Miami adds 4-star prospect at major position of need to kick off recruiting home stretch
The January recruiting period is only a few days old and already the Miami Hurricanes have made a splash. Isaiah Dunson, a four-star cornerback from Tucker in Georgia, orally committed to Miami on Sunday as he finished up an official visit in Coral Gables.
Dunson announced his commitment on Twitter.
Mike Rumph said last month finding more players at his position would be a priority heading into National Signing Day. For the second straight year, the cornerbacks coach is adding a blue-chip defensive back between the early signing period and the traditional Signing Day in February.
The No. 22 cornerback in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the Class of 2020, Dunson will provide some much-needed depth to the Hurricanes’ still-young secondary. With cornerback Trajan Bandy headed to the NFL, Miami is left with just rising juniors Al Blades Jr. and DJ Ivey as cornerbacks with significant experience on defense. Cornerbacks Te’Cory Couch and Christian Williams, both rising sophomores, were primarily relegated to special teams as freshmen. Dunson joins three-star cornerback Marcus Clarke as the only true corners in the Hurricanes’ 2020 class.
Dunson fits the mold Rumph likes in his cornerbacks, too. At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Dunson has the length Rumph prioritizes.
The defensive back had other serious suitors, and previously scheduled official visits with the Texas Longhorns and Mississippi Rebels for the next two weeks, although it’s not immediately clear whether he still plans to take them. He was also previously committed to the Florida State Seminoles, but he decommitted last year after the school fired former coach Willie Taggart. With Dunson’s recruitment reopened, Rumph reached out and brought him to campus for an official visit this weekend after he opted not to sign with anyone in the early signing period. He now joins four-star running back Jaylan Knighton and four-star safety Jalen Harrell as former Florida State commits to pledge to Miami.
Dunson’s commitment brings the Hurricanes’ class up to 20 players and puts them at No. 16 in the class rankings. Miami has room to take up to 25 players in this class and some of those openings could still be used in the secondary. Four-star DeLand safety Avantae Williams also spent the weekend in South Florida for an official visit, and the Hurricanes previously lined up official visits for three-star cornerback Edric Whitley and three-star athlete Jamorri Colson, who projects as a cornerback.
This story was originally published January 19, 2020 at 3:02 PM.
