Five story lines for Miami Hurricanes fans to watch entering the early signing period
The early signing period is less than 24 hours away, and the Miami Hurricanes’ Class of 2020 is nearly complete. Miami has 20 players already committed, so it should be a relatively quiet Wednesday to kick off the early signing period.
Still, there are a few story lines to keep an eye on. Here are five things Hurricanes fans should be monitoring throughout the day:
Everyone is in — almost
Nineteen of Miami’s 20 orally committed prospects plan to sign Wednesday. Willie Moise, a four-star defensive tackle from Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, is the lone exception.
The 19 players the Hurricanes expect to receive letters of intent from: four-star running back Donald Chaney Jr., four-star running back Jaylan Knighton, four-star quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, four-star wide receiver Michael Redding III, four-star wide receiver Dazalin Worsham, four-star tackle Jalen Rivers, four-star defensive end Chantz Williams, four-star defensive end Elijah Roberts, four-star safety Jalen Harrell, four-star safety Keshawn Washington, three-star athlete Xavier Restrepo, three-star tight end Dominic Mammarelli, three-star tackle Chris Washington, three-star defensive end Quentin Williams, three-star outside linebacker Romello Height, three-star inside linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave, three-star inside linebacker Corey Flagg, three-star cornerback Marcus Clarke and three-star safety Brian Balom.
Five-star targets
Multiple five-star prospects are still in play for Miami heading into the early signing period, although only one of the two will make his decision public Wednesday.
Justin Flowe, a five-star inside linebacker and the No. 5 player in the country, is slated to commit and sign with the school of his choice Wednesday in Upland, California. Although the linebacker officially visited the Hurricanes in November, Miami is probably a long shot to land the elite West Coast prospect. The Oregon Ducks are considered the favorite and the Southern California Trojans have jumped into the mix, too, after Flowe took an official visit in Los Angeles over the weekend. The Clemson Tigers, once considered the favorite, are also part of Flowe’s top group.
The five-star prospect Miami probably has a better shot with is Darnell Washington, and the five-star athlete from Las Vegas, Nevada, doesn’t plan to make his commitment public until the Under Armour All-America Game next month, although he told 247Sports.com he plans to sign Wednesday. Washington, who projects as a tight end, took an official visit with the Hurricanes the weekend of Dec. 6 and is also considering the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers.
Local gems
The rest of Miami’s uncommitted targets for Wednesday are all from South Florida. Jaiden Francois, a four-star safety from Homestead South Dade, is the highest-profile target and will choose between the Hurricanes and Nebraska Cornhuskers. He spent the weekend in Coral Gables for an official visit with 13 committed members of Miami’s class. The defensive back has orally committed to the Hurricanes twice before.
Davonte Brown is another defensive back from South Florida the Hurricanes hope to add Wednesday. The three-star cornerback from Plantation American Heritage will choose among Miami, the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Central Florida Knights. The Hurricanes hosted Brown, who is the son of former defensive back Selwyn Brown, for his final official visit the weekend of Dec. 6.
Jesus Machado could also join the class Wednesday. Miami made an offer to the three-star outside linebacker from Hialeah Champagnat Catholic on Dec. 1, and he will probably be a part of the class if Flowe commits elsewhere. If not, Machado could join the Utah Utes.
Flip watch
The Hurricanes expect 19 of their committed prospects to sign Wednesday, although Romello Height has given Miami reason to worry entering the early signing period. The Auburn Tigers have made a push for the three-star outside linebacker from Dublin, Georgia, although Height denies he took a secret official visit to Alabama over the weekend.
The Hurricanes also hope they can flip an offensive lineman from an Atlantic Coast Conference rival. Kobe Baynes, a three-star guard from Jacksonville Sandalwood, took his final official visit to Miami the weekend of Dec. 6, but a flip didn’t immediately follow.
There’s always next year
The Hurricanes’ best-case scenario is to add four new commitments — public or otherwise — Wednesday, which would leave Miami room to add at least one more player, plus Moise, on the traditional National Signing Day in February. The secondary will be the position group to watch in early 2020, especially if the Hurricanes miss out on Francois.
Avantae Williams, a former Miami commit, decommitted from the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 11, and the Hurricanes, Gators, Georgia Bulldogs and Mississippi Rebels are among the teams which should be in contention to land the four-star safety from DeLand in the coming months. Miami will also get a final chance to flip Daran Branch back its way after he flipped from the Hurricanes to Mississippi in November. The three-star cornerback from Amite, Louisiana, doesn’t plan to sign early because of the Rebels’ recent coaching change, and he plans to officially visit Miami next month.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 10:31 AM.
