Booker T. Star, Two Others Commit to the U

How many giant running backs are too many? Trick question: never enough.

By JANIE CAMPBELL

Updated 4:15 PM EST, Tue, Nov 3, 2009

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Say what you will about Miami's clock management skills or quarterback retention program, but that Randy Shannon sure can recruit.

Since their scary last-second win over Wake Forest on Saturday night, the Hurricanes have received three verbal commitments from stellar recruiting talent. Or, rather, two: Miami Booker T. Washington's star running back, Eduardo Clements, says he gave a silent commitment to UM coaches before his senior season started, but only just went public with his preference today.

"When I silently committed, I thought a lot of the commotion would settle down," he said of the calls and visits and general harassment recruits endure. "But it didn't. So now it is time to let everyone know what I am doing.

"I am excited about being a Hurricane and am really happy to get it all over with."

Clements, 5'10" and 185 pounds with a 4.45 forty, is the fourth big back the 'Canes have notched in this class. He joins Tampa Bay Tech's Maurics Hagens (6'1", 235), Naples Lely's Darion Hall (6'1", 200), and Loganville, Georgia's Storm Johnson (6'1", 217), who committed on Sunday.

It's not a guarantee all four will still be 'Canes on Signing Day in February -- nothing riding on the whims of teenage boys is a sure thing -- though Johnson says he's set to enroll early for the spring semester. But Miami's recruiting shift to larger backs at the expense of homegrown, family tree-talent like Miami Columbus' speedy but slight Jakhari Gore indicates the Hurricanes will stick with the NFL-inspired offense they've recently installed.

(Whether it's been more Titans than Saints lately is up for debate, but wins are wins.)

The class was also bolstered with the Monday addition of Glades Central's Greg Dent, whom the Canes project at corner even though Dent currently plays both sides of the ball for the Raiders. He plans to ask for a shot at receiver as well.

Shannon's talent at talent is obvious, as the influx of freshman and sophomores from his first two full recruiting classes have sparked of a revival of sorts in Coral Gables. There wasn't much to sell the 2008 class on but a history and a dream, but Shannon came up with ESPN's no.1-ranked class -- leading us to believe he could sign Lou Holtz if he put his mind to it. As he gets closer and closer to fielding a team of his own choosing, it'll be interesting to see if the 'Canes can complete a turnaround on his watch.