Two Poets headed to Louisville
Dunbar linebacker Horace Miller was all set to join teammate Courtney Bridget at UNLV. Poets wide receiver Sean Farr was deciding between offers from Akron and Toledo.
Then last week Louisville suddenly entered the picture. The Cardinals sent secondary coach Larry Slade to Dunbar, and the former Tennessee assistant left Baltimore with commitments from Miller and Farr.
“It was like two days after coach Slade got hired [that we were offered],” Miller said. “He was previously working at Tennessee, he got hired at Louisville and he went straight to recruiting. … We kept in touch for a long time while he was at Tennessee. He kept telling me he wanted me, but Tennessee didn’t really want me. ... I believe it was a great situation for coach Slade and myself. It just seemed right for both for us.”
Miller, who made his official visit to Louisville two weekends ago, had previously committed to UNLV. When the Cardinals entered the picture, though, Miller weighed both schools’ location and overall atmosphere. Miller preferred the idea of living in Louisville over Las Vegas for the next four years. It wasn't easy telling Bridget of his decision.
“He’s a great person,” Miller said of Bridget. “He called me a couple times ... and was just saying, ‘don’t come to UNLV just because I’m here.’ ... He never pressured me to go to UNLV. He just wished me well where I go. And I made the decision for me.”
It didn’t take much convincing for Farr to commit. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, who took his official visit to Louisville last weekend, was extremely familiar with the Cardinals’ offensive reputation.
“I already knew they liked to throw the ball,” Farr said. “I saw their quarterback before, [current Green Bay Packers backup] Brian Brohm. So I know they pass a lot. The coaches are looking at me to come in there and make plays.”
Farr, who was falsely rumored to be an Akron commitment, said he was happy he took a deliberate approach with his recruitment.
“I was just weighing my options, making sure I was making the right decision for me and my family,” Farr said. “It feels great.”
Six Dunbar seniors have now made oral commitments to Div. 1 schools. Running back Tavon Austin is headed to West Virginia, Bridget is going to UNLV, running back Davon Muse pledged to Central Michigan and linebacker Gary Onuekwusi will play for Temple. Offensive lineman Antonio Brown has accepted an offer from Morgan State, a Football Championship Subdivision program. Miller said he’s happy to be playing with Farr, but wishes he could take his other teammates along for the ride.
“I love these guys. I want to be playing with all of them together,” Miller said. “I wish we could make a college team with just Dunbar. I think we could win a national championship with them. But in the Big East, Tavon is going to West Virginia. Me and Sean will be on the same team. And I know Courtney’s going to do good out there. ... I can’t wait to be in the Big East.”
Credits: Baltimore Sun photos by Kenneth K. Lam (Miller) and Algerina Perna (Farr).
Comments
No love loss Horace, thank you for even considering our program. Being all the way across the country, and a program one the rise, would be a tough commitment to follow through on if you have a great program like Louisville calling. Still, thanks for considering UNLV.
That said, I know the Big East is decent at football, but I think the past 3 years that the Mountain West has proven to be a better conference....and I think that trend continues. I look forward to seeing Bridget show his wares here in Vegas!!!
Posted by: unlvrebelx | February 2, 2009 12:27 PM
Soo... with Maryland coaches at Dunbar games, all the time, scouting Austin... they didnt find anyone else capable playing at a D1 level...?
Posted by: Aaron | February 2, 2009 5:20 PM
MD has gotten about 8 Verbals from LB.s in 2009.they need Dline not LBS now.
Posted by: tony | February 2, 2009 6:12 PM
Six Dunbar seniors have now made oral commitments to Div. 1 schools.
only two were linebackers... AND getting 9 verbals from linebackers, as you report... means no room, for the 2 of these linebackers, in the same class..? that obviously were recruited at the same time, isnt really a valid reply. but thanks anyway. Seeing how signing a team mate, swayed some players here.. maybe signing one, coulda swayed Austin from spurning the terps.
Posted by: Aaron | February 3, 2009 5:58 PM
I just think that its terrible that UM do not recruit these GOOD PLAYERS from Baltimore City! If u look at any other colleges, they snatch up all home-grown talent in their Town!
Posted by: John | February 4, 2009 12:26 PM
Recruiting is more than just how talented the player is - it also has to do with academics. MD has higher entrance standards than the schools that these talented individuals decided to go to.
Maybe they just wanted to get out of B'more and see what else is out there. Maybe they didn't like MD's coaching staff.
Best of luck to these guys and all the other commits.
Posted by: Deano | February 4, 2009 2:51 PM
Aaron - what's your point? That the Terps should have recruited someone else off Dunbar's team just to hope to get Austin to come along? Who exactly should that have been? One of the 2* LBs? The 2* DB? The 2* RB? One of the guys that signed with traditional powers Howard and Morgan State? Maybe you mean Farr, the 3* WR who signed with Louisville? The Terps could actually probably have used him. The Terps did sign two 4* RBs, so I don't even care that Austin went to WVU.
John - see the comments above. The talent's not bad, but for the most part not what the Terps are looking for. No disrespect to any of the fine young men who will be getting their education elsewhere. But I don't see Penn State coming after most of these guys either.
Posted by: Jack | February 4, 2009 3:43 PM