Miami stays hot on the recruiting trail. Another blue-chip local prospect is staying home.
The Miami Hurricanes’ stunning 30-24 loss to the FIU Panthers on Saturday hasn’t slowed down Miami on the recruiting trail. For the second time in as many days, the Hurricanes landed an oral commitment from one of South Florida’s top prospects. Jalen Harrell, a blue-chip safety from Champagnat Catholic, is staying home.
Harrell, who took an official visit to Miami the weekend of the Hurricanes’ win against the Louisville Cardinals on Nov. 9, announced his pledge Friday on Twitter to celebrate his 18th birthday.
Harrell is the third four-star prospect to commit to Miami in the past week and the second from the Miami metropolitan area. Dazalin Worsham, a four-star wide receiver from Hewitt-Trussville in Alabama, kicked off the week last Friday when he announced his commitment. On Thursday, four-star Deerfield Beach running back Jaylan Knighton went public with a commitment. Harrell continues the hot recruiting stretch for the reeling Hurricanes.
The nation’s No. 23 safety in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the Class of 2020, Harrell is a versatile defensive back Miami is recruiting as a potential striker. Although he primarily plays cornerback at Hialeah Champagnat, Harrell is 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. He has a frame which can fill out to fit the Hurricanes’ linebacker-safety hybrid position, and he became a priority target after he decommitted from the Florida State Seminoles last month.
After his official visit, Harrell said he was excited about the idea of making the transition from corner to striker, much like striker Gilbert Frierson did this season. The senior called the local team the leader in his recruitment, although he initially planned to make his decision after an official visit with the Central Florida Knights, which was scheduled for this weekend. He also took an official visit with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets the weekend of Nov. 1
“My biggest concern was what they’re going to use me as,” Harrell said Nov. 13. “We broke it down in the boardroom. I felt a lot better.”
Harrell’s commitment pushes Miami’s recruiting class into the top 15 nationally. The Hurricanes rank No. 2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and No. 14 in the country with 21 commitments, including 10 blue-chip players — already more than they had in the Class of 2019.
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 12:33 PM.
