Ten South Florida recruits the Miami Hurricanes should prioritize in the Class of 2022
The 2021 recruiting cycle is over, but, as any good college football coach knows, recruiting never stops, so the Miami Hurricanes are already at work scouring the Class of 2022 for their next batch of top targets.
Miami’s Class of 2021 was a consensus top-15 group after the Hurricanes loaded up on South Florida stars. Miami signed more blue-chip players from Florida than anyone else, and Manny Diaz’s reshaped coaching staff should position the Hurricanes to do even more damage in the Miami metropolitan area in the 2022 cycle.
The Hurricanes already hold one commitment from three-star Hollywood Chaminade-Madona defensive end Jamaal Johnson, who was one of the most prolific pass rushers in the state last season, and one from four-star Tampa Carrollwood Day defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland. Otherwise, Miami has plenty of work to do to push for another potential top-10 class.
Inevitably, the Hurricanes will look all across Florida and the United States to find talent, but their roots remain in the Miami metro area, which will be important because the 2022 class is a really good one in the region. These 10 are just a few of the uncommitted prospects the Hurricanes should be prioritizing this cycle.
Marvin Jones Jr., DE, Plantation American Heritage
Marvin Jones Jr. was probably the second-best edge rusher in the Miami area last year and he should be one of the most sought-after players in Florida for 2022. Jones helped Plantation American Heritage win a Class 5A championship in 2020 and the 6-foot-4, 225-pound defensive end possesses an ideal blend of length and athleticism. As a junior, he had 13 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, which he returned for a touchdown.
Jones, whose father was a star for the Florida State Seminoles in the 1990s, is the No. 2 player in the area, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.
Earl Little Jr., CB, Plantation American Heritage
The Hurricanes have missed on too many good cornerbacks in recent years, but Miami should be on the short list of favorites for Earl Little Jr. with two new coaches in the secondary. Defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke, both Miami-Dade County natives, will make Little a priority. It’s a deep defensive backs class in Broward County and the 6-foot, 175-pound junior was arguably the best in 2020, plus his father was a star for the Hurricanes in the 1990s.
The Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators and LSU Tigers are already all involved with the elite cornerback, who had two interceptions last season and also played some strong safety.
Jacolby Spells, ATH, Plantation American Heritage
Jacolby Spells is one of the most interesting cornerback prospects in the loaded Broward class. The four-star athlete was a wide receiver for most of his life before American Heritage coach Patrick Surtain asked him to move to the secondary in 2020. The 6-foot, 170-pound junior was a revelation at his new position, providing a lockdown counterpart opposite Little. He even nabbed an interception against four-star wide receiver Romello Brinson and Miami Northwestern in the playoffs last year.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Syracuse Orange, West Virginia Mountaineers and Penn State Nittany Lions are all already involved.
Kenyatta Jackson, DE, Chaminade-Madonna
Kenyatta Jackson is one of the most impressive physical presences in the 2022 class. The 6-5, 225-pound defensive end had an injury-plagued 2020, but still finished his junior season with six sacks in six games and helped Chaminade-Madonna reach the Class 3A championship. The Hurricanes have rarely lost a recruiting battle there recently, landing four-star running back Thad Franklin last cycle, and defensive lineman Cameron Williams, striker Keontra Smith and cornerback Te’Cory Couch in the Class of 2019.
The Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, Clemson and Alabama are all involved with the elite defensive lineman.
Wesley Bissainthe, OLB, Miami Central
Wesley Bissainthe played alongside five-star outside linebacker Terrence Lewis last year at Miami Central and still often managed to stand out as Central’s best defensive player. The 6-1, 195-pound junior the top linebacker in Miami-Dade for 2022 after he logged seven sacks and won a Class 6A championship in 2020.
The Crimson Tide, Gators and Florida State are all involved with the rangy four-star outside linebacker.
Dante Anderson, DE, Homestead
Miami has recruited southern Dade County particularly well with the leadership of David Cooney. The recruiting director happened to work with Homestead coach Philip Simpson when both were at Miami Southridge and the Hurricanes should be among the favorites for both of the Broncos’ four-star defensive linemen.
Dante Anderson is the sort of end Miami loves. At 6-3 and 205 pounds, the four-star defensive end had 10 sacks and two forced fumbles for Homestead in 2020.
Daniel Lyons, DT, Homestead
Daniel Lyons is the Broncos’ other star and maybe the best defensive tackle in the area. The 6-4, 270-pound defensive lineman is a disruptive pass rusher, and had five sacks and three forced fumbles in 2020.
Last season was Anderson’s and Lyons’ first at Homestead. Before they transferred, they played for Simpson at Southridge and Cooney’s brother was their defensive line coach.
Julian Armella, T, Columbus
Robinson on Wednesday said the key to recruiting in South Florida is keeping the “big people staying home.” Part of this is landing those defensive lineman the region is wont to produce. Even more important is landing those blue-chip offensive linemen who don’t come around quite as often.
Julian Armella fits the bill as the area’s top-ranked tackle in 2022. Armella, whose father played for the Seminoles, has ideal size at 6-6 and 300 pounds, and he started at left tackle for one of the nation’s top offensive lines last year as he helped Miami Columbus win a Class 8A tri-county championship.
Travious Lathan, OLB, Gulliver Prep
Travious Lathan’s versatility makes him unique and Travis Williams apparently likes him, as 247Sports reported the new inside linebackers coach has already contacted the four-star outside linebacker. Lathan mostly played wide receiver and strong safety for Miami Gulliver Prep in 2020, and had 14 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns. The Hurricanes need an infusion of athleticism at linebacker and Lathan would provide it.
The Gators are also an early suitor for the 6-2, 202-pound junior.
Zion Turner, QB, St. Thomas Aquinas
Quarterback recruiting is usually a national effort the Hurricanes and four-star Bradenton IMG Academy quarterback AJ Duffy is probably the top target — he works with the same private instructor as new quarterback Jake Garcia — but Zion Turner should be on Miami’s short list, too. The three-star quarterback led Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas to a second straight Class 7A championship last year and he thrives in the read option, making him a good fit for offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s system.
The 6-1, 180-pound junior went 84 of 152 for 1,066 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions last year, and added 44 carries for 206 yards and seven touchdowns with four fumbles lost. LSU has also offered the three-star prospect.
Others of note: Jaziun Patterson, RB, Deerfield Beach; Jason Seraphin, G, North Miami Beach; Richard Thomas, DE, Plantation American Heritage; Leon Hart, OLB, Edison; Tray Brown, MLB, Cardinal Gibbons; Ryan Turner, CB, Chaminade-Madonna; Alfonzo Allen, S, Hallandale
