Richt’s presence paying off for UM

The Miami Hurricanes have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for 2018, so far, and recent UM commit said there is one key reason. “It’s pretty much Coach

Campbell said of the Miami head football coach. “To be honest, if Coach Richt wasn’t there, I don’t think anybody would be going there. Coach Richt is just a great coach and I know it’s all about winning games, but he really cares about the city and the people and everything like that.”

It came as no surprise Monday when the big Orlando Dr. Phillips offensive tackle committed to the ’Canes. UM was Campbell’s first big-time offer and was the frontrunner since offering the 6-foot-5, 284-pound tackle on Christmas Eve of last year.

The ’Canes coaching staff let Campbell know he was a priority during UM’s trip to Orlando in December for the Russell Athletic Bowl, in which the Hurricanes blew out West Virginia 31-14.

Campbell visited one of the Miami practices leading up to the bowl game and later that day he found out that Miami coaches had reached out to Dr. Phillips coaches and let them know Campbell had a scholarship offer.

Campbell, who said the only other school he was heavily considering was Florida, was sold on the Hurricanes and the Miami staff after his trip to South COMMENTARY Florida for the UM spring game.

“Pretty much after that first visit,” Campbell said. “I just liked the atmosphere and how it was.”

His main recruiter was Miami running backs coach and Central Florida representative

as well as offensive line coach

He has developed a good relationship with Searels.

“I like the way he coaches. He coaches hard and he don’t really take any slack from you,” Campbell said. “He tries to get the best potential out of you and at the end of the day he’s going to treat you like family.”

But overall it was Richt who was the main reason for Campbell leaning to “The U” and a big reason why Miami has 19 commitments to the 2018 class. While the No. 1 ranking may not hold up all the way until the early signing period in December and National Signing Day in February, it’s obvious Richt has made his mark in the nation’s biggest recruiting hotbed.

“He doesn’t really try to sell you on anything or try to tell you, ‘Come and be a part of this class,’ or whatever, like other recruiters,” Campbell said. “He just said he’d love to have me down there for the next four years and that I’m their No. 1 guy.”

Campbell said Richt was the most involved head coach from among all the schools that recruited him.

“It’s a big deal if the head coach is putting a lot of time into it,” Campbell said.

He enjoyed the recruiting process.

“Seeing all these people like these head coaches that usually you only see on TV, it’s a great opportunity,” Campbell said. “Other people don’t really have the opportunity to do all this stuff like recruited players do and so I’ve had a lot of chances to go see all these great facilities and colleges.”

Campbell is the 19th commitment to the UM 2018 recruiting class and the third offensive lineman, joining guards

(6-3, 305) of Miami Southridge and

(6-3, 327) of Fort Meade.

He is the second Central Florida player to commit to Miami’s 2018 class, joining Orange City University running back

Also committed to Miami is Daytona Beach Mainland 2020 safety

who recently transferred from DeLand. Williams is Lingard’s cousin.