Recruiting analyst assesses additions by the Miami Hurricanes in this 2020 class
UM on Wednesday will announce the majority of a recruiting class that’s very strong at running back and receiver, has some well-regarded front seven defenders, a four-star left tackle and an impressive quarterback prospect. About 15 of these players are expected to enroll in January.
Some feedback from longtime recruiting analyst Larry Blustein on the players expected to commit to UM this week:
▪ Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (Connecticut based): “I like him a lot,” Blustein said, forming an opinion off watching him at UM’s Paradise Camp in June and his senior game tape. “Great field vision, quick release, strong arm. He looks off receivers, [goes through his reads well]. Not a blazer, but has some footspeed. Can throw on the run.” But Blustein also points out, that “Jarren Williams and N’Kosi Perry were Heisman looking guys in high school too.” In other words, let’s let this play out.
I expect Van Dyke to get a shot to compete with N’Kosi Perry, Jarren Williams and Tate Martell for the starting job.
▪ Running backs Don Chaney (Belen) and Jaylon Knighton (Deerfield Beach): “They got two of the top three backs in South Florida,” Blustein said. “Knighton has good explosion, catches the ball well out of the backfield. He’s more of a Marcus Allenish type guy [as a skilled receiver]. Doesn’t have top end speed, but great instincts. Very solid.
“Chaney has been hampered by the fact he had no blocking at Belen; if he was running behind the Deerfield or Columbus lines, you’re talking about a different back. He’s not going to be a guy who will do anything [at the college level] without good blocking. Doesn’t have top end speed like Lorenzo Lingard but a more accomplished back.”
Both could play right away if DeeJay Dallas turns pro. If Dallas returns, Knighton potentially could redshirt.
▪ Wide receivers Daz Worsham (Alabama-based), Xavier Restrepo (Deerfield Beach) and Michael Redding (IMG Academy):
Worsham “was highly thought of by Wisconsin, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama,” Blustein said, though Alabama ultimately had no room for him in this class. “I watched three of his games on tape and he makes plays. Very talented, good speed, leaps well and gets the ball at the highest point. I saw him take a quick in-route and turn it into a 70-yard touchdown.”
“Does Restrepo have elite tools? No. But he’s a really good player who will never hurt you. Sure-handed guy on the offensive side. Physical kid. And a smart kid, 4.1 GPA. He’s a slot guy. I can’t label him as another Braxton Berrios, but a lot like him in some of the things he does. Berrios wasn’t as physical as Restrepo, but they’re comparable. … Redding is going to be really special. He’s a speed guy, which is what they need to stretch the field.”
▪ Tight end Dominic Mammarelli (Naples): “Physical kid, had a really good year. He’s like Durham Smythe of the Dolphins, not like Mike Gesicki. Not going to be a big receiving tight end.”
It won’t be surprising if he redshirts next season. UM hopes he can become another Chris Herndon.
▪ Offensive linemen: Jalen Rivers (the Oakleaf High tackle) and Chris Washington (the Nashville-based tackle):
Rivers “is a big-time kid, has an opportunity to be like Zion Nelson, bigger than Nelson, very athletic, very agile,” Blustein said. “But that’s the position that’s toughest to project. I think he will be a really good one. What you’re getting with Rivers and Washington are two guys that can run block.”
Rivers has a legitimate chance to challenge for a starting job, probably more at right tackle initially. And Washington also might be given a shot at right tackle.
▪ Defensive linemen Chantz Williams (Oakleaf in Orange Park), Elijah Roberts (Columbus) and Quentin Williams (North Carolina-based). Hollywood Chaminade defensive tackle Willie Moise is committed but has said he won’t sign until Feburary.
Blustein said he’s spoken to - and watched - Chantz Williams, the four-star defensive end, and “he that it factor. Has a zest for learning. He says he’s always watching film. Will he be another Greg Rousseau? Probably not. Rousseau has that intangible with his [elite] wing span. Chantz doesn’t have that, but he’s instinctual.”
Among the other three: Moise “has to stay healthy. He hasn’t played this year [except four games]. Very physical kid who can play either side of the ball.”
Columbus’ Roberts - at 6-4, 267 pounds - could be an end or tackle. “He’s a freak; I watched him seven times this year live, love him every time I watch him,” Bluestein said. “His pass-rushing skills are very good. He’s very strong, plays in the middle, and intelligent.”
And Quentin Williams’ high school coach raves about him, Blustein said: “He’s very productive, a throwback kid in how he plays.” He projects as an end.
Chantz Williams enters with the best chance to crack the rotation as a freshman and Quentin Williams has a chance to play, too, because the need is greater at defensive end than tackle. Moise could redshirt.
▪ Linebackers Romello Height (Georgia), Tirek Austin Cave (New Jersey) and Corey Flagg (Houston). All put up big tackle numbers in high school and have a chance to compete immediately, because it’s an inexperienced group beyond Zach McCloud.
But UM is very much in danger of losing Height, a longtime commitment who announced on Tuesday that he will pick between Auburn and Miami on Wednesday.
“I’ve seen Height a lot and he’s going to impress every day in practice; he stands out,” Blustein said. But Auburn has made a late run at Height, and UM is concerned about losing him.
UM has kept Hialeah Champagnat’s Jesus Machado on speed dial as a backup plan, but Machado has still been awaiting an offer.
Blustein notes “Machado started as an eighth grader at Champagnat and is basically the same size he was then. Was at Central last year and was OK but not great. Everyone thought he would be defensive end but [he didn’t get much bigger] and he’s more of a linebacker. He’s only 215 and he will get bigger and stronger. Three out of four years he’s been in the state finals. This isn’t a reach if they sign him; he’s got an opportunity to be pretty good and he’s got a high football IQ.”
▪ Defensive backs: Marcus Clarke (Winter Park cornerback), Keshawn Washington (South Dade safety); Jalen Harrell (the Hialeah Champagnat cornerback/safety/striker) and Brian Balom (the Miramar safety):
Clarke and Washington are the expected early enrollees. “I like Clarke; really versatile kid who has played four, five different positions,” Blustein said. “Very athletic kid who’s not a know-it-all and will listen to coaching. Washington lost a lot of weight with an injury. He will be a force when he puts on more weight; technically, he’s very sound.”
Harrell is “a lights-out kid,” Blustein said. “I think he’ll be a safety but he may have the athleticism to play corner. A few pounds of muscle and he could be terror in that secondary.”
Balom isn’t enrolling early, and Blustein disputes the notion he’s a step slow. “He’s a big, physical guy, more like Amari Carter. But he has great ball skills too.”
Because of UM’s need at cornerback, Clarke and potentially Harrell could compete for time immediately.
And UM hopes to land four-star cornerback Jaiden Francois, who on Wednesday will announce whether he will attend Miami or Nebraska. Miami also hopes to snag two-star safety Davonte Brown, who’s down to UM and UCF.
Here’s my Tuesday six-pack of UM nuggets, including NFL Draft news, who was at practice and who wasn’t, and recruits that UM remains in the mix for entering Wednesday.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 7:29 PM.
