UM’s Diaz assesses the new batch of defenders set to arrive on campus
UM this week welcomed to campus most of an 18-member recruiting class that was widely considered to be a top 20 haul.
But while all nine offensive players have enrolled, only four of the nine defensive players are expected to enroll early.
The five who are planning to wait until one of the two summer sessions to enroll: defensive linemen Elijah Roberts and Quentin Williams, safety Brian Balom, cornerback Marcus Clarke and safety/cornerback Jalen Harrell.
The four who enrolled this week: linebackers Tirek Austin-Cave and Corey Flagg, safety Keshawn Washington and defensive end Chantz Williams.
Coach Manny Diaz assesses the defensive newcomers:
▪ Defensive end Chantz WIlliams and Quentin Williams and end/tackle Roberts:
Diaz told WQAM that “we saw Roberts at spring practice at Coral Park before he transferred to Columbus and instantly felt this guy can be a star. The time he developed at Coral Park and Columbus, he made us true in our statement.
“He really became a dominant player for them. He can play on the edge on the defense. Mother Nature might continue to see him grow where he becomes one of those unblockable three techniques in the Gerald Willis mold. Time will tell on that.”
Rivals rated Roberts the No. 13 strong-side defensive end and the No. 47 player in Florida. He had 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks for Miami Columbus High.
Miami beat out FSU, UF, Oregon, Penn State and Michigan, among others, for him. If he keeps growing (he’s already 6-4, 265 pounds), he should be part of a potentially excellent 2021 defensive tackle rotation with Nesta Jade Silvera, Jordan Miller, Jalar Holley, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jason Blissett.
As for the two defensive ends... “The two Williams are elite athletes coming off the edge, able to terrorize quarterbacks,” Diaz said. “Two elite pass rushers.”
Chantz Williams, from Oakleaf High in the Jacksonville area, was rated by ESPN as the No. 7 player at his position and No. 11 player in Florida and the 57th-best prospect overall. He had 22 sacks and five forced fumbles in his high school career, and Miami beat out both Alabama and Clemson — among many others — for him.
By enrolling early, Chantz Williams will have a leg up in the battle to be UM’s fourth or fifth defensive end, behind Greg Rousseau, Scott Patchan, Jahfari Harvey and a possible grad transfer addition.
Quentin Williams, meanwhile, was rated by ESPN as the No. 56 defensive end nationally. He had 41 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in his career and picked UM over Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and others.
▪ Linebackers Austin-Cave and Flagg:
Diaz said when UM began recruiting Flagg, his coach at North Shore High in Houston “said this is the best player we have on our team [and] we have all kind of guys ranked. Corey battled an injury this season. Instincts is the word with Corey, just a pure linebacker. Instinctive, understands his way out of the inside gaps.”
ESPN rated him the 47th-best linebacker in this class. The 5-11, 223-pound Flagg chose UM over Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma State and others.
Austin-Cave, out of Camden, New Jersey, was rated by ESPN as the No. 44 linebacker in this class. He had big numbers last season: 148 tackles, 11 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt. He chose UM over Baylor, Minnesota, West Virginia and others.
“Cave is about speed,” Diaz said. “To really amp up the speed in that unit is something Tirek brings that is different from what we have on our campus right now. Our young guys, Avery Huff and Sam Brooks can run, but Tirek can really run, documented track times. And when we talk about trying to shrink the field with that Miami speed, that’s what Tirek brings. Austin Cave gives us something we don’t have on our roster, which is elite speed at the linebacker position.”
By enrolling this week, Austin-Cave and Flagg have a chance to compete to play immediately as freshmen, at the very least on special teams.
▪ Safeties Balom and Washington, cornerback Clarke and Harrell, with Washington the only early enrollee of the four:
“With Keshawn Washington, you’re talking about a guy with elite size at safety [6-1, 175 pounds], very rangy,” Diaz said. “No telling what he will look like when [strength and conditioning coach] David Feeley is done working his magic on him. He’s going to be a very imposing figure on the back end.”
Rivals rated Washington — a Homestead South Dade High alum — as the No. 8 safety in this 2020 class. He chose UM over FSU, Auburn, Georgia and others.
Balom, meanwhile, was rated the No. 46 safety by 247sports. He had two interceptions and three forced fumbles as a senior at Miramar High and helped Miramar medal in the mens’ 1,600-meter relay at the state track and field championships. He’s shorter than Washington (5-11) but bulkier (182).
“We were really impressed with Brian,” Diaz said of a player that picked UM over Utah, Louisville, West Virginia and others. “He came to our camp and was one of our top performers in our camp, put it on tape as a senior. He’s a great example of keeping your evaluation in your senior year because he really stood out as a senior and earned his scholarship.”
Harrell could end up at cornerback or perhaps striker for UM. At 6-1, 190 pounds, he was rated by Rivals as the 117th best overall player in this class. As a senior at Hialeah Champagnat last season, he had 62 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Miami beat out Clemson, FSU, Penn State and others for him.
“Jalen Harrell for us is as talented as any defensive back in all of Dade County this past year,” Diaz said. “He has such position flexibility; been a corner, been a safety, can play press man, can range from center field. He’s a guy we can’t wait to get to our campus and get to work on and see how many ways he can help us. You’re always looking for guys with nickel and dime skills when you go to a sub package defense.”
Clarke, out of Winter Park, will join the competition for a cornerback rotation spot this summer. He was rated the No. 30 cornerback in the country by 247 and had six interceptions in three seasons and returned eight punts for touchdowns. Clarke (5-11, 185 pounds) chose UM over FSU, West Virginia and others.
“With Marcus Clarke, we’re adding more speed on perimeter on the outside, which has been priorities for us in the last two recruiting classes,” Diaz said. “And Clarke has the length to cover guys up.”
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 4:09 PM.
