Early signing day 2020: Miami signs Top-5 QB Jake Garcia, adds two five-star prospects
Welcome to the first early signing day in a pandemic — actually, the first day of the three-day early signing period for college football (and hopefully the last in a pandemic).
We’ll keep you continuously updated as the future of Miami Hurricanes football sign their National Letters of Intent today for the start of the 2020 early signing period that runs through Friday.
Here we go!
Canes get their elite quarterback!
QB Jake Garcia, 6-2.5, 195, Grayson (Loganville, Georgia)
Other suitors: USC, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, San Jose State
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 46 nationally, 5 position (pro-style QB), 5 state Rivals: 4 stars, 42 national, 5 position, 4 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 18 national, 2 position, 2 state
Miami finally gets its quarterback on signing day. As far back as recruiting rankings go, this pro-style gem is the second highest rated quarterback the Hurricanes have ever landed, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. Miami sought out Garcia as its top quarterback target more than a year ago and got him to Coral Gables for a pair of visits in 2019. The four-star quarterback, however, wound up orally committing to the USC Trojans before backing off his pledge Dec. 3. On Wednesday, the Hurricanes sealed the deal and they’ll bring him to campus next month when he early enrolls.
This season, Garcia has played at a pair of high schools and has now attended five schools in four years. He moved from California to Georgia in August and played one game at Valdosta before he was ruled ineligible after going 21 of 34 for 332 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He transferred again to Grayson in Loganville, and has gone 51 of 87 for 916 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, plus two rushing touchdowns, for the No. 4 team in the country, according to MaxPreps.
2 p.m. Miami announces its second 5-star gem!
S James Williams, 6-5, 218, Plantation American Heritage
Other suitors: Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Clemson, Ohio State
247 Sports composite: 5 stars, 10 nationally 1 position, 3 state
Rivals: 5 stars, 19 national, 1 position, 4 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 32 national, 4 position (OLB), 8 state
The term “unicorn” is overused in scouting these days, but the five-star safety truly is one. At 6-foot-5 and about 215 pounds, Williams looks like an edge rusher and moves like a defensive back. His rare size in the secondary is why he has drawn comparisons to Sean Taylor since he was a freshman at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace.
Williams, who was slated to play in the All-American Bowl before it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, originally committed to the Hurricanes in 2018, then backed off his pledge in 2019 before orally committing again in July, even after he left Miami out of an initial top three. The senior, who played his junior season at Davie Western, has lived up to the initial hype. This season, the free safety has 64 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, in 13 games entering the Class 5A championship Friday.
1:44 p.m. Linebacker Thomas Davis helps boost a defense that needs more backers
ILB Thomas Davis, 6-0 1/2, 235, Lowndes (Valdosta, Georgia)
Other suitors: FSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Indiana, Cincinnati
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 510 national, 24 position, 42 state
Rivals: 3 stars, 27 position (OLB), 30 state
ESPN: 3 stars, 44 position (OLB), 38 state
Although he’s undersized, Davis is one of the top defensive players in Georgia. The three-star middle linebacker has played all over the field for Lowndes, mostly as an edge rusher, and Miami plans to play him at defensive end. The senior was originally committed to the Mississippi State Bulldogs before he decommitted in June as more schools started to get involved in his recruitment. The Hurricanes ultimately beat out the Florida State Seminoles and South Carolina Gamecocks to land his commitment in July. This season, Davis has 46 tackles, 12 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in 10 games so far. He plans to early enroll.
11:27 a.m. Another 4-star wideout joins the Miami Hurricanes
WR Brashard Smith, 5-8.5, 190, Miami Palmetto
Other suitors: Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 214 national, 37 position, 32 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 158 national, 24 position, 25 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 62 position, 63 state
There hasn’t been an offensive player more valuable to his team in South Florida this year than Smith. The four-star wide receiver had a relatively quiet regular season and then Palmetto’s starting quarterback broke his left leg in the first round of the playoffs. The Panthers cobbled together an offense by playing the slot receiver at quarterback and Smith finished with 99 carries for 621 yards and three touchdowns -- plus a touchdown pass -- to help Palmetto reach its first state semifinal. As a receiver, he had 14 catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Smith, who was slated to play in the All-American Bowl before it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a priority for Rhett Lashlee ever since the Hurricanes hired the offensive coordinator in January. Lashlee’s presence was enough to convince Smith to decommit from the Florida Gators in May and eventually orally commit to Miami in July. He plans to early enroll.
