Though some of the big-name universities might have some last-minute drama left up their sleeves, for schools like Miami, National Signing Day is for the most part in the books now. There weren't too many surprises for the 'Hawks. Of the 16 players listed in this morning's article detailing those who had already verbally committed, 14 signed national letters of intent to play for Don Treadwell's RedHawks. Three other players decided today that they wanted to come play in Oxford, bringing the total number of recruits to 17.
The two recruits from this morning's list that did not ink with the 'Hawks today (TE Chris Dever and CB Jamarcus Darden) have yet to sign with any other program, so they may yet end up in the fold at Miami. The three new names to the list are:
David Frazier, WR, Irmo High School (Columbia, SC)
Alvonta Jenkins, WR, Camden High School (Camden, SC)
Tyler Tucker, OLB/"Athlete", East Lansing High School (East Lansing MI)
Yes, it is a rather small class. In fact, it's second-smallest in the MAC, ahead only of Buffalo's 12 (as of this writing). At this point it is obvious that players were hesitant to sign on for a program that will be in its inaugural year under a first-time head coach, despite the success it enjoyed last year. Many naysayers criticized the 'Hawks for enjoying what they called an easy schedule, taking advantage of an off year in a weak conference. It seems that idea was enough to keep most players away.
There are indeed still holes to fill on the roster for next year. The 'Hawks are losing 20 seniors to graduation, including a number of playmakers on offense. Armand Robinson, Jamal Rogers, Thomas Merriweather, Trevor Cook and Seth Philip are just some of the names who will be gone next year, and the 'Hawks will miss their production on the field. But as the natural progression of things goes, some of these new faces will have to step up into the spotlight to carry on in their stead.
In other Signing Day News, 15 student-athletes signed letters of intent to compete in three other Miami sports. The soccer team received the bulk of the newcomers, claiming nine of them: defenders Lauren Colliver (Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, OH) and Courtney Zanotti (Lutheran High School West, North Royalton, OH), midfielders Kelsey Dinges (Althoff Catholic High School, Smithton, IL) and Amanda Filian (Palatine High School, Palatine, IL), forwards Emily Hyde (Barrington High School, Barrington, IL) and Hailey Pleshakov (Hartland High School, Brighton, MI), forward/midfielders Emilee Kaminski (Saline High School, Saline, MI) and Charlotte Myers (Bexley High School, Bexley, OH), and goalkeeper Danielle Wiseman (Jackson High School, Canton OH).
The Women's Track & Field/Cross Country team added four signees: thrower Adaora Anunike (Olentangy High School, Worthington, OH), distance runners Jess Hoover (Hilliard Davidson High School, Hilliard, OH) and Mattie Moncayo (Lexington High School, Lexington, OH) and sprinter Taylor Wickware (Geneva Community High School, Geneva, IL).
Lastly, the Men's Track & Field team had two of their own new recruits: hurdlers Sam Chester (Medina High School, Medina, OH) and Jay Combs (Stivers School for the Arts, Dayton, OH).
I think I speak for all of us as we warmly welcome all of the newest RedHawks to Oxford.
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