Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Incoming class of 20 ranked 9th
A look at UM commitments heading into Wednesday’s Early Signing Period
College football’s three-day Early Signing Period starts Wednesday, and a key 2020 recruiting class for coach Manny Diaz and the Miami Hurricanes begins to officially come together.
UM is hoping to address a number of positions and, while looking to close on a few elite prospects, it still appears to have areas that will have to be addressed either by February’s traditional National Signing Day or the transfer portal.
With 20 commitments in a class that’s ranked No. 9 nationally by Rivals and 15th by 247 Sports, the Hurricanes have an outside shot at landing a pair of five-star recruits in California linebacker Justin Flowe and Las Vegas tight end Darnell Washington.
The Hurricanes also hope to add Homestead South Dade defensive back Jaiden Francois to the class for a third and final time. The four-star safety was on the Coral Gables campus for his official visit over the weekend along with a slew of UM commits, including high school teammate in fellow safety Keshawn Washington.
Francois first committed to Miami in July of 2018 at the school’s marquee recruiting event, Paradise Camp. After his junior season, he opened his recruitment back up that December, only to rejoin the class in February. In October, he decommitted once more, and now Miami’s competition for his services is Nebraska, where Francois visited in November.
The Hurricanes also are awaiting word of American Heritage cornerback Davonte Brown, who is deciding between UM, Pittsburgh and UCF. Jacksonville Sandalwood offensive lineman Kobe Baynes, a Louisville commit, visited Miami the weekend of Dec. 6.
Miami missed on a pair of targets this weekend as defensive back Doneiko Slaughter committed to Tennessee, while former FSU commit Keyshawn Greene wound up with Nebraska. Missing on Green could mean the Hurricanes hand out a late offer to Hialeah Champagnat linebacker Jesus Machado, who Champagnat coach Hector Clavijo told the South Florida Sun Sentinel would likely commit on the spot if offered.
The 20 commitments appear solid heading into the Early Signing Period. Auburn appears to have made a late push on Georgia-based pass rusher Romello Height. While he was on the verge of taking a weekend visit to Auburn, Rivals’ CaneSport.com reported on Sunday that Height said he never took the visit.
The Hurricanes also are bringing in a potential quarterback of the future in Connecticut-based four-star prospect Tyler Van Dyke. Van Dyke impressed those on hand when he threw at UM’s Paradise Camp at the school in July.
Miami’s overhauled backfield includes a pair of four-star running backs — Miami Belen’s Don Chaney Jr. and Deerfield Beach’s Jaylan Knighton. They could make an immediate impact, with speculation that junior DeeJay Dallas could declare for the NFL draft and sophomore Lorenzo Lingard could transfer.
Receiver is another position where UM gets a much-needed boost, with Jeff Thomas declaring early for the NFL draft and K.J. Osborn graduating. Four-star prospects in IMG Academy’s Michael Redding III and Dazalin Worsham, out of Alabama, come in as outside threats, while Deerfield’s Xavier Restrepo can play the slot.
Should the Hurricanes not land Darnell Washington, they still have longtime commit Dominic Mammarelli of Naples, a fourstar prospect.
Needing offensive line help, one of Miami’s top commitments is Orange Park Oakleaf four-star prospect Jalen Rivers. UM also has three-star commit Chris Washington from Nashville and awaits word from Baynes, another three-star recruit.
Defensively, the Hurricanes would love to land Flowe to restock at linebacker, where they will lose seniors Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney. Aside from impending redshirt senior linebacker Zach McCloud, they won’t have much experience at linebacker. Miami has commitments from just three-star prospects Tirek Austin-Cave from New Jersey and Corey Flagg out of Houston.
On the defensive line, Rivers’ Oakleaf teammate and four-star prospect Chantz Williams will be a welcomed addition. Miami
Columbus’ Elijah Roberts, also a four-star prospect, is set to arrive fresh off a Class 8A state title, along with Charlotte-based Quentin Williams and Height at defensive end. ChaminadeMadonna four-star prospect Willie Moise, who had his senior season cut short because of injury, will join a deep defensive tackle position that included three freshmen redshirts last season.
In the secondary, while looking to add Francois, the Hurricanes already have a talented group with Keshawn Washington,
four-star Hialeah Champagnat safety Jalen Harrell and Miramar three-star prospect Brian Balom. In addition to possibly adding Brown, UM already has a commitment from three-star cornerback Marcus Clarke of Winter Park.
Miami doesn’t have a kicker in its 2020 class, while ChaminadeMadonna junior Andres Borregales is committed for 2021. Uncertainties at the position remain after sophomore Bubba Baxa struggled this season before being replaced by walk-on Camden Price.