11:23 a.m. Boom! 5-star defensive tackle just became a Miami Hurricane
DT Leonard Taylor, 6-4, 265, Miami Palmetto
Other suitors: Florida, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee
247 Sports composite: 5 stars, 10 national, 1 position, 3 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 39 national, 3 position, 9 state
ESPN: 5 stars, 6 national, 2 position, 2 state
Even in South Florida, prospects like Leonard Taylor don’t come around every year. The five-star defensive tackle is the No. 10 player in the country and the No. 1 player at his position -- a virtual can’t-miss prospect at a position the region doesn’t always produce. T
Wearing a retro-style Canes jacket with a white UM polo shirt underneath, the Palmetto five-star was one of four Palmetto players that signed on Wednesday at a ceremony at Evelyn Greer Park, where Andre Fernandez was on site for the Herald.
About a half an hour later, Palmetto receiver Brashard Smith also signed with the Hurricanes.
Taylor (6-4, 265), ranked the top defensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports.com, is the crown jewel of the Canes’ 2021 class.
“It’s official now,” Taylor said. “It feels good to put on my hometown’s uniform and not anyone else’s. And my mom gets to come see up close.”
The defensive lineman is close to 300 pounds now, he said, and he doesn’t carry much bad weight. While the Florida Gators were long the favorite in his recruitment, Taylor orally committed to Miami in August and the Hurricanes are thrilled to have him. He’s the 12th highest ranked player the Hurricanes have ever signed and he carried Palmetto to a historic season. Even after their quarterback got hurt in the first round of the playoffs, the Panthers reached the Class 8A semifinals by riding their Taylor-led defense. The senior finished with 51 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumble, six passes defended, one interception and a blocked field goal in seven games. He’s set to early enroll.
10:58 a.m. A much-needed 4-star DE is on his way to the U (and he really is fam)
DE Jabari Ishmael, 6-5, 210, Miami Columbus
Other suitors: Oregon, Notre Dame, Florida, Texas A&M, Indiana
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 238 nationally, 17 position, 33 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 221 national, 12 position, 36 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 197 national, 20 position, 31 state
Ishmael is the son of assistant strength and conditioning coach Victor Ishmael, which certainly helped Miami land the four-star defensive end, whose frame conjures up imagines of star defensive end Gregory Rousseau. The edge rusher possesses an ideal frame and the athleticism to play outside linebacker, too. For the Hurricanes, he projects as a defensive lineman in Miami’s “viper” role -- a hybrid position, which will ask him to also play some as a stand-up pass rusher and occasionally drop into coverage.
10:51 a.m. New Canes O-lineman: Hi mom!
0G Laurence Seymore, 6-1 1/2, 293, Miami Central
Other suitors: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Oregon, North Carolina
247 Sports composite: 4 stars,162 national, 10 position, 23 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 151 national, 7 position, 23 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 163 national, 6 position, 26 state
No one has been committed to Miami’s Class of 2021 longer than Seymore and it’s because he’s been a prodigious talent since before he even got to Central. The four-star guard first caught the eye of former offensive line coach Stacy Searels in the summer before his freshman year when he wowed coaches at a camp in Coral Gables. Less than a year later, the offensive lineman became the first player to commit to the Hurricanes’ 2021 class, and he stuck with Miami even as the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers pushed to flip him.
Although he’s undersized, Seymore brings versatility and experience to the Hurricanes. The Under Armour All-American has started since his freshman year, and played both tackle and both guard spots for the Rockets in his four years. While the senior projects as an interior lineman at the next level, he starts at left tackle for the reigning Class 6A champion this year. He’s on track to enroll early.
