Five recruits new Miami staff must call on Day One
Mark Richt has stepped into retirement in Miami and the search for somebody to lead the Hurricanes’ football program has begun. There’s no telling who UM will tab to fill the role, but no matter who gets the nod, there are certain calls that need to be made on his first day in the position.
Below, Rivals.com explores five recruits that Richt’s replacement should reach out to immediately after being introduced as coach.
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Miami simply can’t let Richards, whose brother played at UM, get away now. Auburn is the biggest threat here, but there should still be ample time for the new staff to convince the Rivals100 athlete to stay close to home and follow in his sibling’s footsteps. Whomever the next coach is will need to sell stability, proximity to home and a bit of nostalgia if he hopes to overcome the head start Gus Malzahn and company have when it comes to building a relationship. It won’t be easy but landing Richards is certainly not impossible, as UM will always have the hometown thing working in its favor.
Miami has long been seen as the favorite to land Bogle, but news of Richt’s sudden retirement certainly dashes those hopes. That said, all is not lost just yet. Bogle is not likely to commit before the Hurricanes make a hire, which plays to UM’s advantage if the new head coach can convince the four-star defensive lineman that the program is once again stable.
Bogle wants to attend Miami if all things are equal. He has since the start of his recruitment. Now it’s up to the new staff to radiate an aura of stability and convince the defensive end that staying home is still the correct call. Time is of the essence, however, as the Florida-born prospect’s interest in Tennessee, Alabama and Florida is very real.
There’s a reason Dent, a long time Florida State commit, didn’t sign in December. He’s always wanted to take a final look around in an effort to see if the road ahead held any twists. Richt’s retirement certainly counts as one of those. A one-time Miami commit, Dent has always had some level of interest in the program, so the right coach pitching the right things could pull a Signing Day shocker here. The five-star defensive back seems relatively happy with Florida State, but the Seminoles, like Miami, don’t exactly look like the most stable program on Earth. How far UM gets with Dent, of course, depends on the hire, but getting a visit shouldn’t be difficult. From there, who knows?
Haselwood will commit in roughly two weeks but won’t sign until February, so it’s possible that the right hire could give the Georgia-based prospect something to consider. If Haselwood commits to Oklahoma, as most expect, Miami’s new coach could pitch relative proximity to home in addition to whatever other perks he brings to the position. UM’s best hope here is to make a splash hire or employee a coach that has a pre-existing relationship with the Rivals100 prospect. It’s a longshot, sure, but Haselwood’s number needs to be dialed on day one.
The 2019 class isn’t shot by any means, but Miami fans need to set realistic expectations on what the new staff will be able to accomplish between being hired and Signing Day in February. It’s why some of the new head coach’s attention must turn to 2020. There’s no better place to start on that front than the class’ top in-state prospect. Davis has been relatively high on the Hurricanes since UM offered. And while he’s also interested in Florida, Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama and others, there’s no reason Miami should fall off of his list of favorites …. unless, of course, the new staff fails to make him a priority.