Hurricanes get pledges from 2020 recruits

CORAL GABLES — In the days after Manny Diaz was named the head coach at Temple back in December, the Hurricanes saw their 2020 recruiting class take a hit — particularly among defensive recruits who had hoped to play for Miami’s energetic former defensive coordinator.

But now that Diaz is back in Coral Gables as Miami’s head coach, several of the prospects who had defected have returned to the recruiting fold, the most recent coming Sunday when four-star safety Keshawn Washington opted to rejoin Miami’s recruiting class during a recruiting event in Coral Gables.

Washington was one of two juniors to pledge to the Hurricanes on Sunday along with offensive lineman Antonio Smith of Ocala’s Vanguard High — the same high school attended by Miami quarterback N’Kosi Perry.

Both Washington and Smith announced their decisions on Twitter and included images of their day in Coral Gables with their announcements. Washington, a standout from South Dade High, also received offers from the likes of Florida State, Auburn, Oregon, Georgia, Maryland and Nebraska, among others.

“I decided to recommit back to the crib,” Washington wrote on Twitter. “It [feels] good to be back home.”

While Washington has earned attention from some of the nation’s major programs, Smith is still a bit of an under-the-radar prospect who has yet to receive any star ratings or rankings from any of the major recruiting services.

In his commitment announcement, he noted he received his offer from Miami on Sunday. He has received offers from Colorado State and Troy, according to 247Sports.com.

“I’m happy and truly blessed to receive an offer from the U and committed to the University of Miami,” Smith wrote on Twitter. “It’s all about the U.”

Smith is the first offensive lineman to join Miami’s 2020 recruiting class and with the addition of Smith and Washington, the Hurricanes now have verbal pledges from 11 players. Their class is ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247 Sports behind only Alabama.