“Pat Riley-Like” Al Golden Reels In Fifth Commit

Homestead DE joins four other players who have committed to Miami since Al Golden's suit took over the program

When Al Golden took over the University of Miami football program, he knew the first few months would be spent recruiting furiously. National signing day was less than two months away, the 'Canes had only 7 verbal commitments, and three of them shortly followed Randy Shannon (figuratively speaking) out the door.

The late nights and long hours are beginning to pay off: Homestead High defensive end Ricardo Williams committed to Golden Saturday night, the fifth such player to do so since Golden was hired December 12.

"They wanted me really bad," he told Rivals of Golden's staff, who began recruiting the long-time Miami fan after he languished off Shannon's radar. Why Williams wasn't previously recruited by Miami is unclear; he finished his career just two sacks shy of current Hurricane Marcus Robinson's school record.

One thing that's apparently helping Golden in his whirlwhind sales spree? A style reminiscent of a certain other local aquisitions overlord.

"He pulled up in a Cadillac Escalade, looking like Pat Riley in a great suit," said Bob Rudock, whose son Jake, a quarterback at St. Thomas Aquinas, met with Golden Tuesday (and remains strangely committed to Iowa). "His presence and vision stand out. Kids will buy in and win championships."

Nice rims, we can safely conclude, don't hurt either. (Confidential to UM boosters: IMAGINE WHAT THE MAN COULD DO WITH A HELICOPTER OR A TANK! POSSIBLY A LIVE TIGER WITH A SADDLE WOULD BE GREAT, TOO! JUST SAYING!)

Another local product, Miami Central defensive back Thomas Finnie, switched his commitment from Steve Spurrier's South Carolina on Thursday night and will enroll in school early on January 18.

Fast enough to place second in the 100 meters in last year's state track championships, Finnie was also passed over by the previous regime. 

"Miami was never recruiting me and I was upset by that," he told Canesport.com. "But they weren't recruiting at Central at all. That's why I was going to go to South Carolina. But now I get to be a Hurricane...

"They won't be sorry at all that they came and found me...If I have to sleep in that weight room I will do it."

The pair join Taylor Gadbois (OL/Dallas, GA), Dalton Botts (K/Moorpark, CA), and Olsen Pierre (DE/Fork Union, VA) in committing to Miami since the former Temple coach assumed control. The class is currently rounded out with previous verbals Phillip Dorsett (WR), Nick Menocal (LB), Jeremy Davis (DB), and Anthony Chickillo (DE).

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