10:19 a.m. Jaquan Johnson’s younger bro just signed with the Canes
OLB Tyler Johnson, 6-2, 200, Miami Killian
Other suitors: Georgia, Pittsburgh, UCF, Toledo
247 composite: 3 stars, 527 national, 31 position, 77 state
Rivals: 3 stars, 33 position (DE), 98 state
ESPN: 3 stars, 61 position, 101 state
Johnson is the younger brother of Miami fan-favorite Jaquan Johnson, who’s now a safety for the Buffalo Bills, and he brings some of those same traits to the Hurricanes, albeit as an edge rusher. The three-star outside linebacker, who has been orally committed since 2019, was a first-team all-county selection in Miami-Dade County last season, according to the Miami Herald, then transferred from Homestead South Dade to Killian for his senior season. He spent a lot of time at defensive end for South Dade, but played more stand-up linebacker this season. The Hurricanes value him, in part, because of his versatility and he could play defensive end, either linebacker spot or even striker once he gets to Coral Gables next month.
9:58 a.m. TE Elijah Arroyo, 6-4, 210, Independence (Frisco, Texas)
Other suitors: Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, SMU
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 233 nationally, 9 position, 35 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 246 national, 9 position, 35 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 8 position, 64 state
Arroyo is only in his second season playing tight end and his year-to-year growth has made him one of the top tight ends in the nation. He was mostly a quarterback his first two years at Independence, before moving to receiver as a junior and catching 48 passes 648 yards and five touchdowns. As a senior, his production took another leap to 31 catches for 690 yards and three touchdowns, with one fumble, in nine games so far. Arroyo, who grew up in South Florida, also spent time living in Mexico before eventually moving to Texas, where Rhett Lashlee found him while he was the SMU Mustangs’ offensive coordinator. The offensive coordinator quickly offered him when he got to Miami and helped land his oral commitment in May. He plans to early enroll.
9:52 a.m. Signed: Baby Cane with baby face & awesome big bro you already know
K Andres Borregales, 5-11, 140, Hialeah Champagnat Catholic
Other suitors: North Carolina, Louisville, FIU, Southern Miss
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 4 position, 284 state
Rivals: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars, 10 position, 171 state
As one Borregales prepares to likely leave, Miami is ready to replace him with another. The three-star kicker is the younger brother of kicker Jose Borregales and he’s ready to take over once his brother departs. The senior is perfect this season in a small sample size, going 8 of 8 on extra points and 2 of 2 on field goals with a long of 48 yards. He orally committed to the Hurricanes last year after two strong seasons at Miami Booker T. Washington, then he became a phenomenon as a junior at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna as he made several kicks from 50-plus yards, including a 57-yarder. The specialist originally opted out of the 2020 season and transferred to Champagnat Catholic, so he could early enroll at Miami, but he wound up playing five games and helping Champagnat reach the Class 2A championship Wednesday.
9:30 a.m. UM hits trifecta at Miami Northwestern
TE Kahlil Brantley, 6-2, 205, Miami Northwestern
Other suitors: Utah, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Missouri
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 797 national, 41 position, 105 state
Rivals: 3 stars, 99 state
ESPN: 3 stars, 21 position, 163 state
Brantley is far from the highest ranked player in Miami’s Class of 2021, but it’s hard to find anyone more excited to be a Hurricane. The three-star tight end, who was briefly orally committed to the Utah Utes, has been committed to Miami since 2019. He helped recruit two Northwestern teammates -- four-star wide receiver Romello Brinson and four-star safety Kamren Kinchens -- to the Hurricanes and is something of an ambassador for the class. On the field, he’s a versatile receiver, who frequently split out wide for the Bulls.
9:26 a.m. ‘Big time talent from the crib’ UM locks up the top Miami-Dade wideout
WR Romello Brinson, 6-2, 180, Miami Northwestern
Other suitors: Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 138 national, 25 position, 21 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 171 national, 27 position, 27 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 137 national, 24 position, 21 state
After years of losing out on South Florida’s top wide receiver to out-of-state programs, Miami locked up the region’s best in June when it beat out the Texas A&M Aggies and Georgia Bulldogs to land Brinson’s oral commitment, giving the Hurricanes the top-ranked wideout in Miami-Dade County for the first time since 2018. The four-star wide receiver has been a top target for the Hurricanes since he was a sophomore at Northwestern and they first landed his commitment in 2019 before he backed off his pledge nine months later. Brinson plans to early enroll.
