Where the Miami Hurricanes stand in recruiting: Details on the commits and the targets
With three weeks before the start of the early signing period, here’s a position-by-position look at where the University of Miami stands in 2020 recruiting, with a class that has 21 oral commitments, the ability to add a half a handful more players and a class rated 12th by Rivals.com:
▪ Quarterback — Commitment: Connecticut-based four star Tyler Van Dyke, rated the ninth best pro style quarterback by Rivals, is expected to enroll in January. He had a strong season, with 21 touchdowns through the air, four more on the ground, six interceptions and a 61.6 completion percentage.
“They think I can go in there and compete right away, haven’t told me about the starting job situation but said there’s a possibility,” Van Dyke told Canesport earlier this year. “If I do everything right, watch film, prepare right for the games then I think I’ll have a good shot.”
Comment: Van Dyke was extremely impressive at UM’s Paradise Camp last June, showing zip on his passes and excellent accuracy, which has been a question among some evaluators. It’s a possibility he could challenge Jarren Williams, N’Kosi Perry and Tate Martell; at the very least, he will be given a shot.
▪ Running back — Committed: Belen running back Don Chaney Jr. and Deerfield Beach running back Jaylon Knighton.
Comment: UM landed a terrific tandem, with Rivals rating Chaney 38th among all 2020 prospects and Knighton 150th. Rivals rates Chaney the fifth-best running back in this class and Knighton the fifth-best all-purpose back; both, remarkably, averaged just under 10 yards per carry this season.
Rivals analyst Rob Cassidy calls Knighton “a versatile back that is as dangerous catching the ball as he is carrying it. Knighton’s calling card is his speed, but the fact that he can be used in any number of ways, including in the slot and in the return game, is a nice bonus.”
Because Knighton previously de-committed from Ohio State and Florida State (after Willie Taggert’s dismissal), there will be a smidgen of uncertainty with Knighton until signing day, especially if FSU lands a marquee coach.
Even if DeeJay Dallas turns pro, running back will be the strength of this team with four high-end players next season: Cam’Ron Harris, Lorenzo Lingard (if he doesn’t transfer), Chaney and Knighton. We could eventually see Knighton as a third-down specialist.
Targets: These should be the only two backs in this class.
▪ Receiver — Committed: Four-star IMG Academy receiver Michael Redding, four-star Alabama based Dazalin Worsham and Deerfield Beach three-star receiver Xavier Restrepo.
Comment: UM lost four-star Northwestern receiver Marcus Fleming (Rivals’ 49th best receiver in this class) but rebounded well by snagging Worsham (rated 59th), a very good route runner that Alabama didn’t have room for in this class.
Worsham, who had 54 catches for 427 yards and four TDs this season, “is a nice get from the state of Alabama for Manny Diaz and his staff who could be an elite slot receiver in the ACC before too long,” said Rivals senior recruiting director Mike Farrell…. Restrepo told Canesport that UM coaches have mentioned him playing offense, defense and special teams.... Redding, who’s 6-1 with 4.5 speed, had two TD catches on one of the nation’s top teams.
Targets: Florida State commitment and Venice-based Malachi Wideman, Louisiana-Lafayette commitment and Louisiana-based Kyren Lacy (viewed as a backup plan) and Plantation American Heritage’s Douglas Emilien (visiting Miami Dec. 13 after trips to Cincinnati, Minnesota and West Virginia). UM would like to add one more among this group. [UPDATE: Emilien committed to Minnesota on Monday evening.]
▪ Tight end — Committed: Naples-based Dominic Mammarelli.
Comment: Mammarelli’s numbers weren’t eye-popping this season (260 yards in receptions, with three TD catches) but he plays in a run-first offense and he’s a skilled blocker. Michael Irvin Jr. and Larry Hodges figure to remain the third and fourth tight ends next season (behind Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory), allowing Mammarelli to redshirt or work on special teams (with Brian Polendey).
Targets: Las Vegas-based five-star Darnell Washington and Washington-based D.J. Rogers. Rivals’ Adam Gorney said he wouldn’t count out Miami on Washington but believes Georgia is the favorite. Rogers is also a long shot.
▪ Offensive line — Committed: Four-star Oakleaf based tackle Jalen Rivers, Nashville-based tackle Chris Washington and three-star Ocala-based Antonio Smith (who isn’t expected to remain part of this class).
