University of Miami football hopes to hang on to oral commitments

Hurricanes fans, time to rub your rabbit’s foot, pluck a four-leaf clover, fill your mojo bag or concoct your personal potion.

The Miami Hurricanes, who lost talented Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas running back Jordan Scarlett to Florida this week, are in jeopardy of losing a couple more commits.

They also could gain some.

Signed National Letters of Intent will start arriving in Coral Gables at 7 a.m. Wednesday, when coaches and administrators will be prepared with their trademark “Welcome to the U!’’

Anything but, “See ya!’’ will do just fine.

The Hurricanes hope to hang on to the oral commitments they had heading into Wednesday, as opposed to losing two that are teetering on the edge — offensive tackle Tyree St. Louis of Bradenton IMG Academy and receiver Terrell Chatman of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Both are four-star recruits.

“For Miami’s class,’’ said 247Sports national recruiting analyst Ryan Bartow, “it’s really about holding onto the guys they have. I don’t see them adding too much.’’

CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming told the Miami Herald this week he had the Hurricanes ranked 21st nationally, and was waiting to see if “they finish strong.

“Miami is still in on a lot of people,’’ Lemming said, “so you never know.’’

The 247Sports website has UM’s class ranked 28th, while Rivals.com has UM ranked 27th.

As of Tuesday evening, the Hurricanes had 13 commitments, not including two junior college transfers who already signed and three recently graduated high school players who also are early enrollees and will sign Wednesday. In total, UM could have 18 signees — but that could change.

St. Louis visited UF last weekend and has told multiple recruiting websites that he’s strongly considering the Gators. Chatman was also considering Arizona State, TCU and Georgia.

However, Bartow reported Tuesday night that the Canes now have a strong chance of signing Miami Killian cornerback Sheldrick Redwine, who has been committed to Louisville.

Scarlett is one of at least 10 formerly committed Canes who flipped to other schools and will cement their college choices Wednesday. Besides Scarlett, they include South Florida four-star athletes Emonee Spence (WR, Pembroke Pines Flanagan High), Therrell Gosier (WR, Pompano Beach Ely) and Jordan Cronkrite (RB, Miami Westminster Christian).

UM also lost four-star recruits Dwayne Lawson, a quarterback from Tampa Hillsborough, and Dexter Williams, a running back from Winter Gardens West Orange.

Williams, however, is back on the scene after Scarlett’s decommitment, and coaches hope he signs. His decision at 11 a.m. Wednesday will be between Notre Dame and Miami.

UM is also in the mix for four-star, dual-threat quarterback Torrance Gibson of Plantation American Heritage (and possibly three-star Jefferson, Georgia, quarterback Evan Shirreffs if UM extends a late offer). Landing Gibson would be a coup.

Among UM’s other signing-day possibilities: Tyler Horton of Fresno, California, Edison; Booker T. Washington four-star receiver Antonio Callaway; Jacksonville Trinity Christian three-star defensive tackle Kendrick Norton; Washington, D.C., Gonzaga four-star defensive back Marcus Lewis; three-star defensive tackle Kevin Scott of Los Angeles; and three-star defensive ends Austrian Robinson of Pawling, New York, Trinity and Shelton Johnson of Delray Beach Atlantic.

Miami Herald sportswriter Manny Navarro contributed to this report.

This story was originally published February 3, 2015 at 8:16 PM with the headline "University of Miami football hopes to hang on to oral commitments."