Where UM football recruiting stands with targets and commitments at every position
On- or off-campus recruiting visits have been put on hold due to coronavirus, but the Miami Hurricanes are still working behind the scenes on a 2021 recruiting class that features 13 nonbinding commitments and is rated eighth by both Rivals and 247 Sports.
Where things stand for 2021, by position:
RUNNING BACK
▪ Committed: One — Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna’s Thaddius Franklin, rated by Rivals as the 13th-best running back and 205th-best player in the 2021 class. But Franklin at this point is viewed as a soft commitment; he told Canesport that he plans to take visits elsewhere, adding: “I’m with Miami, but I’m making sure I’m making the right decision, am looking at other colleges. Right now I’m pretty sure that’s where I will wind up unless I take my visits and change my mind.”
▪ Likely to add: One or two more, depending on Franklin’s decision.
▪ Targets: Though a back or two will be added, UM is in decent shape here, after adding Don Chaney Jr. and Jaylon Knighton in the 2020 class and getting a nonbinding commitment from Franklin for 2021. Those are three high-end backs, and Cam’Ron Harris and Robert Burns will be back in 2021, too.
Targets include Georgia-based Cody Brown, Michigan-based Donovan Edwards, IMG Academy’s Lovasea Carroll, Texas-based Ahmonte Watkins, Carol City’s three-star Katravis Geter, North Carolina-based three-star Jaylen Wright (a Tennessee comittment) and Orlando-based Christian Leary, who’s a skilled receiver.
TIGHT END
▪ Committed: Miami Northwestern’s Kahlil Brantley, a receiver who is expected to play tight end with Miami. Syracuse, West Virginia and Oregon continue to pursue him, but he has said he’s solid to Miami.
▪ Likely to add: One more.
▪ Targets: With the strong possibility that Brevin Jordan could turn pro after the 2020 season, Miami needs a downfield threat to join Will Mallory, 2020 addition Dominic Mammarelli (a skilled blocker) and Brantley on the roster. Larry Hodges can play tight end and H-back.
Top targets include Texas-based Elijah Arroyo, Venice-based three-star prospect Weston Wolff (has UM in top five), Georgia-based three-star Miles Campbell, Nevada-based Moliki Mataveo and Lake Wales-based Michael Trigg.
WIDE RECEIVER
▪ Committed: None, but Miami Central defensive end Chamon Metayer, rated by Rivals the 40th best weak-side defensive end, says he wants to play receiver and told the Herald’s David Wilson that UM is OK with that.
▪ Likely to add: Three.
▪ Targets: With UM running a spread offense, the receiver position needs to constantly be restocked with quality and numbers. Barring transfers, UM will have Mark Pope, Jeremiah Payton, Dee Wiggins, Xavier Restrepo, Keyshawn Smith, Michael Redding and Daz Worsham in its 2021 receiver room, with Mike Harley set to graduate after this season.
The Canes are targeting a bunch. At the top of the list: Miami Booker T. Washington’s five-star Jacorey Brooks, Northwestern’s four-star Romello Brinson (committed to UM for 10 months last year before decommitting in November), Plantation High’s Jacolby George, Jacksonville-based Marcus Burke, Texas-based four-star JoJo Earle, Georgia-based three-star Lemeke Brockington (a Minnesota commitment), Louisiana-based four-star prospect Brian Thomas and three-star prospect Malik Nabers, Miami Palmetto-based three-star Kamonte Grimes, Virginia-based four-star Malcolm Johnson and Pompano Beach Monarch’s Jaden Alexis.
UM also has offered no-star Louisiana based Lynarise Elpheage, an under-the-radar prospect who likes Miami. UM reportedly is his only Power 5 offer.
The sense here is Miami has a very good chance to land Brinson and George. And Brooks remains in play.
OFFENSIVE LINE
▪ Committed: Three: three-star Miami Columbus center Ryan Rodriguez, four-star Miami Central offensive lineman Laurence Seymore and three-star Parkland Stoneman Douglas offensive lineman Michael McLaughlin.
▪ Likely to add: Two.
▪ Targets: UM is off to a very good start, having secured a quality tackle prospect in Seymore, a solid guard prospect in McLaughlin and the state’s best center prospect in Rodriguez.
Now UM will add one or two more tackles or guards from a group including California-based three-star Anthony Rosas (UM is in his top eight), Texas-based tackle Savion Byrd (UM would love to land him and he says he’s serious about UM but has nearly 30 offers), Ocala three-star tackle Caleb Johnson, IMG Academy tackle JC Latham, California-based three-star guard Ross Maseuli and Georgia-based guard Terrence Ferguson.
Five-star Virginia based tackle Tristan Leigh remains the ultimate prize, but Miami is facing an uphill climb there.
QUARTERBACK
▪ Committed: None.
▪ Likely to add: One. Manny Diaz wants to add a quarterback during every recruiting cycle. We addressed quarterbacks in this Tuesday piece.
▪ Targets: The Hurricanes have offered several, including Texas-based Garrett Nussmeier, California-based Miller Moss, Georgia-based Aaron McLaughlin, Jalen Milroe (a Texas commit), among others.
