Quick Thursday afternoon update: Running backs coach Terry Richardson officially has left UM to take the same job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It will be interesting to see if UM speaks to Don Soldinger or Oakland Park Northeast's Donnell Bennett, the former Canes back. Soldinger would love to return.
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A dozen Hurricanes and Heat notes:
### The final rating for UM’s class varied widely, depending on who was doing the ranking.
UM’s class was rated 17th by 247Sports; 21st by ESPN; and 44th by Rivals.com.
Despite missing out on linebacker Matthew Thomas and three defensive tackles, “It’s a class that’s done a nice job of addressing many needs at many positions,” ESPN’s Tom Luginbill said.
By the way, Alex Collins told NBC 6's Joe Rose tonight: "I'm staying with Arkansas" even though his mother wants him to go to UM and took his letter of intent without signing it.
### Puzzling quote of the day --- Keith Bryant, in picking FSU, said: “It’s important for me to stay home because I have a one-year-old daughter.” Earth to Keith: Coral Gables is a lot closer to Delray Beach than Tallahassee. Somebody buy the young man a map.
### UM self-imposed five to six scholarships to help mitigate NCAA sanctions.
### Though UM would have liked to get Denver Kirkland, a source said he seemed disinterested and aloof during his initial visit, which left UM with the impression he was never all that serious about going there.
UM lost no sleep over not getting Kirkland. What disappointed them was not snagging Thomas (who said he rated both FSU and USC ahead of Miami) and a d-tackle among Jaynard Bostwick, Bryant and Terrell Brooks. Curtis Porter better stay healthy next season.
### Though running backs coach Terry Richardson told me earlier today he’s not sure if he will stay at UM or take the same job with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaguars and UM people expect him to take the job and reunite with Jaguars and former Canes offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch.
Don Soldinger would love to work at UM again and would be a good choice. But Al Golden didn't pursue him the first time around.
### Five of UM’s 16 signings already are enrolled: tight ends Beau Sandland and Standish Dobard, linebacker Alex Figueroa and offensive linemen Hunter Knighton and Sunny Odogwu.
Micheal Barrow said Figueroa, who also was targeted by Virginia Tech and Virginia after not playing last season due to injury, “is the type of linebacker Miami was built on – under the radar, not a four-star guy. The common denominator is they have speed and toughness. [Defensive backs coach] Paul Williams did a good job identifying him.”
### Several readers have asked whether UM’s academic standards have cost the Canes any recruits. Golden gave an unequivocal no when I asked him that today.
### Golden, on his decision to hire Mario Cristobal last month: “He’s got a poise about him, a wisdom to see things like a head coach.”
### UM set its spring game for April 13 at Sun Life Stadium.
### Odd to see Ray Allen in such a shooting slump: 1 for 8 Wednesday, 3 for his last 22. Even odder to see Allen not play in the last couple minutes of a close game. He had played in nearly every “clutch minute” before Wednesday.
In Wednesday's win against Houston, the Heat was outscored by 11 in Allen’s 21 minutes, Miami's worst plus/minus of the night.
### Udonis Haslem (season-high 13 rebounds) and Mario Chalmers each drew key charges in the final 46 seconds, both with the Heat nursing a three-point lead.
Haslem was on the floor late because Chris Bosh missed the game with flu-like symptoms. How unusual has it been this season for Haslem to play with the game on the line?
Consider: The Heat has played 116 “clutch” minutes as defined by the NBA – a margin of five or less in the final five minutes.
Haslem had played only 8 of those, Chalmers 41 before Wednesday. Both justified being on the floor during crunch time tonight.
### Wade (31 points) “took it upon myself to be more aggressive” with Bosh out. As for James (32 points), he has now shot an absurd 53 for 83 in his last six games, including 8 for 15 on threes.