Comment: Rivers is one of the class’ best prospects and could compete immediately at right tackle. Washington isn’t quite as polished as Rivers.
Targets: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Marlon Martinez (an LSU commit and a long shot for Miami) and teammate Marcus Dumervil (UM considered long shot even though he has consistently said he’s considering Miami); Jacksonville-based three-star guard Kobe Baynes, a Louisville commitment who’s now strongly considering UM and could visit this weekend. Another real possibility is four-star Chris Morris, an Arkansas-based Texas A&M commit, who reportedly will visit Miami this month; Rivals rates him the 37th best player in the 2020 class.
UM also is making another run at South Dade four-star guard Jonathan Denis, a former UM commit who is now committed to Oregon.
▪ Defensive line — Committed: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Oakleaf-based four star end Chantz Williams, Hollywood Chaminade four-star tackle Willie Moise, Columbus High four star end/tackle Elijah Roberts and three-star North Carolina based end Quentin Williams.
Comment: Strong group. Williams - who picked UM over LSU and Georgia - had 11.5 sacks in five games and two forced fumbles even while missing the last half of the season with two broken bones in his forearm. He could play immediately….Moise was sidelined this with a torn labrum…. Roberts, 6-3 and 267 pounds, is the top rated defensive lineman in Dade and UM defensive line coach Rick Stroud “told me if I keep my quickness and I keep adding strength, I’ll be able to play D-end” instead of defensive tackle. “I don’t mind what I play.”
Targets: Tampa-based linebacker/end Jaylen Harrell (reportedly visiting in mid-December), Port St. Lucie-based Jamari Stewart and Gulliver’s Westley Neal.
▪ Linebacker — Committed: Three three-star prospects: Georgia based Romello Height, New Jersey-based Tirek Austin-Cave and Houston based Corey Flagg.
Comment: Solid group. Height has emerged as a very good prospect, putting together an exceptional senior year that included 18 sacks; he could move to defensive end eventually... Flagg missed time with sprained MCL and we’ll see if he remains in this class.... Austin-Cave is highly productive; he had 135 tackles, 10 sacks and two interceptions this season…
UM also is expected to get a commitment from Hialeah Champagnat linebacker Jesus Machado, who was offered Sunday. He has no other major offers, but he had 137 tackles this season in his first year after moving from defensive end to linebacker.
Targets: California-based five star Justin Flowe, Florida State four-star commitment Keyshawn Greene and McArthur three-star linebacker Ruben Hyppolite.
Flowe would be the highest-rated player in this class if he surprisingly commits; he visited Miami and reportedly liked the visit but Miami is viewed as an underdog; his other finalists are Clemson, Georgia and Oregon… Greene said he will visit Miami and said two weeks ago that Miami is his top choice, but tells others that he’s sticking with FSU. So this could go either way…. Hypollite, a soft Maryland commit, has said he would consider Miami and will sign somewhere later this month.
▪ Defensive backs — Committed: There’s one cornerback committed (Winter Park-based Marcus Clarke) and another who play cornerback, safety or striker in Hialeah Champagnat’s four-star Jalen Harrell. Two pure safeties are committed: South Dade’s three-star Keshawn Washington and Miramar’s three-star Brian Balom. Keep in mind Washington has cornerback experience, and Balom has said UM might try him at cornerback.
Comment: Harrell was a big get and he and Clarke could be factors immediately at a position where depth is lacking... Another corner would help, and UM believes it has a chance to lure South Dade High’s four-star Jaiden Francois, who has de-committed twice but has said he’s still considering UM…. Clarke will join a group of young corners (juniors-to-be DJ Ivey and Al Blades Jr. and sophomores-to-be Christian Williams and Te’Cory Couch, who played sparingly on defense this season). Senior-to-be Trajan Bandy will return unless he turns pro.
Targets: Beyond Francois, UM made an offer last week to Northwestern three-star cornerback Ronald Delancy, who remains a Nebraska commit but will consider Miami.
Other defensive backs on Miami’s radar: three-star Georgia-based Doneiko Slaughter (an Arizona State commitment), American Heritage three-star prospect Davonta Brown (considering UM, UCF and Pitt), Georgia-based three-star Tee Denson (considering UM, Wake Forest and Virginia), Hutchinson Community College’s Jakorian Bennett and Highland Community College’s Brian George, among others.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 4:54 PM.
