Several players on Oklahoma’s roster flirted with going to Miami. But three members of the 2006 recruiting class had major interest in the Hurricanes during the recruiting process.

Tight end Jermaine Gresham said his decision came down to OU and Miami.

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who played in his first college game last Saturday, made an official visit to Miami before settling on OU.

“It went good,” McCoy recalled. “There were just some things I didn’t like as much as OU.”

“Miami didn’t have (OU defensive line coach Jackie) Shipp. If you want me to be honest, that’s what it was. He’s a great coach, knows what he’s doing. They needed a Coach Shipp for me to go there.”

DeMarco Murray was another recruit the Hurricanes sought.

“They were one of my top choices coming out with Oklahoma, USC and Florida,” the redshirt freshman running back said. “But I didn’t see myself going there or see myself fitting in there. I didn’t pay too much attention to them later in my senior year. I didn’t have the relationship with coaches that I had with coaches here, Florida and USC. They didn’t talk to me as much.”

Miami’s primary recruiting base has always been its home state. But the Hurricanes roster includes players from 16 other states.

None, however, are from Oklahoma.

John Shinn

366-3536

jshinn@normantranscript.com