Hillsborough’s Moore and Sherit, Middleton’s Benjamin waiting to see Miami fallout

Posted Aug 18, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Aug 19, 2011 at 02:38 AM

Although concerned and disturbed over the flood of allegations that surfaced from the University of Miami football program, local Hurricanes commitment Earl Moore said Wednesday he will wait before making any decision about his future with the school.

“I have been surprised by the situation,” Moore said. “Me and my parents are just trying to find out what’s going on and what’s going to happen, then we’ll decide what to do.”

Moore, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound nose guard, made a verbal commitment to the Canes during an unofficial recruiting trip Sunday to Coral Gables. Three days later, a report by Yahoo! Sports claimed UM booster Nevin Shapiro, now serving 20 years in federal prison, treated players with sex parties, nightclub outings, cars and other gifts. Shapiro told Yahoo! Sports he provided improper benefits to 72 football players and other athletes at Miami from 2002 to 2010.

During his visit to the UM campus, Moore said it was a low-key affair with coaches and players only.

“My dad and I went down there (last weekend) and jut watched the scrimmage, hung out with some of the players and coaches and went to a cook-out,” Moore said. “After that, I committed.”

Moore said he is taking a wait-and-see attitude and was already planning to take official visits this fall to Florida State, USF, South Carolina, Cincinnati and Miami.

Two other local prep football standouts have scholarship offers from Miami: Moore’s teammate, tightend/defensive end Jordan Sherit, and Middleton wide receiver/defensive back Richard Benjamin. Both athletes say they will wait to see the fallout from the investigation and what sanctions the NCAA will impose. But Benjamin said he was “disappointed” with what he has read about the allegations.

“I’m very dissappointed in Miami, booster club-wise and player-wise and with the money thing—I’m shocked,” “They (Miami) were actually my number one choice but now they’re probably lower down, depending on what happens.”

To see a Tribune/Channel report on Moore and Benjamin discussing their feelings about UM, follow thi link: http://www2.tbo.com/sports/prep-sports/2011/aug/18/local-prospects-talk-about-u-of-miami-s-79662-vi-23769/