Diaz responds to Miami decommitment trend after loss to FIU. Who left and what coach said
Without mentioning specific names, which is prohibited per NCAA rules, University of Miami football coach Manny Diaz and defensive coordinator Blake Baker on Monday addressed the trend of high school players pulling their commitments after losses like the one to FIU late Saturday.
Within 24 hours of Miami’s shocking 30-24 loss to the Panthers, two South Florida high school players from the recruiting class of 2021 and another from the class of 2020 had pulled their verbal pledges to become Hurricanes.
The Saturday night decommitment from 2020 three-star defensive tackle Tre’von Riggins had been expected and is believed to be more a matter of the UM staff loosening its ties. But then came the Sunday decommitments from four-star wide receivers Jacolby George of Plantation High and Romello Brinson of Miami Northwestern.
On Monday evening, 2021 linebacker recruit Cortez McKenzie out of St. Petersburg Lakewood High School decommitted as well.
Last week, four-star Miami Northwestern receiver Marcus Fleming decommitted from the Hurricanes’ class of 2020 and three-star Amite (Louisiana) High School cornerback Daran Branch pulled his 2020 commitment.
Diaz was asked by WQAM’s Joe Rose this morning about the decommitment trend following the loss to the Panthers and how the frustrated coach will handle that going forward.
“There have been some young guys that decommit,’’ Diaz said, “which, as we know in the long haul you’re going to have some guys in the younger class... If you think about it we had some guys in this class that decommitted that ended up hopping back on board.
He acknowledged he didn’t like to see the younger players decommit, but that it would be much more “troubling” if it started happening among 2020 commitments, “which we have felt is very solid.’’
The three-day early signing period this year runs from Dec. 18-20. National Signing Day for the 2020 class of recruits is Feb. 5.
“There has not been anybody that we felt is going to be a key member of the 2020 class [who has left since the loss to FIU]. All those guys are solid. We had two guys of the 2020 class at our practice [Sunday] night. In fact, I’ve gotten three commitments in the past three or four days and all those kids are rock solid and all on board.
“And the cool thing is, that class, they’ve got a group chat and on their group chat, those guys, if anything, they’re more all-in now than ever because they want to come in and be the fix.
“I mean, look, someone is going to be the fix here, right? And that’s usually what it’s going to take... We’ve been telling the story for how many years now at this university? And it materialized this past week in the loss to FIU, which was horrendous, but it’s been the same story. There is going to be a group of young men that is going to come here [and] have the mentality to say, ‘Not on our watch.’
“And that’s really what they’ve been talking about in their group chat, which has been pretty awesome to see, some real strong leader types.
“And again, these are the guys that have been putting up with this all year, even back when we were 3-4 in October. Then you match that with the freshman class on our campus right now, a lot of those guys that are redshirting that are some pretty talented dudes, who, by the way, are the ones that stuck and stayed.
“Remember, there was a lot of negativity here last November. There was a lot of negativity last December. And if you think about it in terms of the context of our very small outgoing class of seniors now, like Shaq Quarterman Mike Pinckney, those type guys, those are the guys that stuck and stayed at the transition from [Al] Golden to [Mark] Richt.
“So there is something a little bit special about this 2020 class, not just in terms of their skill and talent as football players. But they’ve got the mentality that we really feel like we need to get this thing going. And to be honest, that’s part of the recruiting profile we’re trying to bring in here.’’
Baker said Monday at an afternoon news conference that he doesn’t believe the recent loss will sabotage recruiting efforts.
“I think the guys we have committed to his class have been unbelievable,’’ Baker said. “I don’t think the guys committed to this class are deterred. Every guy I’ve talked to has been very responsive, their parents have been very responsive. I think we have true Miami Hurricanes committed in this class.’’
Now, back to those decommitments.
Following is part of what talented receiver Brinson wrote as part of his announcement Sunday on social media:
“This was a hard decision but it’s a young man decision so he can better his self in life. As growing up as family with a lot of canes fans Miami will still be an option but as of right now I would like to thank the University of Miami for the opportunity and taking a chance on me but I am DE-COMMITTED from university of Miami...’’
Brinson, 6-2 and 180 pounds, is listed by 247Sports’ composite as the nation’s 28th best player at his position and the 18th best overall player in Florida.
George, 5-10 and 155 pounds, is listed by 247Sports’ composite as the nation’s 44th best player at his position and 37th best overall player in Florida.
“I will like to thank my family, coaches for supporting me with my decision,’’ George posted on social media. “Also would like to thank [wide receivers] coach [Taylor] Stubblefield for giving the opportunity to have a offer from the University of Miami but with this being said I am de-committing from the university of Miami, and will be opening my recruitment to all schools.’’
UM’s 2020 recruiting class has 20 commits and is ranked No. 17 in the nation by 247Sports and No. 15 by Rivals.com.
UM’s 2021 recruiting class has 9 commits and was ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247Sports and No. 4 by Rivals.com before McKenzie’s decommitment. One of those pledges is from Andres Borregales, the Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna kicker who is the younger brother of FIU’s Jose Borregales, who kicked field goals of 29, 50 and a career-long 53 yards Saturday night against Miami.
The younger Borregales made sure to post on Twitter Monday, “I’m still committed,” accompanied by emojis of hands throwing up the U and orange and green hearts.
It also should be noted that 6-2, 190-pound, three-star Miami Northwestern High receiver Kahlil Brantley, who flipped his 2021 commitment from Utah to UM in February, posted a tweet that said “I’m still committed’’ on Sunday morning.
▪ Miami starting running back DeeJay Dallas, a junior, “may not need surgery,” Diaz said Monday, for what was reported by WQAM as a dislocated elbow sustained in the third quarter of the FIU game. “It could have been a lot worse,” said Diaz, who said he didn’t have a timetable for Dallas’ return.
▪ Hurricanes starting tight end Brevin Jordan was named one of three finalists for the Mackey Award that goes to the nation’s top tight end at the end of the season. The other finalists were Harrison Bryant of FAU and Hunter Bryant of Washington. Jordan has nine starts this season and a team-high 495 receiving yards with 35 catches and two touchdowns. He has missed the past two games with an injury. He is the only finalist from the ACC.
This story was originally published November 24, 2019 at 5:15 PM.
