Head Coach Al Golden and the Miami Hurricanes’ football coaching staff wrapped up National Signing Day with 24 new signees joining UM as student-athletes.

The Hurricanes had success all over the state, but most importantly in convincing several South Florida players to sign with Miami. The newest group of local Hurricanes includes Miramar teammates Tracy Howard (the nation’s No. 1-rated cornerback, according to Rivals) and Malcolm Lewis (ranked No. 145 on the ESPNU 150), Randy “Duke” Johnson of state champion Miami Norland (Rivals’ No. 1-rated running back), Columbus defensive back Deon Bush (Rivals’ No. 4 safety), and wide receiver Angelo Jean-Louis of Palm Beach Central (ranked No. 46 on the ESPNU 150).

The efforts of coach Golden and his staff to retain the top talent in their back yard paid off, as 20 of the team’s 24 signees hailed from Florida. The ’Canes hauled in six defensive backs, including AP All-State First-Team selections Vernon Davis (Coral Reef) and Antonio Crawford (Plant), Nate Dortch of Fort Myers, and do-it-all safety Rayshawn Jenkins (Admiral Farragut Academy).

All-State First-Team lineman Daniel Isidora (Cypress Bay), ranked the No. 17 offensive guard prospect by ESPN, will be blocking for Johnson and fellow signee Danny Dillard (Venice) in the backfield. Wide receivers D’Mauri Jones (Leesburg), Herb Waters (Homestead), and Robert Lockhart (Fork Union Military Academy) may end up catching passes from quarterback signee David Thompson (Westminster Christian), a standout two-sport athlete.

Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio will enjoy the additions of four Florida standouts on his defensive line. Tackles Dequan Ivery (Columbia) and Earl Moore (Hillsborough) were key pickups, while St. Thomas Aquinas product Jelani Hamilton (the No. 9 defensive end, according to Rivals) and Tampa defensive end Tyriq McCord (No. 96 on ESPNU 150) also figure to be key additions to a line that graduated some of its most important players. Linebackers Jawand Blue and Gabriel Terry are in-state signees who will replenish a position that lost key contributors from last year’s squad.

Not all of the players signed by Golden’s staff were Floridians. The staff reached out to Louisiana (Jacoby Briscoe), Georgia (Jontavious Carter), and even Pennsylvania (Jake O’Donnell) to complete the 2012 signing class.

For the complete list of all 24 signees, including bios, click here. For complete coverage of UM’s 2012 Signing Day class, visit HurricaneSports.com.

With what is projected to be one of the best signing classes in the country, the University of Miami will again provide live video coverage and social media fan interaction on National Signing Day. The coverage will begin early on the morning of Wednesday, February 1. From the moment the first National Letter of Intent (NLI) comes through the fax machine, HurricaneSports.com will have exclusive minute-by-minute coverage of one of the most anticipated days of the off-season.

The video team on HurricaneSports.com will have a live breaking-news feed open all day with longtime Miami radio personalities Don Bailey Jr. and Joe Zagacki. As soon as an NLI is officially approved, Bailey and Zagacki will interview the assistant coach who recruited the student-athlete as well as the position coach who will coach him.

HurricaneSports.com’s Amy Audibert will be the point person on bonus coverage on the ’Canes All Access UStream feed that will provide social media engagement, including live video chats with UM assistant coaches, football players, and more.

The all-day coverage will build up to head coach Al Golden’s first comments on the signing class during his press conference at 4 p.m.

Below is a complete rundown of all the day’s coverage:

• Full start-to-finish live video coverage through Canes All-Access (the video portal on HurricaneSports.com)

• Bonus coverage through UStream, including exclusive interviews and live video chats with online fans

• Integration with Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes

• All-day live chat on HurricaneSports.com with an integrated video feed from UStream

• Breaking news through Twitter.com/HurricaneSports

• Full-length, free highlights on all signees on HurricaneSports.com

• Bios, photos, and more on the newest members of the ‘Canes Family on HurricaneSports.com and Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes

• Tweet or Facebook your questions and have the assistant coaches and players answer live

After what promises to be a successful signing day, Miami will host a signing day party at the BankUnited Center in the multipurpose room. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. and will run until 8 p.m. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Golden and his staff will introduce fans to the 2012 signing class, including video of each member. The event is free to Hurricane Club members and admission is $1 for fans who are not members of the Hurricane Club.

Fans who attend the Signing Day party will be able to purchase tickets for the ’Canes men’s basketball game vs. Maryland that evening at 8 p.m. for only $5.

The annual BankUnited CanesFest and Spring Football Game will be held on Saturday, April 14 at Sun Life Stadium, marking the first time that the scrimmage will be held at UM’s home stadium. Game time will be announced at a later date.

The game, which is free and open to the public, caps the Hurricanes’ spring football practice schedule and will also include a select-a-seat event in which fans can choose seats for the upcoming season. In 2012 Miami will play home games against Florida State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Florida, and Bethune-Cookman.

The Hurricanes begin spring practice on Saturday, March 3. All practices are closed to the public, but Coach Golden has opened up every spring scrimmage and is taking the events on the road.

The squad will scrimmage outside of Coral Gables, playing practice games on March 24 in South Florida and March 30a on Florida’s west coast. Both scrimmages will be free and open to the public. Location, times, and additional details will be released at a later date.

To reserve season tickets for Miami’s upcoming 2012 season at Sun Life Stadium, visit HurricanesSports.com or contact the UM ticket office by calling 1-800-GO-CANES.

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, a former UM football player, will be making his first appearance in the NFL Pro Bowl.

The National Football League has announced its 2012 Pro Bowl rosters, and the Miami Hurricanes lead all NCAA programs with five former UM players chosen to play in the annual all-star contest on January 29 in Hawaii.

The Baltimore Ravens’ Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, the New Orleans Saints’ Jimmy Graham, the New England Patriots’ Vince Wilfork, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Frank Gore make up five of the 11 players from the Atlantic Coast Conference to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. Read the full story

Linebacker Denzel Perryman finished his first season with the Hurricanes ranked second on the team in tackles with 69.

Hurricanes linebacker Denzel Perryman is one of 26 players named to the CBSSports.com 2011 Freshman All-America Team.

Perryman, who finished the season ranked first among Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) freshmen defenders with 69 tackles, saw action in all 12 games for Miami in 2011. He finished his first year with the Hurricanes ranked second on the team in tackles (69) and tied for third in tackles for loss (6.5). Read the full story