Top Broward uncommitted recruits make their decisions. And one top player doesn’t sign

Plantation American Heritage cornerback Damari Brown is staying home. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Edwin Joseph is staying in-state. And Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Jayvant Brown is heading to the Southeastern Conference.

The trio, Broward County’s top recruits in the Class of 2023 who were uncommitted entering Wednesday, made their college decisions on the first day of the three-day early signing period.

Damari Brown chose the hometown Miami Hurricanes over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Joseph is heading to the Florida State Seminoles. And Jayvant Brown signed with the Kentucky Wildcats three days after de-committing from Michigan State.

Damari Brown, ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 22 overall cornerback in the Class of 2023 according to the 247 Sports composite ranking and the No. 42 overall prospect in the state regardless of position, chose Miami over Alabama and said he made the decision over the weekend. He is the son of former Hurricanes defensive back Selwyn Brown, who won a national title with the Hurricanes in 1987. His older brother, Davonte Brown, is also heading to UM as a fourth-year junior after spending his first three college seasons with the UCF Knights.

“I tried to do what was best for me, but that’s a plus,” Brown said. “I’ll be taken care of down there. My brother’s coming with me, so that’s a plus. He’ll take me under his wing. We’re going to work.”

Brown was the final of eight from American Heritage to sign on Wednesday, joining a star-studded group that includes five-star wide receiver Brandon Inniss (Ohio State), four-star running back Mark Fletcher (Miami), four-star safety Daemon Fagan (North Carolina State), three-star cornerback Shamar McNeil (Missouri) and three-star quarterback Blake Murphy (Louisiana-Monroe). Long snapper Aiden Arias is joining Fagan at N.C. State, while defensive lineman Victor King also signed with Air Force.

Jayvant Brown, ranked as the No. 73 overall prospect in the state, signed with Kentucky after a dominant senior season that was capped with a Class 3M state title. He tallied 61 tackles with five tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery.

He was one of 13 St. Thomas Aquinas players who sent in their national letter of intent on Wednesday. The others: four-star safety King Mack (Penn State); three-star cornerback Kimari Robinson (Duke); three-star wide receiver Isaiah Hardge (Colorado); three-star defensive lineman Jason Hammond (Virginia); three-star running back Xavier Terrell (FAU); three-star edge rusher Zakaiah Saez (Oregon State); three-star offensive lineman Ryan Mickow (Boston College); three-star tight end TeKai Kirby (Virginia); three-star running back Gemari Sands (FAU); three-star wide receiver Jackson Grier (Boise State); linebacker Justin Coles (Navy); linebacker Dominic Diaz (Air Force).

And Joseph, a three-star athlete ranked as the No. 84 overall prospect in the state, opted for FSU over Auburn, Louisville, Miami, Penn State and South Carolina, among others. He was the headline signee out of a Chaminade-Madonna class that also saw three-star cornerback Luke Evans (Mississippi State), three-star offensive lineman William Larkins (Indiana) and three-star offensive lineman Deandre Duffus (Maryland) sign their national letters of intent.

Other top signees

Overall, 11 of the 12 recruits from Broward County ranked among the top 100 in the state signed on Wednesday.

In addition to players already mentioned, Stranahan five-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams signed with Florida State while Dillard four-star safety Antione Jackson and four-star running back Chris Johnson both signed with Miami.

While Johnson left little doubt of where he was going, Jackson actually decided he would keep everything up in the air as he also had an East Carolina cap on his table in addition to UM. And when he got up to the podium to make his announcement, he actually blurted out “East” before backing up and saying “University of Miami” pulling the cap out of his bag.

“I hadn’t really decided until this morning,” Jackson said. “What swayed me? The way the Miami coaches were pushing really hard and coming at me and not giving up.”

The biggest name that hasn’t put pen to paper yet: St. Thomas Aquinas safety Conrad Hussey, the No. 47 overall prospect in the state who has been orally committed to Penn State since late April.

More signings

Avant Garde: Wide receiver/defensive back Giovanni Adopte (Gardner-Webb); wide receiver/defensive back William Fowles (Louisville); Blanche Ely: Safety Harlem Howard, (Oregon State); offensive lineman Jayvin James (Akron); Cardinal Gibbons: Quarterback Dylan Rizk (UCF); athlete Jesse Anderson (Pittsburgh); running back Kamari Moulton (Iowa); long snapper Trey Dubuc (USF); Dillard: Wide receiver Tastean Reddicks (Oregon State); offensive lineman Rico Jackson (N.C. State); wide receiver A.J. Jenkins (FAU); safety Trevaughn Martinez (Western Carolina); offensive lineman Daniel Michel (FIU); Pine Crest: Jordan Faison (Notre Dame); Western: Wide receiver Santana Fleming (Western Carolina).

Bill Daley contributed to this report