Double Flip! Miami wins recruiting war with FSU as 5-star DE Armondo Blount flips back
The University of Miami lost the game last month to Florida State, but on Wednesday won the recruiting war.
Armondo Blount, a five-star defensive lineman from Miami Central, flipped his commitment from FSU to UM on Wednesday, capping another spectacular day of recruiting for Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes on the opening day of the early signing period. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end’s change of heart should secure a top-five Class of 2024 for Cristobal and might give Miami the best class of defensive linemen in the nation.
Blount originally committed to Miami in September, then flipped to Florida State in October and finally flipped back to the Hurricanes on Wednesday after spending the weekend in Coral Gables for an official visit. Blount’s original plan was to travel up to Tallahassee for the final weekend before the early signing period, but he had a last-minute change of heart and Miami stole him away from its fiercest rival.
“It was just the recruitment process. It was fun. I appreciate all the coaches for taking the time out and recruiting me. I really appreciate it to every school,” Blount said. “Miami’s always been in my heart. They never left, even when I flipped.”
On Friday, Blount posted a photo on social media of himself throwing up the U. On Saturday, Valentiauntrell Kennedy Blount, the lineman’s mother, posted this: “Let me make this real quick so I can get back to having fun. Armondo will not visit any other school official or unofficial. See you all December 20th,” tagging several coaches and assistant coaches in the post, including Cristobal and defensive line coaches Jason Taylor and Joe Salave’a. On Wednesday, Blount finally changed his mind one last time, orally committing to Miami in a private ceremony at the Diversity Performing Arts Center in Lauderhill. The Hurricanes immediately announced Blount as part of their recruiting class, revealing he had already signed his national letter of intent prior to the ceremony.
Blount originally committed to his hometown Hurricanes back on Sept. 14, just hours before the Canes kicked off against FCS Bethune-Cookman. At that point, he was had just attended UM’s early-season signature win over then-No. 23 Texas A&M.
Blount then flipped from UM to FSU on Oct. 22, saying on social media: “This is home! I have been discussing with family and I have decided that Florida State is where I am meant to be!’’
Although he was a junior, Blount reclassified to the 2024 recruiting class alongside his commitment to the Seminoles and now plans to early enroll next month.
Blount will still be 16 when he begins classes at the university next year.
“I feel like the development at the University of Miami is a better fit for me,” Blount said, “and I can do something staying home, and showing younger kids you can stay home and have fun.”
On Nov. 10, a night before he attended the UM at FSU game, Blount told the Miami Herald he was “locked in’’ to FSU.
“I’m done. I’m committed to Florida State,” he said.
But he switched again, and now it’s for good. The Canes’ defensive line commits include five-star defensive tackle Justin Scott, who recently flipped from Ohio State; four-star edge Marquise Lightfoot; four-star lineman Artavius Jones; four-star end Booker Pickett Jr.; and four-star end Elias Rudolph among other D-line pledges.
This season, Blount had 58 tackles, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 19 tackles for loss. He was a second-team All-American, according to MaxPreps.
As a sophomore, when he played at Fort Lauderdale Dillard, Blount had 63 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. He was a first-team All-Broward County selection by the Miami Herald in both 2021 and 2022, and won a state title in the shot put as a freshman in 2022.
“I’ve just got to keep my head down and work as hard as I can,” Blount said. “I’m coming in with a mindset just to work. We’re going to see where I go from there.”
This story was originally published December 20, 2023 at 6:08 PM.
