Recruits react: Golden out at Miami

Sam Bruce's immediate reaction to Miami's decision to remove Al Golden as its head coach wasn't exactly telling. It managed to be ominous nevertheless, though.

The Rivals100 wide receiver has always maintained that he'd sign with Miami on Signing Day should the coaching staff remain intact. Now that such a thing seems less than certain, so too does the state of Bruce's verbal commitment to the Hurricanes.

"No comment," Bruce said via Twitter direct message. "I just don't want to speak about on it right now."

Other recruits had more to say.

Three-star running back Zack Moss says he is unaffected by the coaching change. According to Moss, his commitment was never about a coaching staff. It why Moss' take on the matter is succinct and clear.

"It doesn't affect me," Moss said. "I didn't commit to Golden. I committed to Miami."

Four-star wide receiver Ahmmon Richards broke his commitment to Miami in the immediate wake of Golden's removal, and others could very well follow suit soon. Four-star receiver Kemore Gamble is likely to stay with the Hurricanes according to his coach, while four-star Tre McKitty is less certain. McKitty, it seems, is living in the moment. The IMG Academy star doesn't so much as attempt to project where his recruitment may go from here.

"I just saw it, so I don't have a lot to say," McKitty said. "I'm probably gonna stick for a bit."

Class-of-2017 linebacker Waynmon Steed, a four-star prospect, seems equally as shakey as McKitty. Steed, who plays for powerhouse Miami Central High School says he will now strongly consider Florida, Purdue, UCF and FAU, among others.

"It's a little shaky," Steed said. "It's a little shaky, but I'm still committed."

As for uncommitted Miami targets, five-star athlete Mecole Hardman, Jr.'s reaction was most noteworthy. Hardman isn't much for mincing words, and the Georgia-based standout was his usual, up-front self when asked for his thoughts on the coaching change and the state of the Hurricane program.

"It's a big deal to me when a head coach gets fired," Hardman said. "So seeing that my interest in them has went down, if you can't keep a stable coaching staff then that's not good and something I don't like at all. Hopefully they get it together in due time, but that's gonna do a toll on their recruiting class."

Golden compiled a 32-25 record as Miami's head coach since being hired prior to the 2011 season. The Hurricanes are 4-3 this season and coming off of a 58-0 blowout loss at the hands of Clemson. According to various media reports, Hurricanes' tight ends coach Larry Scott will take over for the fired Golden on an interim basis.

Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Woody Wommack also contributed to this report.

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