Hurricanes coaches Manny Diaz and Ephraim Banda were charged with evaluating talent-rich Miami Columbus High School this spring.

“They came out together and I met with them,” Columbus High coach Chris Merritt said. “The majority of it was making sure Trajan (Bandy) is all set to go academically, what their plans are for him this summer [and yes, Bandy is all set to enroll for Summer A May 22].”

Merritt adds “I have a personal relationship with those guys (Diaz and Banda) and it was friendly talk. They know who we have by now, who our younger guys are. I’m not sure I have anyone in this senior class they’re going to recruit, though.”

Merritt says one of his rising seniors has caught UM’s eye - WR Tyler Harrell, who lists offers from the likes of Illinois, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Wake Forest.

“(Getting a Miami offer) will depend on the kind of summer he can have,” Merritt says.

Miami is intrigued by Harrell’s wheels - he runs the 100 in 10.3 seconds and is the anchor leg of the state title 4x1 team that includes CJ Henderson, Bandy and Josh Jobe.

The underclassmen Miami’s highly interested in?

Athlete Xzavier Henderson (CJ’s younger brother), FS/OLB Courtney Holmes, RB Henry Parrish, Jeramy Passmore and Kelani Norris.

Henderson lists an early Miami offer, and UF has also offered him.

“He’s a slam-dunk (recruit), is an inch taller than CJ and has already put down the track times,” Merritt said.

Holmes has a Michigan offer and is waiting on Miami, and Parrish, Passmore and Norris also hope to land Miami offers (Norris has a Kentucky offer so far and Passmore has a couple of early offers).

Another name to keep an eye on?

Gary Cooper.

“I think Gary is going to blow up here shortly,” Merritt said. “He’s our H-back type kid. There aren’t too many kids 6-2, 6-3, 240 that move like he does, has soft hands like he does. And he’s explosive. He’s never thrown shot before and he went to states not knowing what he’s doing. Miami’s aware of him.”

Asked if any of those waiting on offers would likely wind up Canes if UM does give a scholarship, Merritt said, “The way recruiting has gotten very few kids let it be know where they want to go. They all love the process. It is what it has become.”

Merritt’s take on if Miami’s program is elevated in the eyes of recruits with Richt on board and the recent success recruiting and on the field?

“The first part is I definitely think they’re on stronger ground, more solid footing than five years ago because of the facilities and they’re not hiding under that cloud anymore that was created by that mess,” Merritt said. “The second part is they’ve pushed the top of the mid level - if they want to make that jump into the Michigan’s and Alabama’s, that tier of program (recruiting-wise) they’re going to have to have success on the field.”

A Cane commitment from Columbus is Josh Jobe - he will depart for Cheshire Academy in Connecticut later this summer. That's where he’ll finish out his senior year due to aging out of Florida sports.

How solid does Merritt see him to UM?

“We’ll see if his recruiting changes once he goes to the northeast,” Merritt said. “Michigan and Alabama want to say their piece. From that point it’s a three-headed race between those programs. But Josh is a Miami kid.”