Jordan Lyle explains why he chose Miami Hurricanes as 11 from St. Thomas Aquinas sign
For nearly seven months, Jordan Lyle had been committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
But as the early signing period approached, the Miami Hurricanes kept their pursuit of one of this cycle’s top running back recruits who played in their backyard at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
It worked.
Lyle flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Miami on Monday and made the move official when he signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday morning.
“It’s very exciting to stay home,” Lyle said at a small ceremony at St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday. “Growing up, it’s everyone’s dream to represent their city. I’m just happy that I’m able to do that.”
Lyle finished his senior season with 1,376 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns to help St. Thomas Aquinas win its state-record fifth consecutive state championship.
This marks the second consecutive season the Hurricanes had flipped a top local running back’s commitment from Ohio State. They did the same last year with Mark Fletcher, who starred at Plantation American Heritage.
And the Hurricanes overall have done well with keeping local running backs home. In addition to Fletcher, Miami’s running back room last season also included Belen Jesuit’s Don Chaney (who signed out of high school but transferred to Louisville after this season), Columbus’ Henry Parrish (who transferred to UM after starting his career at Ole Miss) and Dillard’s Chris Johnson (who signed out of high school last year). Hollywood South Broward’s Chris Wheatley-Humphrey also signed in this class.
“Being the next great running back coming through the University of Miami, that was a dream of mine growing up,” Lyle said. “As long as I can do that and fulfill my promise to my coaches and my parents, I feel like that’ll make me happy.”
Lyle was one of 11 St. Thomas Aquinas football players who signed their national letter of intent on Wednesday, including one of four who signed with the Hurricanes.
The other three heading to UM: four-star wide receiver Chance Robinson, three-star safety Ryan Mack and three-star cornerback Romanas Frederique Jr.
Robinson was the first South Floridian to commit to the Hurricanes’ 2024 recruiting class back in April and he stuck with Miami even after a late push from Ohio State. He was the Raiders’ No.. 2 receiver this season, catching 36 passes for 513 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing on a stacked and balanced offense.
Mack, who committed to UM in late June, intercepted three passes and nine total defended passes his senior season in addition to recording 45 tackles. He is the son of former Hurricanes linebacker Roderick Mack.
And Frederique, who in late June flipped to UM from an initial oral commitment to West Virginia, broke up 10 passes this season while also finishing with 28 tackles.
“We’re trying to start a pipeline: STA to The U,” Frederique said.
Added Robinson: “This is a winning program [at St. Thomas Aquinas] and that’s what we’re going to bring. It means a lot to bring elite talent there and that’s what’s going to turn it around.”
James Madison heads back home
While four St. Thomas Aquinas players are staying home by playing for the Hurricanes, one is heading back home.
Four-star wide receiver James Madison II, who spent the past three seasons at St. Thomas Aquinas after growing up in the Kansas City area, is heading to where it all began after signing with the Missouri Tigers.
“It’s a really big thing just being that I was born and raised there,” Madison said. “I feel like I gave to Kansas City being from there, growing up there and playing little league there. ... I feel like it’s full circle.”
Madison lived with his aunt and uncle in Broward for his high school career, which started at TRU Prep as a freshman before transferring to St. Thomas Aquinas as a sophomore.
He made his mark the past two seasons, catching 66 passes for 1,044 yards and 16 touchdowns.
And he’s not going to Missouri alone. Two of his St. Thomas Aquinas teammates — linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez and defensive lineman Justin Boford — also signed with Missouri.
Where the rest of St. Thomas Aquinas’ signees are heading
▪ Three-star running back Stacy Gage signed with UCF.
▪ Three-star cornerback Earl Kulp signed with Purdue.
▪ Three-star safety Allen Bryant signed with Pittsburgh.
▪ Punter Michael Kern signed with Texas.
This story was originally published December 20, 2023 at 1:03 PM.
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