Anyone choosing Miami (over Florida) can enjoy playing football in empty stadiums. When compared to playing in the SEC, it's probably also less pressure to play in a talent-challenged league like the ACC. See the total number of players taken by the NFL from both the SEC & ACC conferences (see below). In the last five years (2017-2021), there have been four SEC programs (Florida-33, LSU-39, Alabama-51; Georgia-28) with more players drafted by the NFL than the top 2+ teams from the ACC (Clemson-27, Miami-27, 17-{FSU, NC St, NC}). With all of those players recently drafted from Miami, there is nothing to show for the on-field success (see below). Auburn(22), TexasAM(21) and Miss St(17) would be ranked 3rd in the ACC (but ranked 5,6 & 7, respectively, in the SEC) for most players taken by the NFL. Heck even last place Vanderbilt(7) would be ranked 9th/10th in the ACC and who knows how much better the Commodores would do on the field against that same competition. ==================================== Florida gave Malik Bryant (& others like him) such a great opportunity to come play in the SEC against the best college competition possible but it looks like that he took the 'easier' path. In the last five years, the Hurricanes had failed to be ranked in the final AP poll four times - the only time was in 2020 - Miami finished #22. Meanwhile, Florida was ranked five times in the last seven years. Even at 6-6 last year, Florida was the only program from the so called Big-3 from Florida to go to a bowl game (not Miami, not FSU). So, which state of Florida program is doing the best, right now? Miami is such a sorry program - the hurricanes have finished unranked in the final AP poll 12 times in the last 16 years: #17('05)- Larry Coker's last season! #19('09)--(6 year gape)---#20('16), #13('17)--#22('20) Mark Richt saved that program for a couple of years before it all fizzled again! In contrast, Florida was ranked 11/16 times under four different coaches (Meyer, Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen): 12('05), #1('06), 13('07), #1('08), #3('09) #9('12), 25('15), 14('16), #7('18), #6('19), #7('20,CFP). Since 2005, Florida finished in the top 10 seven times! ==================================== Wait till Napier really gets going at Florida!
I will repeat my mantra…most highly rated kids are not Interested or making a decision based on a schools academics, nor does playing in a full stadium vs an empty stadium matter when kids are getting paid upfront with NIL and signing deals/contracts with schools for NIL pre enrollment. For the majority of players, and this is at every level of professional sports, and I am now including college football as a professional when getting paid, the highest amount of money wins out 99% of the time. High school players choosing a college aren’t any different than nfl, mlb, nba free agents going where they get paid the most. fans continue to bag on Miami attendance but it does not matter to recruits
How about the chances of being drafted by the NFL which was what my post was really about (I did not say anything about academic rankings)? Also, the league you choose to play will indicate the quality of competition. If one plays in the SEC, half of your games against competition could be against similar quality or greater than as the talent on your team. Usually, playing against better competition will make one better!
We will see if it matters. There are still people who would like to enjoy & have the entire college experience and be part of something bigger than just themselves!
Just because a kid doesn't pick an SEC school doesn't mean they're scared of competition. There are a litany of other reasons i.e. they might want to stay closer to home, enjoy big-city living etc. Bryant is a good player but I have confidence in Coach BN to recruit other players who can have an impact on our defense who actually want to be Gators.
Yea i'm not denying that, but there are a bunch of kids who don't care about that. Also comparing recent draft picks is a moot point considering those players were coached by a totally different staff.
that does matter. But every player drafted prior on your chart was coached by different staffs. Which makes it near irrelevant to the recruits. Napier wasn’t responsible for a single nfl player ferrying drafted at florida. Ditto cristobal at miami. coaches at each school will now sell their past with other players (like Cristobal and Herbert and Florida with Corey Raymond). Also…that chart shows UF averaged 1.2 additional picks per year, hardly some major difference to sell to recruits. Players have confidence no matter where they go they will get drafted. (Travis Hunter to Div 1-aa for example) but now with NIL, players can get paid NOW and not gamble on the nfl as their only source of football income. No one is guaranteed to make nfl money. If a player can get $500,000-$8 million over 3-4 years in college…that trumps any development between schools especially when the difference in draftees is marginal. (Talking highly rated kids here).
The staff gotta spin back around to Lewis Carter and Grayson Howard. Just keep pushing and pushing man. Would love those two LB's in this class. What you said is so true; not to mention skill fit with a particular offense/defense factors in as well. People seem to forget that too
I really like Howard's upside based on his size, and a guy like Carter who you can line up at various spots would be icing on the cake. If we win 10+ games some of these recruits will definitely come circling back to us.
Billy needs to develop some players into the league over the next couple of years. It won’t help as much as money, but it’s the next best draw.
At Florida, one can get drafted by the NFL while also playing on successful football teams that have finished in the top 10 while knocking on the door of the CFP's! Then, there is that perk of getting a top 25 (or top 5 public univeristy) degree - oh, for shame, that we have to live that one down! lol! Their college experience would include playing in higher tier, New Year-6 bowl games: Cotton Bowl('20), Orange Bowl('19), Peach Bowl('18), Citrus('15), Sugar('12), etc... When was the last time Miami has played in the Orange Bowl, Sugar, etc.? Orange ('17, a loss to Wisconsin under Richt) Peach ('05, a loss under Coker) Sugar ('00, a win over UF by Btch Davis, oof!) Still, that was over two decades ago for Miami! ========================= We will soon see which of Napier or Cristoball can have their programs back into the thick of things. The games will still have to be played on the field. Miami has had a poor record playing in the ACC!
Meanwhile, Miami has the history & experience of playing these recent bowl games to sell to their recruits: Cheez-it bowl (2020-L) Pin-Stripe Bowl (2018-L) Russel-Athletic Bowl (2016-W under Richt) Independence & Sun Bowls (two times each, 4-L total) Then, who can forget the following: Champs Sports Bowl ('09-L, under our very own randy Shannon) Emerald Bowl ('08-L) MPC Computers Bowl ('06-W, good for Coker who must be great at computer programming!) Oh yeah, Miami has lost 10 out of their last 11 bowl games! What a sorry-loser program!
MC is selling Miami's past glory, a glory he was actually a part of and all those nfl players as well as all the players he helped get to the NFL from his days at Bama and Oregon.
Seriously do you really think Florida’s status and perception that we have any merit of criticisms to other programs. Until we start evolving into a power playoff team it would be wise to keep quiet. To recruits , Miami and FSU are just as viable as a destination as UF. We are just a bit above average at best. Just being real here . I love UF and wore the uniform so I’m not a troll. Just a truth teller.
