior, First-Team All-Dade County and Second-Team All-State when he had eight interceptions and forced eight fumbles… as a sophomore, he made more than 80 tackles and had four interceptions… was the only freshman starter for Pace in 2000… a cousin, Tony Smith, played college football at LSU in the 1980s… chose Miami over North Carolina State, Florida, Georgia, Florida State and Oklahoma… coached by Joe Zaccheo.

Anthony Reddick
DB, 6-1, 190
Fort Lauderdale, Florida/St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Physical cornerback who has good speed, quickness and size… widely considered one of the best prospects in the state of Florida, regardless of position… a hard-nosed defender who is excellent in run support… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the no. 18 defensive back in America by SuperPrep… rated the no. 17 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 22 safety prospect by Rivals.com… rated the no. 30 prospect in Florida by the Miami Herald… intercepted seven passes over the span of his junior and senior seasons… as a senior in 2003, he made 59 tackles (40 solos), intercepted four passes (returned for 40 yards), broke up five passes, recovered a fumble and forced a fumble… was the team’s second-leading tackler as a senior… also returned 19 punts for 296 yards (15.6 avg.), including a long of 74 yards… returned one interception for a score as a senior… as a junior, he was fifth on the team with 32 tackles (18 solos), broke up a team-leading 11 passes, intercepted two passes, and returned three punts for 33 yards (11.0 avg.)… transferred to Aquinas prior to his junior season from Fort Lauderdale’s Stranahan High School… played linebacker and wingback at Stranahan… chose Miami over Georgia, Florida State and Ohio State… coached by George Smith.

Chris Rutledge
OL, 6-6, 270
Miami, Florida/Dr. Krop HS
Just beginning to scratch the surface of his football ability, Rutledge was a late comer to the recruiting lists after he developed rapidly during his senior season… has played only two years of organized football… an excellent pass protector whose long arms and quick feet have aided his development… has been timed at 4.9 in the 40-yard dash… has a vertical leap of 23 inches… rated the no. 43 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 50 offensive tackle by Rivals.com… rated the no. 94 prospect in Florida on The Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100 list… as a senior, he had 52 pancake blocks… chose Miami over Florida, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh and Rutgers… coached by Michael Searcy.

Jonathan St. Pierre
OL, 6-3, 300
Longeueuil, Quebec, Canada/Edouard Montpetit HS
Hails from one of the most successful prep athletic programs in Canada, Montreal’s Vieux Montreal Cegep… played high school football at Gerard Filion Academy… versatile lineman who can play tackle or center… has a larger frame, strong hands and uses good technique… a strong finisher who can dominate as a run blocker and pass protector… was a member of Team Canada the past two years, the equivalent of an All-Canada All-Star Team… chose Miami over North Carolina State, Michigan State, Central Florida and Akron.

Derron Thomas
RB, 6-0, 185
Reserve, Louisiana/East St. John HS
Widely regarded as the top running back in the state of Louisiana and one of the nation’s top running back prospects…an elusive and quick running back who also has good speed in the open field… has great vision and cutting ability… a hard-nosed runner who is effective between the tackles or breaking outside… bruising runner who often delivered a blow to would-be tacklers… strong finisher who seemed to get stronger in the late stages of games… has been clocked at 4.33 in the 40-yard dash… has a vertical leap of 32 inches… has squat lifted 470 pounds… also runs track at ESJ and has a best in the 100 meters of 10.7 seconds… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the nation’s no. 13 running back prospect by SuperPrep… rated the no. 8 prospect in Louisiana by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 4 all-purpose back by Rivals.com… rated the no. 79 prospect on the Rivals.com Southeast Elite 88 list… rated the no. 8 prospect on the Rivals.com Louisiana Top 25 list… as a senior in 2003, rushed for 2,010 yards on 219 carries (9.2 avg.) and scored 30 touchdowns… also caught 49 passes for 715 yards (14.6 avg.) and three touchdowns… as a junior in 2002, he rushed for 1,589 yards on 149 carries (10.6 avg.) and 20 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 220 yards (16.9 avg.) and two touchdowns… played his first two years of high school football at West St. John HS before transferring to ESJ prior to his junior year… a two-time All-Metro New Orleans selection… attended the same high school as current Hurricanes defensive lineman Vegas Franklin… chose Miami over LSU, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Florida State and Michigan… coached by Larry Dauterive.

George Timmons
ATH, 6-2, 190
Lake City, Florida/Columbia HS
Unheralded recruit who is an exceptional all-around athlete… can play running back, defensive back or receiver… played safety on defense in high school and is being projected to play that position in college… has quick feet and explosion… has exceptional coverage skills for a player of his experience… was a big-play producer on offense, and frequently made game-turning plays defensively… can bench press 300 pounds… has a best in the squat of 400 pounds… can vertical leap 38 inches… has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash… as a senior, played both running back and receiver… rushed for 1,253 yards on 109 carries while catching 19 passes for 301 yards in 2003… also during his senior season, he made 46 tackles and broke up 17 passes on defense… as a junior, he made four interceptions and broke up 13 passes on the way to earning All-Region honors… cousin of current UM receiver/return specialist Roscoe Parrish… chose Miami over North Carolina, Florida, LSU, South Florida and Tennessee… coached by Danny Green.