9:20 a.m. UM gets a safety from the neighborhood
S Kamren Kinchens, 5-11, 201, Miami Northwestern
Other suitors: Texas A&M, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Nebraska
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 330 national, 23 position, 54 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 189 national, 13 position, 32 state
ESPN: 3 stars, 28 position, 67 state
For each of the last four years, Northwestern has one of the best defenses in the entire country and Kinchens has always been an important piece. As a sophomore, he was a third-team all-county selection by the Miami Herald, then followed it up by winning Miami-Dade County Defensive Player of the Year for Classes 5A-1A as a junior, helping the Bulls win a third straight state title. The four-star safety piled up 74 tackles, three tackles for loss and nine interceptions in his award-winning season, then the Hurricanes beat out the Texas A&M Aggies and Auburn Tigers to land his oral commitment in July. He’s slated to early enroll at Miami.
9:03 a.m. Run stopper on D-line comes to the U
DT Allan Haye, 6-1, 296, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
Other suitors: Indiana, Iowa State, Coastal Carolina, NC State, UCF
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 913 nationally, 54 position, 120 state
Rivals: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars, 62 position, 137 state
Haye is another high-upside prospect for Miami on the defensive line. The three-star defensive tackle has only been playing football for three years and he’s a centerpiece of Chaminade-Madonna’s defense as the Lions play for a fourth straight Class 3A championship Wednesday. The senior has 36 tackles with seven sacks this season in eight games as one of the centerpieces of Chaminade-Madonna’s defense.
8:51 Striker alert! The U gets a new striker
ATH Chase Smith, 6-3, 190, Melbourne
Other suitors: Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Oklahoma, Indiana
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 293 national, 17 position, 43 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 217 national, 4 position, 35 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 34 position (OLB), 53 state
The four-star athlete is perhaps the most versatile player in Miami’s Class of 2021, which makes him a logical fit as the Hurricanes’ striker this recruiting cycle. Smith, the son of former tight end Willie Smith, was just a wide receiver at first for Palm Bay Bayside, then he added some safety to his repertoire as a sophomore and junior. He transferred to Melbourne for his senior year and played wide receiver, defensive end and defensive back this season. Smith plans to early enroll.
8:45 a.m. ‘This dude brings the attitude,’ says UM
ILB Deshawn Troutman, 6-1, 205, Orlando Edgewater
Other suitors: Indiana, FSU, Louisville, West Virginia, Coastal Carolina
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 688 national, 33 position, 92 state
Rivals: 3 stars, 23 position
ESPN: 3 stars, 23 position, 106 state
Troutman is one of the most productive linebackers in Florida and the defensive anchor for Edgewater, which will play in the Class 7A championship for the second straight year Saturday. The three-star middle linebacker has 101 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and three passes defended in only eight games this season after he had more than 100 tackles as a junior, too. He orally committed to Miami in May and is on track to early enroll.
8:35 a.m. Another bruising running back — No. 1 in South Florida— joins the Hurricanes
RB Thad Franklin, 6-0, 225, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
Other suitors: Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Florida State
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 241 nationally, 11 position, 34 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 233 national, 12 position, 40 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 232 national, 11 position, 36 state
For the second straight year, Miami lands the top running back in South Florida. Last year, the four-star running back was the Broward County Offensive Player of the Year for Classes 5A-2A and the county’s Male Athlete of the Year for Classes 4A-1A, according to the Miami Herald, after helping Chaminade-Madonna win a third straight Class 3A title in football and reach the 3A semifinals in boys’ basketball. This year, the senior has 91 carries for 795 yards and two touchdowns, one catch for 12 yards, and is 1 of 1 for 45 yards and a touchdown in just seven games entering the 3A championship Wednesday. The tailback originally committed to the Hurricanes back in 2018, decommitted in 2019, then orally committed again in February. He originally was unsure whether he’d sign as the Florida State Seminoles and Penn State Nittany Lions tried to flip him, but he decided to lock in Wednesday.
