Hurricanes’ recruiting class filling up. Here’s who is being targeted and where they stand
The Miami Hurricanes already have 22 non-binding commitments for their 2021 recruiting class, leaving them with the ability to add only three more players unless they part ways with some of those 22
So who should be the biggest priorities among UM’s targets?
Any list starts with five-star Louisiana-based defensive tackle Maason Smith, who has UM, UF, LSU, Alabama and Georgia as his finalists. Smith could be UM’s biggest recruiting coup in many years if he picks the Hurricanes.
As far as South Florida-based players, recruiting analyst Larry Blustein said these are the ones that would be excellent late additions to a recruiting class that is ranked 11th by Rivals and 12th by 247 Sports:
▪ St. Thomas Aquinas three-star linebacker Jaydon Hood, who has been committed to Michigan since May 25.
He told Canesport this week that he’s considering three schools: Michigan, Miami and Minnesota.
“Hood would be my high priority,” Blustein said. “He’s a beast, can play sideline to sideline. He can drop into coverage, stops the run and gets after the passer. He’s unique.. Michigan thinks he’s a key guy in their class. That would be earth shattering” if Miami flipped him.
After Miami beat FSU, Hood told Canesport: “I’m committed [to Michigan], but I have a great relationship with Miami. I can’t say what will happen in the future.”
He said likely he won’t sign until February.
▪ Miami Palmetto four-star cornerback Jason Marshall, a UF commitment.
Though Marshall has been committed to the Gators since Aug. 9, the Hurricanes continue to push.
“He would be the best corner in Miami’s class if they can get him,” Blustein said. “He’s a true corner. Very athletic and very talented.”
Rivals rates him the third-best corner in the country and 66th best player nationally.
This would be a surprising victory if UM can flip him.
Three of his Palmetto High teammates - defensive linemen Leonard Taylor and Savion Collins and receiver Brashard Smith - are non-binding UM 2021 commitments, though Collins’ status is unclear because of lack of contact with UM at times this year.
One of Marshall’s teammates - safety Corey Collier - is a non-binding UF commitment.
▪ IMG Academy four-star cornerback Markevious Brown. He can play multiple positions, but Blustein believes UM “would want him as a corner. He has the skill set for corner.”
Brown previously narrowed his choices to UM, Auburn, Arkansas, Virginia Tech and Mississippi.
Brown grew up a Miami fan but hasn’t tipped his hand. “I’m definitely familiar with Miami and the traditions they have,” he said.
Rivals rates him the 26th best cornerback; 247 Sports has him 24th.
▪ Four-star Miami Central running back Amari Daniels.
Miami already has one highly-regarded four-star running back commitment in Thad Franklin.
Daniels on Monday named Texas A&M and Georgia as his front-runners, after previously identifying Miami as being in the mix.
He has pushed back his announcement from this week to next week.
Possibly working against Miami is UM’s crowded backfield, featuring freshmen Jaylon Knighton and Don Chaney, starter Cam’Ron Harris (who would be a senior if he returns for another season) and potentially Franklin.
Rivals rates Daniels the fifth best all-purpose back and the 222nd best player in the 2021 class.
“Getting Daniels would give them another set of what they’ve got with Knighton and Chaney,” Blustein said. “Daniels and Franklin are guys who are difference makers. I think Amari would come here. I’m sure they can keep four running backs happy. He’s a stud back.
“I would sell Amari on the fact he’s going to be one of four backs. I think they can get him. He’s close to the Northwestern kids” who are committed to Miami. “All four are elite backs. Thad Franklin reminds me of [former UM and NFL standout] Otis Anderson - a big man with speed who gets stronger as the game moves along.”
Daniels told Rivals’ Chad Simmons a few weeks ago: “I really don’t feel any pressure to go to Miami. I like Miami, and I like how they have recruited me, but there is no pressure on me.”
And UM is now no higher than third on his list, judging from his announcement on Monday.
OTHERS PURSUED
Among other 2021 prospects with whom the Canes remain in contact: quarterback Jake Garcia and linebacker Terrence Lewis.
Garcia moved from California to Georgia to play this year (only to be ruled ineligible) but remains a solid Southern California commitment, despite lobbying from multiple Canes commitments. If Miami gets him, it would be a surprise.
Faced with the likelihood of not being able to play high school football in California this year because of COVID-19 restrictions, Garcia moved to Georgia with his father.
Garcia’s father, Randy, told ESPN that he and his wife, Yvonne, legally separated so that Garcia could move with his father to Valdosta, Ga. to play. The family thought they were meeting the Georgia High School Association’s transfer requirements, but he was nevertheless ruled ineligible after one game.
He’s now trying to gain eligibility at another Georgia school.
Lewis, a four-star prospect from Miami Central, committed to Tennessee on April 30, and the Canes have stayed in regular contact. Rivals rates him the No. 2 inside linebacker and 38th best overall prospect.
His father told Canesport last month that Miami’s “in the picture big time” and has a good chance to land him if the Hurricanes decide they want him.
But the biggest priority remains holding onto UM’s two best recruits - five-star safety James Williams and four-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor.
David Cooney, UM’s director of recruiting, said on WQAM’s Hurricane Hotline this week that “one of the key things that a lot of the parents and kids see is the genuineness of our staff. You were able to see it when we were out on the practice field. And just kind of being around the building, coach [Manny] Diaz has done an amazing job assembling a staff that we get along, crack jokes and when it’s time for business, it’s business.
“I think one of the key things is that genuineness. The parents see it when we have official visits or are just getting on phone calls or like now in the whole Zoom era. And we have coach [Rhett] Lashlee who has an amazing personality, followed by coach [Rob] Likens and coach Garin [Justice]. We have the perfect mix on the offensive side of the ball as well to go along with those defensive guys. It’s a perfect match.”
South Florida remains UM’s recruiting priority; 17 of Miami’s 22 commitments for 2021 attend high schools in Miami-Dade or Broward counties.
“We have our guys that we just have to have in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach County,” Cooney told Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr. “That’s our thumbprint. That’s what we want to hang out hat on. We don’t want to allow other schools to come down here and kind of cherry pick from our guys like they’ve been able to do in the past.
“We saw it this last class with us being able to grab those guys like Don Chaney and Jaylan Knighton, who’ve been big for us as freshmen. We were on prime time three times this season [on ABC] and now you kind of get the eyes more on us and like, ‘Wow, Miami boys. We were 7-6 last year but we’re rolling pretty good now.’
“And those kids are starting to look out a little bit more and they’re seeing the brand. You see college football is a little bit different when Miami is winning those games and it becomes a lot more appealing to those kids on the national stage.”
UM’s five 2021 commitments who don’t live in South Florida: Georgia-based linebacker Thomas Davis, Melbourne-based Chase Smith (who could play striker at Miami), Orlando-based defensive back Deshawn Troutman, Texas-based tight end Elijah Arroyo and Ft. Myers-based receiver/cornerback Malik Curtis.
Here’s my Thursday Dolphins piece on their plans at defensive tackle and who’s auditioning.
Here’s my media column with interesting results of a poll explaining why sports TV viewership has plummeted.
This story was originally published October 22, 2020 at 6:28 PM.