DEFENSIVE LINE
▪ Committed: Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Allan Haye (rated the 2021 class’ No. 43 defensive tackle by 247 Sports); Metayer, the aforementioned defensive end who wants to be a receiver; and four-star Miami Southwest defensive tackle Savion Collins, the No. 19 defensive tackle.
But there’s a big caveat on the last two of those players: UM has seemingly cooled on Collins, and most expect him to flip to UF. And unless Metayer changes his mind, he won’t play defense at Miami.
▪ Likely to add: At least three more, and two natural defensive ends committed to UM (see below) project as linebackers at Miami.
▪ Targets: At defensive end, the Canes are eyeing Brooklyn-based Sebastian Sager (Canes have a good shot), Miami Columbus High’s Jabari Ishmael (Canes have a good shot here, too), Vero Beach’s Keanu Koht (a skilled pass rusher) and Ocala-based Bryce Langston (Miami has ground to make up there.) UM also has offered no-star Melbourne-based Julius Barfield, who’s very interested in Miami.
For 2021, UM will need to replace its two starting 2020 defensive ends (Quincy Roche and Greg Rousseau) if Rousseau turns pro early. Miami would have good building blocks in Jahfari Harvey, Jaelen Phillips, Jason Blissett (splitting his time between tackle and end), Chantz Williams, Quentin Williams and Cameron Williams.
UM was pleased about landing Haye last week but remains an underdog for two five-star defensive tackles that it covets: Palmetto’s Leonard Taylor and Louisiana-based five-star Maason Smith.
And expect more defensive tackles to be targeted, with the Canes needing to replenish there after Jon Ford’s eligibility expires after the 2020 season.
LINEBACKER
▪ Committed: Two high school defensive ends who are projected to be outside linebackers at Miami: three-star Northwestern defensive end Ja’Corey Hammett, rated by Rivals as the No. 25 weak-side defensive end in the 2021 class and three-star Homestead South Dade High defensive end Tyler Johnson, rated by Rivals as the nation’s 32nd weak-side defensive end in the 2021 class.
▪ Likely to add: At least one beyond Hammett and Johnson.
▪ Targets: UM would love to add Chaminade-Madonna’s five-star Terrence Lewis, but the Canes are considered an underdog for a consensus top 20 player in the nation.
Miami also covets Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas’ three-star Jaydon Hood but faces a tough battle with West Virginia and others.
Other targets: St. Thomas Aquinas’ four-star Dallas Turner and Brooklyn-based three-star Sebastian Sager (Miami has a good chance with him).
With Zach McCloud’s eligibility expiring after this upcoming season, UM’s 2020 linebacker group will be built around the 2021 additions, plus Sam Brooks, Avery Huff, Patrick Joyner Jr., Bradley Jennings Jr. and 2020 additions Tirek Austin-Cave and Corey Flagg Jr.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
▪ Committed: Two — three-star Northwestern cornerback Tim Burns and Fort Myers-based three-star cornerback Malik Curtis (who can also play receiver but is expected to begin his college career at corner).
▪ Likely to add: Two more cornerbacks beyond Burns and one or two safeties.
▪ Targets: There are several high-end defensive backs being pursued by UM. That group of targets, at cornerback, includes Palmetto five-star Jason Marshall (UF, Clemson and Alabama are his finalists, so UM appears out of it), IMG Academy’s Kamar Wilcoxson (decommitted from UF), five-star cornerback Ga’Quincy McKinstry (Alabama the favorite for Rivals’ 46th-best overall prospect), West Virginia-based four-star Isaiah Johnson, Kentucky-based Jantzen Dunn (UM in his top seven), Georgia-based four-star Nyland Green and New Jersey-based four star Duce Chestnut.
Miami also has offered Lehigh Acres’ three-star cornerback Omarion Cooper, who has interest in Miami, Jensen Beach-based three-star Da’Quan Gonzales and Tennessee-based three-star De’Shawn Rucker.
And if Miami wants him, UM would be in good shape with Lehigh’s three-star Tarvarish Dawson, who has visited campus.
At safety, targets include five-star Davie Western High’s James Williams (Miami not a favorite with him), Palmetto’s four-star Corey Collier, Northwestern’s four-star Kamron Kinchens, Kentucky-based four-star Jantzen Dunn (UM has a good chance here), Hollywood McArthur’s three-star Kevin Knowles (has visited UM, but South Carolina considered the front-runner by some), Alabama-based three star Ian Jackson, Lousiana-based three-star Jardin Gilbert, Orlando-based three-star Deshawn Troutman, Pennsylvania-based four-star Derek Davis Jr. and four-star Tallahassee-based Terrion Arnold.
Miami replenished its secondary in the 2020 class with Avantae Williams (the nation’s top safety prospect), Jalen Harrell (can be safety, corner or striker), cornerback Marcus Clark and Isaiah Dunson and safeties Keshawn Washington and Brian Balom.
And barring transfers, UM won’t lose any 2020 defensive backs except Amari Carter, who will be a senior this upcoming season.
SPECIALISTS
▪ Committed: Kicker Andres Borregalas is committed.
▪ Likely to add: None, with punter Louis Hedley entering his sophomore season.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 2:06 PM.
