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Players Have Chance To Prove They Made The Right Choice

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By CHRISTOPHER STOCK, Tribune correspondent

Published: September 20, 2007

CORAL GABLES - The schools have not met since 1944, but the University of Miami and Texas A&M have crossed paths on the recruiting trail against each other much more recently.

In addition to potentially giving the Hurricanes a much-needed boost before they begin conference play, tonight's game against the No. 20 Aggies at the Orange Bowl will give several Canes from the state of Texas a closer look at the school they almost attended.

Among those who considered Texas A&M is Miami senior wide receiver Lance Leggett, who spent two years of high school in Arlington and visited Texas A&M before signing with the Hurricanes.

When Leggett was on his visit to College Station, he met Danny Gorrer, now a starting cornerback at Texas A&M. The two have become good friends and have been talking throughout the season, and they are looking forward to tonight's matchup.

'I have got to go at him,' Leggett said. 'We've got to go at him.'

Last week against Florida International, Leggett caught an 80-yard touchdown pass in a 23-9 Canes victory.

'He'll see it on film,' Leggett said with a smile.

UM left tackle Jason Fox, from North Crowley, Texas, also considered Texas A&M and had the school in his top three.

'The game is important, because I had an opportunity to go there but I chose here,' Fox said. 'Obviously this is the better team and this is the better program.'

Texas A&M was the second school to offer a scholarship to UM right tackle Reggie Youngblood, a Houston native.

'I was excited,' said Youngblood, a former five-star recruit. 'Being from Texas, I knew all about the tradition of Texas A&M and everything.'
Youngblood got to know Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett during their time as roommates at the Army All-American Bowl. Bennett originally was verbally committed to the Hurricanes before opening up his options.

Bennett was not the only one who got away from Miami and ended up at Texas A&M. The Hurricanes also were after running back Mike Goodson, who was a five-star recruit out of Klein, Texas.

'Goodson is good at hitting the corners,' Miami coach Randy Shannon said. 'And we recruited him to come to Miami, and if you are not careful he'll bounce one outside.'

While the Hurricanes could not pull Goodson away from Texas A&M, they did get Shawnbrey McNeal this year.

McNeal verbally committed to Texas A&M in September, but a week before signing day, he made the switch to Miami.

'I wanted to come here since I was 8 years old,' McNeal said. 'The opportunity came for me to come here, and I took it.'

McNeal, who had two carries for 20 yards in his first game last week, will have family members from Dallas at the game tonight.

'For me to have the chance to go in the game and play against Texas A&M is a big thing for me and my path for this season,' McNeal said.

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