Don’t look now, but any residual goodwill that former coach and player Randy Shannon had with Miami is probably toast.
On Tuesday, Shannon was able to help flip the commitment of 2017 offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort from Miami to Florida, where Shannon is the new defensive coordinator. Already a beefy 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Kadeem Telfort could be one of the nation’s biggest and most athletic linemen by the time he walks on to campus in Gainesville … assuming he does walk on to campus in Gainesville.
The fact that Telfort flipped from Miami to Florida, and did so in the span of just 10 minutes, is a powerful indication of the kind of impact that Shannon can have on the ever shifting tides of recruiting in the Sunshine State. Shannon, the former head coach, defensive coordinator and legendary linebacker at Miami, has returned to Florida to coach alongside new Gators coach Jim McElwain. As part of his brief, he’s also helping lead recruiting outreach in his old South Florida stomping grounds, and his early efforts are bearing fruit; Shannon and the Gators have already landed three recruits from Shannon’s own alma mater, Norland, including Telfort himself.
Of course, now Shannon and Florida have to find a way to keep Telfort in Gator blue through National Signing Day in 2017, no small feat with more than 20 months to go. Coach Shannon still has his work cut out for him.