OXFORD — Don Treadwell’s plan to recruit heavily from his own back yard is about to pay off for Miami University’s football team, at least according to Scout.com.
The national website which specializes in recruiting news has ranked the RedHawks’ potential 2012 class of recruits — which will be announced today on national signing day — as the third-best in the Mid-American Conference.
Scout.com ranks Miami’s class as the 76th best in the nation. MAC teams ranked ahead of the RedHawks are Toledo (60th) and Temple (65th).
It’s a far cry from last year, when Miami’s new crop was ranked second-worst in the MAC and fourth-worst in the nation among Bowl Subdivision programs. The RedHawks finished 4-8 overall, 3-5 in the MAC.
Miami is expected to have 11-13 recruits from Ohio, including local players such as quarterback Austin Gearing from Fenwick High School, running back Jamire Westbrook from Kings and inside linebacker Josh Dooley from Mason.
The Greater Catholic League should be well represented in Miami’s new class.
In addition to Gearing, other likely Miami newcomers will come from St. Xavier (defensive end Bryson Albright, center Brandyn Cook and linebacker Nate Gerbus) and Elder (guard Nick Custer).
Although Miami’s second-year staff has returned to Southwest Ohio as a primary focus, it also is continuing a recent trend by looking south.
The RedHawks, who had three freshmen from South Carolina on their roster in 2011, are hoping to sign at least three players from South Carolina, including a fairly high-profile prospect in defensive tackle David DeLeon from Bamberg, S.C.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.