Late additions could make UM's 2010 class special
Source Shandel Richardson South Florida Sun-Sentinel
When talking about the Miami Hurricanes' 2010 recruiting class, many felt it lacked star power.
Recruiting
gurus thought the Hurricanes landed too many "sleepers," but that changed with the late additions of cornerback
Latwan Anderson and tackle Seantrel Henderson. A class once considered low-profile could end up being the program's cornerstone
the next few years.
"These are two highly regarded athletes," said Allen Wallace, national recruiting
editor for SuperPrep Magazine. "We had [Miami's class] ranked at 17th. "I'd probably move
them between 10th and 12th based on these two guys … [Henderson] is good
enough alone to move a class up four or five spots."
Rivals.com and Scout.com ranked the Hurricanes' recruiting
class 16th and 14th before the unexpected arrivals of Henderson and Anderson.
Both were considered top 20 players nationally, and give more reason to be excited about the incoming class.
Neither player planned to play at UM until having second thoughts about
their original college decisions. Henderson and Anderson, who will be roommates, are expected on campus Aug 3., two days before
fall practices begin. The other freshmen arrived in late June, and participated in summer workouts.
"When
I get there, I just have to work out and go as hard as they've been going since they got there," said the 6-foot-8, 350-pound
Henderson, who was the nation's No. 1 recruit at Cretin-Derham (Minn) Hall. "It's just like me hopping on the bandwagon.
I need to stay focused and work hard. I've been active every day, but at the same time, it's not like what the players are
doing that are already down there."
Anderson, of Glenville High in Cleveland, committed to West Virginia before
signing with the Hurricanes in March. He is projected to play defense, but could see time at wide receiver and kick returner
this season. Henderson, the USA Today national player of the year, signed with USC in March. The Trojans later received harsh penalties for violating NCAA rules, prompting Henderson to request a release from his letter of
his intent.
"He has a great possibility of being a future NFL lineman," Wallace said. "It was a big loss for USC and a
huge gain for the Hurricanes. It was very unexpected because people thought that game was over … If he turns out to
be a top five NFL draft pick, a guy who starts three years or has two incredible years and then leaves, he'll have an enormous
effect on the program."
ESPN recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg views the additions as "icing
on the cake" for what was mostly considered an average recruiting class. Before Anderson and Henderson, the Hurricanes
had no players ranked in the Top 100 by Rivals or Scout. Only three made the ESPNU Top 150, including St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus
Brandon Linder at center and running back Storm Johnson.
UM coach Randy Shannon, who landed strong classes the previous two years, was more concerned
with filling needs--mainly on the offensive line--instead of star power.
"One or two guys aren't going to
make or break a class," Newberg said. "These are two wonderful additions, but even without them, it wasn't a bad
class. I always said it was a solid class. I think a lot of the negativity came because Miami had so many great players in
their backyard that they didn't get. Most of them left the area, which is very untypical of Miami."