Bobby Washington
RB, 6-0, 200
Miami, Florida/Killian HS
One of the most highly-sought running back recruits in the nation… straight-ahead runner who can bust between the tackles for tough yards, or outrun defenders on the outside… has all the skills to become a top collegiate running back… has been compared to former NFL great Eric Dickerson because of his upright running style and his breakaway speed… sure-handed ball carrier who seldom fumbled… has been timed at 4.32 in the 40-yard dash… on the track, has run sub-11 in the 100 meters and 21.5 in the 200… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the no. 18 prospect in the nation on SuperPrep’s Elite 50 list… rated the nation’s no. 4 running back by SuperPrep… rated the no. 2 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 7 tailback prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… the nation’s no. 40 prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the no. 3 prospect on the Florida Top 50 by Rivals.com… rated the no. 10 player on Rivals.com’s Southeast Elite 88 list… a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100… rated the nation’s no. 3 running back prospect by Rivals.com… rated the nation’s no. 35 prospect on the Rivals.com National Top 100 list… rated the no. 5 prospect on the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100 list… rated the no. 2 prospect on the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Top 25 list… rushed for 5,695 yards and 61 touchdowns in his high school career… a three-time First-Team All-Dade County selection… First-Team All-State as a junior and a senior… led his 2003 team to the State Class 6A semi-finals… a four-year starter who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of his four high school seasons… as a senior in 2003, he rushed for 2,132 on 305 carries (7.0 avg.) and scored 21 touchdowns… as a junior in 2002, he rushed for 1,556 yards on 215 carries (7.2 avg.) and scored 12 touchdowns… transferred to Killian prior to his sophomore year… as a sophomore, he rushed for 948 yards on 225 carries (4.2 avg.) and scored 12 touchdowns that season… played as a freshman at Archbishop Carroll High School, rushing for 1,059 yards on 159 carries (6.7 avg.) and 16 touchdowns… cousin of former Florida State star Derrick Gibson who currently plays for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders… chose Miami over Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee… coached by Willie Rolle.

Willie Williams
LB, 6-2, 225
Miami, Florida/Carol City HS
Widely regarded as the nation’s top linebacker prospect… an outstanding all-around athlete and a big-play man at linebacker… a hard hitting, agile defender who has exceptional closing speed… has a nose for the football… was deemed unblockable by many observers during his senior season as he played against Florida’s top teams… has great change of direction and exceptional speed for a linebacker… a disruptive blitzer who dominated games… has been consistently timed in the 4.4 range in the 40-yard dash… has bench pressed 330 pounds and has a 33-inch vertical leap… named to the 2003 EA Sports High School All-America Team… a U.S. Army All-American… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the no. 2 prospect in the nation by SuperPrep… rated the no. 1 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the no. 1 linebacker in the nation by SuperPrep… SuperPrep Dixie Defensive Player of the Year… rated the nation’s no. 10 prospect overall by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… rated the nation’s no. 1 linebacker prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100… rated the nation’s no. 6 prospect by the Miami Herald… the no. 1 prospect on the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Top 25… the no. 1 prospect in Florida on the Miami Herald’s Florida Top 25… a First-Team All-South Team by Fox Sports Net’s Countdown To Signing Day show… the nation’s no. 6 prospect on the Rivals.com National Top 100… the nation’s no. 1 outside linebacker prospect by Rivals.com… the no. 4 prospect on the Rivals.com Southeast Elite 88 list… the no. 2 prospect in Florida on the Rivals.com Top 50 In Florida… as a senior, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Class 6A Florida state championship game when he made 11 tackles, including four tackles for losses, had two quarterback sacks and forced two fumbles in Carol City’s 13-0 victory over Orlando Edgewater… had 18 sacks in his senior season… transferred to Carol City for his senior season… attended Monsignor Pace High School prior to attending Carol City and played three seasons for Pace… as a junior, was voted the Class 3A-1A Player of the Year in Dade County, was named First-Team All-Dade and First-Team All-State when he made 218 tackles, 15 tackles for losses, broke up 10 passes, had eight quarterback sacks and intercepted four passes… as a sophomore, earned Second-Team All-Dade honors when he was credited with more than 120 tackles including eight tackles for losses and three quarterback sacks… chose Miami over Florida State, Florida and Auburn… coached by Joe Zaccheo at Pace and by Walt Frazier at Carol City.

Chris Zellner
ATH, 6-2, 225
Sarasota, Florida/Booker HS
A standout as both a tight end and defensive end… explosive off the snap as a defensive end… has exceptional closing speed and body control… on offense, he showed impressive pass catching ability, but was a standout as a blocker… has long arms, allowing him to control opposing blockers on defense and opposing defenders on offense… has exceptional speed for a tight end/defensive end… has been timed consistently in the 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash… has bench pressed 315 pounds… a SuperPrep All-American… rated the nation’s no. 3 tight end by SuperPrep… rated the no. 23 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep… rated the nation’s no. 5 tight end prospect by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report… named the Sarasota Tribune’s Sarasota Defensive Player of the Year for 2003… as a senior, made 60 tackles, including 19 quarterback sacks and 13 tackles for losses… also caught 19 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns at tight end… as a junior, caught eight passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns on offense and made 47 tackles, had 19 quarterback sacks, caused seven fumbles and had nine tackles for losses on defense… chose Miami over Clemson, Ohio State, Maryland and Pittsburgh… coached by Fred Gilmore.