UM’s WR commits want to be part of the solution. ‘We’re all going to push each other’
Jacolby George orally committed to the Miami Hurricanes — for the second and, he says, final time — because of the sort of offense Rhett Lashlee and Rob Likens promised to bring to Coral Gables.
It’s the same sort of appeal that worked on all three of the wide receivers committed to Miami’s Class of 2021. Brashard Smith likes the way Lashlee can utilize his speed. Romello Brinson likes the way the spacing on the field creates chances for receivers. George, who committed to the Hurricanes last year and then decommitted just five months later before recommitting in June, likes the opportunities for yards after the catch.
“They kind of showed me the stuff they’re going to be running and I just fell in love with it,” George said. “It seems like it’s working. The receivers just got to finish. Once the 2021 class goes there, I feel like we’re going to take over.”
All three wideouts in the 2021 recruiting class are either blue-chip prospects or All-Americans and all three are slated to early enroll. They all committed before they ever actually saw Lashlee’s offense in action at Miami and now they’re happy with what they’re seeing.
They also all took notice when Likens completely opened up the competition at wide receiver last week, listing nine co-starters, including five freshmen, on the depth chart ahead of the Hurricanes’ 19-14 win against the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday.
“I’m really excited to get a chance to come in and take a spot,” George said. “He doesn’t care who you are. It’s just the best players — whoever shows it in practice is going to play on Saturdays.”
Said Brinson: “I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to come in and start right now.”
Added Smith: “I’m excited. I’m ready to play with those guys.”
Brinson is the No. 1 wide receiver in Miami-Dade County, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. Smith, although only a three-star recruit, was slated to play in the All-American Bowl before organizers canceled the game because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
George, the No. 2 wide receiver in Broward County, is still slated to play in the Under Armour All-America Game and fits the sort of profile Likens likes from his wide receivers. The 5-11, 161-pound senior can play both inside and outside, and his lateral quickness makes him dangerous as a route runner and with the ball in his hands.
He spent his offseason — away from official team activities because of the coronavirus pandemic — working with Plantation’s new quarterback and trying to get even faster. He and quarterback Cedquan Smith would spend most days together, either running routes at a nearby park or working out with trainers from Fort Lauderdale’s Gold Feet Global. George spent his time running on the beach or springing with a parachute, trying to become even more explosive in 2020.
The four-star wide receiver is coming off a 1,000-yard season in 2019, which made him a top target for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Penn State Nittany Lions after he decommitted from the Hurricanes.
Now his recruitment is shut down, he said, and he’s on track to be on campus in time for spring practice next year. Reinforcements are on the way for the Hurricanes and they could have eight underclassmen, including redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Payton, pushing for playing time next season.
“I feel like me, Brashard and Mello — we’ll work for our spot,” George said. “I feel like us coming in together — we’re all going to push each other to get better.”
