After several years of recruiting a “foundation” for long term success, Miami RedHawks football head coach Chuck Martin feels better positioned to target particular areas these days. Consequently, although MU picked up nearly equal parts offense and defense in Wednesday football signing day, Miami put a special focus on the passing game.
More specifically, some key parts of . . .
One big addition was quarterback AJ Meyer out of Covington Catholic High School. The 6-3, 205-pounder raked in numerous honors while leading his Colonels team to a Kentucky 5-A championship as a senior. Not only was he Most Valuable Player of that contest, he helped Cov-Cath “time rule” nearly every Kentucky team on its schedule this year. Mayer also threw 31 touchdowns and totaled 2,974 yards passing as a junior.
“It was a great fit for us,” said Martin, who noted Mayer has a “ridiculously strong arm” but has also shown great touch. Moreover, while “not a zone read guy,” he is a capable enough runner, according to Martin. “He ran for 93 yards in the first half of the state championship. He’s an athlete,” Martin added. “When your quarterback can run and pass, we know what kind of an advantage that is, and how hard that is to defend.”
Martin and the RedHawks should, indeed, know after falling to rival Ohio and dual threat QB Nathan Rourke earlier this year.
With the RedHawks figuring as a strong MAC East challenger again next year, defending such threats is important. To that end – and/or the future – Miami also put focus on defensive backs Wednesday.
As many as four from the 13-member signing group – could be headed to the defensive backfield. Among them is a relatively rare junior college pickup. Zedrick Raymond comes to Oxford after playing two years at Independence Community College. He recorded 27 tackles and grabbed six interceptions (fourth nationally) in his second season.
Getting more turnovers is one of Martin’s goals for 2018, and Raymond could be a part of a push in that area. While he likes the potential of freshmen DB’s coming into the program, Martin is also keeping his eyes open for more help in January’s signing period – or even beyond.
“Nowadays in college football, there’s four wideouts on the field a lot – sometimes there’s five wideouts. You’ve gotta play four cover guys at one time.”
“I felt like we needed two more cover guys and as I told the guys … I don’t necessarily need you to come in and start, but I need you to be able to start,” Martin said.
Miami also picked up some quality in other positions, but Martin feels their could be more signees to come, depending on what is available after this first signing period ends this week.
“We’re not going to add just to add,” he said. “If I were to add now, it’s somebody that we really think could be a difference maker or fill a very specific need.”
And if such players are available?
“I think we’re very well-positioned for the next 45 days to the next signing date, but even that date isn’t the end all-be all now,” Martin said. “My phone rings a lot in the spring.”
CAM BLAKELY
High School: Currently attends Knoxville Catholic High School ... coached by Steve Matthews ... team captain ... helped lead his team to A pair of state championships in 2015 and 2017 ... earned all-region honors as a senior.
KAMERON BUTLER
High School: Currently attends Covington Catholic High School ... coached by Eddie Eviston ... team captain ... was team MVP as a junior ... same season he was named a 5A all-star and was named the District 5 Player of the Year ... led his team to a state championship as a senior ... three-year letter-winner ... was an All-Bluegrass team selection in 2017 ... finished career with 210 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and eight interceptions.
BENNETT CLARK
High School: Currently attends Zionsville Community High School ... coached by Pat Echeverria ... team captain ... team was the sectional champions in 2015-17 ... is a two-time all-state selection ... was named to the Indiana Super Team by the Indy Star.
DALLAS FIELDS
High School: Currently attends Toledo Central Catholic High School ... coached by Greg Dempsey ... team captain ... earned all-state as a senior ... same season he had 71 tackles and three interceptions ... added 366 yards and 12 touchdowns as a running back ... helped lead his team to the state semi-finals.
WILL KELLISON
High School: Currently attends Bishop Chatard High School ... coached by Rob Doyle ... team captain ... earned honorable mention all-state honors as a junior ... team won the sectional championship in 2017 ... earned all-state honors as a senior ... same season he was named to the Indiana Super Team by the Indy Star.
AJ MAYER
High School: Currently attends Covington Catholic High School ... coached by Eddie Eviston ... team captain ... was the 5A District Player of the Year as a junior, throwing for 2,974 yards and 31 touchdowns ... team won the 5A state championship as a senior ... was named the MVP of the state championship game ... named the District Player of the Year ... school record holder in career passing yards.
ZEDRICK RAYMOND
High School: Played two years at Independence Community College ... recorded 27 tackles and six interceptions (fourth in the country) his second year ... same season helped lead his team to a conference championship ... was a 2016 graduate of Murphy High School ... team captain for his high school team.
JA’DON RUCKER-FURLOW
High School: Currently attends Belmont High School ... coached by Earl White ... team captain ... earned first-team all-league as a junior ... team went undefeated his senior year ... earned first-team all-state as a senior.
ISAIAH SCHOONMAKER
High School: Currently attends Washington High School ... coached by Mike Bosnic ... is a four-time all-district and all-conference player ... was named the 2016 and 2017 Defensive Player of the Year in his conference by the Observer Reporter.
TYRE SHELTON
High School: Currently attends Chapel Hill High School ... coached by Justin Deshan ... team captain ... earned all-regional all four years of school ... had 425 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a single game as a junior ... earned first team all-region from 2015-17.
CECIL SINGLETON
High School: Currently attends Princeton High School ... coached by Mike Daniels ... earned first team all-conference as a senior.
ANDREW TODD
High School: Currently attends Cedar Rapids Washington High School ... coached by Maurice Blue ... team captain ... was named second-team all-state as a junior ... that same season Iowa Preps listed him as the No. 4 player in the state and Scout.com listed him as the No. 1 guard in the state ... team advanced to the state semi-finals as a junior ... earned Gazette All-Area as a senior ... started 43 games in his career on the offensive line.
BLAKE UNDERWOOD
High School: Currently attends East Lansing High School ... coached by Bill Feraco ... team captain ... earned all-state as a junior and senior by the Detroit News ... had 45 catches for 929 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior ... added two punt return scores that same season ... finished career with 12 interceptions.