8:24 a.m. Canes just got another good big guy
C Ryan Rodriguez, 6-3, 280, Miami Columbus
Other suitors: Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Wake Forest, Louisville, Syracuse
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 410 national, 7 position, 65 state
Rivals: 3 stars, 19 position (OG), 79 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 6 position, 51 state
The three-star center quietly emerged as one of the best offensive linemen in Florida last year, starting at left tackle for Columbus as the Explorers won their first state title. This year, the senior has moved to the interior, playing both right guard and center for the reigning Class 8A champions. Miami offered him in January and then Rodriguez wowed scouts at an Under Armour camp in Coconut Creek, eventually helping him earn an invitation to the All-American Bowl. In April, he orally committed to the Hurricanes before too many other notable suitors -- the LSU Tigers, for example, wanted him to visit before the COVID-19 pandemic -- formally extended offers. Miami thinks it got a steal with the Cuban-American lineman, who grew up a massive Hurricanes fan.
8:07 a.m. Canes add a 6-7, 290-pound offensive tackle
T Michael McLaughlin, 6-7, 290, Stoneman Douglas
Other suitors: Indiana, UCF, Florida State, Boston College, Virginia Tech
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 338 national, 26 position, 55 state
Rivals: 3 stars, national, 47 position, 69 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 298 national, 27 position, 47 state
The four-star tackle is one of the most fascinating prospects in Miami’s Class of 2021. McLaughlin spent his first two years of high school at Danville in Indiana and moved down to South Florida before his junior year. He was a tight end before he got to Florida and was playing in the position at a 7-on-7 tournament in Coral Gables in 2019 whe Butch Barry noticed him. The former offensive line coach pulled McLaughlin aside for a workout and offered him on the spot. The offensive lineman committed in March after playing right tackle at Stoneman Douglas as a still-skinny junior. Now close to 300 pounds, the senior is playing left tackle for the first time and looks the part of a college lineman, and his development should accelerate when he enrolls early next month.
7:54 a.m. Here comes the lightning-fast cornerback (or wideout) the U needed.
ATH Malik Curtis, 5-11, 160, Fort Myers Bishop Verot
Other suitors: Boston College, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern
247 Sports composite: 3 stars, 77 position, 140 state
Rivals: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars, 87 position (CB), 155 state
Speed to spare. This three-star athlete is probably the fastest player in Miami’s Class of 2021. He originally committed to the Hurricanes as a cornerback in April, and it appears because UM is so lacking now at the position, that’s where they’ll begin Malik Curtis’ journey in Coral Gables. But he’s such a dynamic wide receiver — and more experienced at wideout — it’s impossible to ignore his potential upside on offense. In 10 games as a senior, Curtis had 47 catches for 726 yards and eight touchdowns, and added 17 carries for 184 yards and two touchdowns, plus two two-point conversions. While offense was still his primary focus this year, Bishop Verot used him some on defense, too, and the in-state prospect had 16 tackles, two passes defended and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
7:28 a.m. It’s Jaco time!
Consensus four-star wide receiver Jacolby George just became the first official signee of the University of Miami’s 2021 recruiting class. If elite quarterback Jake Garcia announces he’s joining the Canes at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Hurricanes fans will be celebrating — and so will Jaco.
WR Jacolby George, 5-11, 161, Plantation
Other suitors: Penn State, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, UCF, West Virginia
247 Sports composite: 4 stars, 169 national, 28 position, 24 state
Rivals: 4 stars, 197 national, 33 position, 33 state
ESPN: 4 stars, 101 national, 16 position, 17 state
While Romello Brinson is the highest ranked wide receiver in Miami’s Class of 2021, George helps make this the Hurricanes’ most complete haul at the position in more than a decade. With George’s signing, Miami has locked up Broward County’s top wideout for the first time since 2016, and he and Brinson give the Hurricanes the top two receivers in South Florida for the first time since 2008. The senior is slated to enroll early.
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 7:42 AM.
