Jacory Barney and pair of FAU commits headline signing day at Miami Palmetto

Four-star wide receiver Jacory Barney suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in practice his freshman year at Miami Palmetto. Still, he went to every game and was assured by former Panther greats like Brashard Smith and Leonard Taylor that his day would come.

They were right, and after a spectacular high school career, Barney headlined signing day at Miami Palmetto with his official pledge to Nebraska on Wednesday morning. He had been committed since July 1.

In addition to Barney, linebacker Char’quez Lee and cornerback Lawrence Johnson signed with FAU, linebacker Lathan Croley pledged to Holy Cross and tight end Rodrigo Diaz-Martorella rounded out the class with his commitment to Columbia.

Barney took the stage in Miami Palmetto’s auditorium last, walking up the steps in his LED sneakers that lit up red for Nebraska. He said his decision hinged on where he felt wanted the most — and that was with the Cornhuskers. Barney chose them over Miami and Texas A&M.

“I know I’ll be taken care of,” Barney said, “and I know I’m going to make plays for [Nebraska], and I feel like they’ll give me the opportunity to make plays. And I feel like once I get that opportunity, I’m going to take advantage.”

The highest-rated recruit at Palmetto, Barney showcased his versatility in four seasons with the Panthers. In 2023, he led Palmetto to a 9-2 record and took snaps at quarterback, running back and wide receiver along the way.

Head coach Mike Manasco called him the hardest working kid in practice and “a superstar talent who is also a superstar person.”

Lee and Johnson signed with FAU right before Barney, and Lee, who decommitted from East Carolina in October, explained his decision to head to Boca Raton.

“I have a bond with the coaches that I don’t have with anybody else,” Lee said. “I just feel like with the recruits they have coming in, we’re just going to take over.”

“[FAU] kept going at me, kept going at me, kept FaceTiming me every day, and I was just like, ‘Okay, it’s there.’”

Lee came to Palmetto in the spring after spending his first three years of high school at La Salle. He called Monasco the best coach he’s ever had and credited Palmetto for preparing him to play football at the collegiate level.

“The game is faster,” Lee said. “Monasco, you learn a lot [from him.] The competition, every week you’re playing a good team … you just get stronger, better. It’s a better program.”

While more Panthers are sure to sign in February, Monasco is particularly proud of the five athletes who made it official on Wednesday during the early signing period.

“A great class of character,” he said. “They were the kids who went through the bumps of a 6-6 to a 9-2 [record]. Obviously the ending didn’t happen the way we wanted it to the last two years, but we were right there knocking on the door and that’s the good thing that these guys brought to us. We were a younger team last year than we’ve been in a few years, so we’re really excited about the future here.”