Shannon Brings in Solid 2009 Recruit Class, No. 7 Overall
Feb. 6, 2009
The much-hyped National Signing Day was completed this past Wednesday, when the top recruits in the nation announced their college destinations to play football come fall. The Miami Hurricanes, who have been known to be a consistent and prominent factor in recruiting year after year, have lived up to that noted reputation. When current head coach Randy Shannon took over from his defensive coordinating duties on December 8, 2006, he was forced to pick up the demands that recruiting carries as head coach, especially in the rich-talented South Florida region.
With that in mind, Shannon wanted to re-establish the roots University of Miami has succeeded upon in the past, roots that enabled them to win a National Championship in 2001 and nearly again the following year in 2002. In Shannon’s recruiting class of 2007, he showed early signs of the ability to close deals with players, landing highly touted defensive prospect Allen Bailey from McIntosh County Academy (GA) as well as the second-rated offensive guard, Harland Gunn from Omaha Central High School (NE). Those players amongst others helped the Hurricanes bring in the No. 9 rated class of 2007 with 20 members total, six of whom were rated in ESPNU’s Top 150 Recruits.
In Shannon’s first full recruiting class in 2008, he showed a few of the aspects as to why he was able to take over his now current role. The Hurricanes had an impressive class, so impressive that it earned them the overall No. 1 recruiting class. The group included 32 total members, 12 Top 150 recruits. Five of those were named All-Americans the previous year: Sean Spence, Brandon Harris, Ramon Buchanan, Aldarius Johnson and Taylor Cook.
Shannon nabbed five out of the top seven linebackers, as well as the No. 1 rated defensive tackle, Marcus Fortson of Miami Northwestern High School (FL). Fortson, along with seven of his Northwestern teammates signed with the Hurricanes. What most college coaches dream of when heading into a recruiting frenzy is a national champion high school football team just a few miles away from campus. Northwestern finished the 2007 season as the top-rated high school team in the country. Amongst those eight Northwestern recruits was quarterback Jacory Harris. Harris is the likely candidate to start at quarterback for the Hurricanes in 2009 after a stellar freshman season.
Following up the impressive class of 2008 brings us to this past Wednesday. The Hurricanes brought in the No. 7 rated recruiting class, and the top-rated in the ACC. The class includes 19 members, six in the Top 150. Featured in the group is safety Aravious “Ray Ray” Armstrong from Seminole High School (Fla.). Armstrong has been noted to be comparable to former Hurricanes’ safety Kenny Phillips of the New York Giants.
Along with the All-American Armstrong, three more All-Americans joined Shannon’s squad, Prince Kent of Norcross High School (Ga.), Dyron Dye also from Seminole High School and Jamal Reid of Lafayette High School (Fla.).
In the past two years since Shannon has been recruiting full classes, out of the 50 commits, 34 come from the state of Florida, many of which are from the South Florida region. Shannon has continuously stressed the point of commitment. He strives to find the guys who want that four-year job that serves to be a cornerstone of a team leader. Although talented senior leaders are rare these days, as multiple players with high talent declare for the NFL Draft after their junior season, Shannon is firm on his belief to be dedicated to the program and bring in yet another National Championship to Miami.
