This local linebacker is back in Miami’s recruiting class after a brief decommitment

A day after naming Ephraim Banda and Jonathan Patke co-defensive coordinators, the Miami Hurricanes began to recoup some of their momentum on the recruiting trail. Samuel Brooks, a three-star outside linebacker from Northwestern, recommitted to Miami on Saturday while on his official visit in Coral Gables.

Brooks’ latest pledge comes less than three days after briefly reopening his recruitment. The senior decommitted from the Hurricanes on Wednesday after reports surfaced of former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s departure for the Temple Owls.

Brooks announced is commitment in a Twitter post. He plans to sign with Miami on Wednesday when the early signing period opens, although the linebacker will not early enroll.

Brooks is the first defensive prospect to commit to the Hurricanes since Diaz left, and Banda and Patke received promotions. He initially committed to Miami in March, picking the Hurricanes over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Brooks said his decision was largely influenced by Miami’s confidence in him through an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The local prospect tore his ACL in a game last year and the Hurricanes, Brooks said, were the only school to reach out to him the night of the injury. Miami continued to recruit Brooks throughout his recovery as other schools stepped back.

Diaz, however, was also the Hurricanes’ linebackers coach and Brooks’ primary recruiter. Miami’s decision to retain Patke as defensive coordinator in linebackers coach — he was previously the outside linebackers coach — helped the Hurricanes bring Brooks back into the fold.

Although the 247Sports.com composite rankings only peg Brooks as the No. 45 outside linebacker in the country, Brooks has built a reputation as one of the top defensive players in South Florida. When healthy, Brooks has been one of the most prolific pass rushers in Miami-Dade County and helped the Bulls win their second straight Class 6A championship last Saturday. The North Carolina State Wolfpack, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Louisville Cardinals, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, Auburn Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Kansas State Wildcats, Michigan Wolverines, Purdue Boilermakers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oregon Ducks and Central Florida Knights all offered Brooks at various points.

Brooks also fills an important positional need for Miami. The Hurricanes currently hold commitments from four-star St. Thomas Aquinas outside linebackers Anthony Solomon and Avery Huff, but Solomon is taking an official visit to Michigan this weekend and could flip by the end of the week. With three draft-eligible starting linebackers, Miami needs to begin rebuilding its depth at the position for whenever linebackers Shaquille Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud leave.

This story was originally published December 15, 2018 at 5:39 PM.