Five-star safety, track star commits to Miami

Latwan Anderson commits to Miami - SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

The University of Miami has its first five-star football player for 2010 -- by way of track.

Defensive back and track star Latwan Anderson of Glenville High in Cleveland, Ohio, has committed to the Miami Hurricanes to sign a track scholarship, and also will play football. Once he plays in a game, his scholarship will convert to football.

Anderson attends Ginn Academy -- founded and directed by Ted Ginn Sr., father of Miami Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr. -- for academics, but plays sports for Glenville. Ginn Sr. is Glenville's football coach.

Anderson had previously committed to play for West Virginia on national television during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but had second thoughts and visited the UM track program last weekend.

UM apparently has met its 25-player scholarship limit for this year, and NCAA recruiting rules prohibit football coaches from having contact with an athlete who is signing with another sport. Other UM players in the past, such as star receiver Santana Moss and current UM football player Cory Nelms, signed on a track scholarship and were automatically converted to football -- per NCAA rules -- once they played in a game.

``It was a little strange not talking to them, but I understand the situation,'' Anderson told Canesport.com. ``I picked Miami because me, my dad and mom, we compared everything from Miami to West Virginia. And everything stacked up. Miami's academics were step and step, and when it came to football Miami was on another level.''

He said he would sign the Letter of Intent whenever he receives it -- ``tonight or tomorrow. It's a done deal.''

Rivals.com ranks Anderson as the second best safety prospect in the nation.

Anderson's assistant football coach at Glenville, Matt Chinchar, said he was an exceptional talent, and obviously erred in committing too early to WVU.

``Part of the problem was that he was on national TV, a young man who got caught up in the limelight instead of holding off and being patient, so he declared [in January],'' Chinchar told The Miami Herald on Wednesday. ``A lot of people contacted him saying this and that.

``He's excited about playing at the University of Miami. He said he has a lot of family in Florida and likes the football program and its reputation.''

Chinchar said Anderson, listed as 5-11 and 178 pounds, mostly played safety this past season. He was the state runner-up in the 200 meters last year at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, where he played football for two seasons. He went to Euclid High during his freshman year.

Glenville lost this season by one point to Hilliard Davidson in the state championship game.

``At times he played corner,'' Chinchar said, ``And he did some kick and punt returning. He's got tremendous closing speed on the football. That's his biggest skill. When you think he might be out of position, he's just baiting the receiver. All of a sudden he'll close in on the ball and intercept it.''

Chinchar said that Ginn Sr. is currently at home recuperating from knee surgery.

Recruiting analyst Larry Blustein described Anderson as ``an exceptional football player and tremendous athlete. There are never any guarantees, but as far as what he's done at the high school level, he's a great prospect. He's quick, athletic, a total player.''

The Canes are still hoping that tackle Seantrel Henderson of St. Paul Cretin-Hall, Minn., the nation's No. 1 offensive lineman, will sign with UM. He previously committed to Southern Cal on National Signing Day, but is awaiting news on possible NCAA sanctions against USC to make his final decision.