College Football Recruiting Roundup: Miami Scoring In The Local Scene
By Kyle Kensing
Nov 1, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian takes the field before a game against Virginia Tech Hokies at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Four-star offensive lineman Reilly Gibbons pledged his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes on Monday, the second local recruiting coup Al Golden scored for his 2014 signing class in the past week. Canes Warning has more on Gibbons, including a highlight video.
Miami’s other noteworthy verbal commitment came from another offensive lineman, five-star prospect Kc McDermott. McDermott praised Golden’s commitment to The U in the linked Sun Sentinel piece.
Gibbons comes from St. Petersburg Catholic, and McDermott from Palm Beach Central. Mining the rich, local landscape is Miami’s best chance for reattaining its past success.
Miami’s ACC rival Clemson is a reminder that college football recruiting season is a 365-day-per-year job. The Tigers’ top 2014 prospect is Gainesville (Ga.) quarterback Deshaun Watson. The five-star recruit and Rivals.com No. 11 overall player gave his pledge to Dabo Swinney all the way back in Feb. 2012, but according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, must fend off such suitors as Georgia and Ohio State.
Clemson lost four-star, 2014 running back prospect Dalvin Cook over the weekend to the Florida Gators. Clemson was also on the wrong end of one of the most notable verbal commitment flips in recent years when Ole Miss Rebels defensive end Robert Nkemdiche wavered on his initial decision.
Florida’s 2013 signing class was rated among the nation’s best, and Will Muschamp appears to be putting together another bumper crop in 2014. Cook joins a group of nine verbal commits, six of whom are four-stars. Three appear on the FanSided 150.
Muschamp bolstered his recruiting staff in the offseason with the addition of former Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips. Phillips was immediately active on the recruiting trail, employing what The Indianapolis Star jokingly referred to as “creepy tactic[s].”
Specifically, The Star cited the below Instagram image from Phillips’ account, depicting the 1989 Tim Burton-directed Batman version of the Joker in Florida gear.
I can only hope this means Phillips has this line prepared for any challengers who may try flipping Gator recruits: