Canes 'solidify' secondary in '09 Class

The University of Miami has been busy lately picking up help for its struggling secondary. Last week, they picked up one of the best two-way players in the state in Mayo Lafayette senior Jamal Reid. Tuesday morning, they picked up the piece that our own recruiting analyst Larry Blustein said "solidifies the secondary" -- Monsignor Pace safety Kayvon Webster.

Miami is now officially up to 13 oral commitments in its 2009 class, four of the potential signees are defensive backs. The other two are Plantation cornerback Brandon McGee (a consensus top 10 recruit at his position) and Georgia's Prince Kent (a two-way star at Norcross High). Blustein says the quartet UM has lined up for this class is as solid a secondary group as any in the country -- and better overall than what Miami collected last year with Brandon Harris, Vaughn Telemaque, Ramon Buchanon, CJ Holton and Joe Wylie.

"Three of those four guys are guys that in my opinion can come in right away and get on the field," Blustein told me this morning. "Reid is a steal. Here's a kid who lives all of 26 miles outside of Gainesville and is a player. He's got great hips, knows the receiver position so well that when he goes on the opposite side of the ball, he's always a step ahead in coverage.

"Kayvon is a kid that reminds me a lot of Sean Spence because he always knows where the ball is going. He's a step ahead too. I think he'll make a great safety at Miami. You throw in Brandon McGee, who is going to make another great corner, you got two starting caliber corners and a kid who will make an impact at safety. That's a solid, solid group."

Reid (6-1, 175) and Webster (5-11, 185) are only considered three-star recruits by Rivals.com and are ranked 29th overall at their respective positions nationally. Reid is rated as an athlete. Webster is a safety.

I've only watched Webster play, but I told you here earlier this year when I covered one of his games against Miramar High I thought Webster was the best defensive player in Miami-Dade County this season. Like Blustein said, Webster is a lot like Spence because he's smart and knows where to be on the field at all times. I liken him a lot to Brandon Harris, too. He's a good kid who isn't afraid to get himself dirty. He's more physical than either of the previous two players UM signed out of Monsignor Pace High -- DeMarcus Van Dyke and Tervaris Johnson. He's also blazing fast and a member of Pace's 400-meter relay state championship team.

Comments

[txcane]

I'm guessing he watched Saturday's game and figured there was definite potential for playing time next year.

[Herbal Minded]

HOPEFULLY THESE RECRUITS PANOUT... BUT THE CANES NEED TO DEVELOP WHAT THEY HAVE NOW IF THE PLAN ON BEING CONTENDERS ANYTIME SOON...

[Mike Smack]

I'd like to see some OL recruits.

[canenexxus]

Great get Go Canes

[Bushnell Binoculars]

Why are the stands so empty? My excuse is I live 3,000 miles away in Seattle. I hope ESPN stops showing the stands. - Russell

You think the FSU game is empty, the Canes game was embarassing. There could not have been more than 30,000. Huge sections were empty all over the stadium.
-nycane25

If the Canes lose a football game in Dolphin Stadium, does anyone know about it? - cane fan
The atmosphere sucked!!!!
Are fans(sic) didn't show up. It was a joke. A huge ACC game and we get 36,000. Are you kidding me!!!
Where I was we were as loud as we could be. It was a good group. The old west endzone crew. The loudest part of the fans and they threw us up stairs. Yes still bitter. -pbcfrcane13

I live in NY and have season tix and donate the ones I do not use. You guys in Miami live right down the street from Dolphin Stadium and yet the stadium was half empty. So called fans down there should shut up since they never go to the games. What a disgrace - that's what the top recruits probably say. - Hurricane78

UM HAS A PATHETIC FAN BASE

[TXCane]

Miami also has the Fins, Panthers, Heat, Marlins and the Sun. Can you afford season tickets to them all? Didn't think so! You have to pick and choose between the games. This isn't Hickville where all you have is the Gaytors.

Great pickup with these recruits!

Welcome aboard Reid and Webster

[CanedAgain]

If a tree falls in the Canes secondary, is there a DB within 10 yards?

[CanedAgain]

If the Canes play a game in Dolphins Stadium, does anyone show up?

[CanedAgain]

If Bruce Johnson gets burned again on a pass play, will he be medflighted to the Shriners Burn Institute?

[CanedAgain]

Since Eric Moncur leads the team in INTs, should he be moved to DB?

[CanedAgain]

If Demarcus Van Dyke knocks down the next pass thrown his way, will that be the first of his career?

[Canesrules]

Look at all those shell shocked goobers over at Canespace. It's like there's a white elephant in the room. All the "loyal" fans who are too much in denial or too chicken to say "Shannon sucks."

Welcome to the under-funded world of mediocre college football. Enjoy the next decade of competing with middle weights. Hire your coach on a shoe string budget and get what you pay for. Screw firing the coach, fire
Donna-Sha . She's the final piece in all the people who have dragged UM down into this mess. What Paul Dee did to the University of Miami is sad. Combine his legacy with her choke hold and you begin to see the new reality of UM football. Not enough resources to compete at the top level anymore. And here's the crux of the biscuit cane fan. This isn't changing anytime soon. This IS the state of UM football.

[A Realisst]

PEOPLE STOP CRYING AND WRITING THESE LONG WINEY ESSAYS!

THE CANES ARE MISSING THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG_f1GzmwHo

AND UNTIL WE GET PLAYERS WITH HEART LIKE THIS ITS GONNA BE A LONG ROAD!

[A Realisst]

WATCHING FAU VS MIDDLE TENNESSEE NOW AND FAU'S OFFENSE IS RUN BETTER THAN THE CANES.

[Cane037]

is anyone recruiting a coach?

[Cane037]

shannon is to coaching what liver is to steak... i have to soak mine in alcohol to watch this pathetic excuse of sideline presence...

[UTAH CANE]

It took Coker four years to lose six games. It took Shannon one year to lose seven. It took Coker five years to lose nine games. Shannon has already lost nine games and is on track to lose several more this year. Miami has more talented athletes than the rest of the ACC but Shannon and Nix cannot translate talent into success on the field. Shannon never takes responsibility which demonstrates a lack of character. The motto is NO EXCUSES but Shannon always makes excuses and blames players. Is there a team with more mediocre play calling? Why can't the sports information department update the team rosters on its own website? Shannon talks about accountability but does not demonstrate it. His actions drown out his words.

[sebastian1]

i live in tampa been season ticket holder since 1991 and i dont care who shows up i will be in that seat if im the only one there and anyone else if their a real fan so lets stop complaining and support the team (GO CANES)

[green]

Miami has more talented athletes than the rest of the ACC

Posted by: UTAH CANE | September 30, 2008 at 09:22 PM

GREEN

[David (Clearwater, Fl)]

TxCane, actually yes Webster did see Saturday's game as a reason to commit. According to the article about his commitment on Canesport, after watchig Satruday's game Webster felt that Miami was a school that needed help at DB and that he would be able to see early playing time with the Canes. Certainly he had other reasons for choosing Miami, but it is no coincidnce that he did so after Saturday's performance. Hopefully what they say about him is true. This team desperately needs ball-hawking DBs who put themselves in the right position to make plays rather than being horribly out of position like some of the current DBs.

[JPHurricane]

I wouldn't use the Marlins as an excuse for stealing fans. LOL.

How many season tickets do you have to sell to net 500 fans attending a game?