Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hurricanes in the running for QB recruit Brown
The Miami Hurricanes didn’t get their quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class, Jake Garcia, until the early signing period arrived in December.
They appear to be far ahead of schedule in that regard in the 2022 class.
UM is in the top five for fourstar quarterback Jacurri Brown of South Georgia’s Lowndes High. In an interview with Rivals released Wednesday, Brown said he wants to commit by March 31.
In fact, later Wednesday afternoon, the Hurricanes did get a commitment from another fourstar quarterback — but on a baseball scholarship offer. Kaden Martin, from Knoxville Catholic in Tennessee, announced his commitment to Miami for “baseball with an opportunity to play football,” he said at a ceremony at his school.
Martin, a pitcher and outfielder on the diamond, chose Miami over Tennessee, Arizona State and Oregon. He is considered an Major League Baseball draft prospect out of high school. If he’s drafted high enough, he could sign to play pro ball instead of attend college, which could explain the football staff ’s hesitancy to offer him a scholarship of its own.
With the Miami football team
heavily pursuing Brown, all three commitment predictions made for him on 247 Sports, as of Wednesday afternoon, have him going to Miami. Two of the three on his Rivals page predict he’ll choose the Hurricanes — the one prediction in Florida’s favor was made back in December, before the other two.
Brown broke down why each of his top five has made the cut, going in alphabetical order:
“Arizona State, I feel like a school I can build a legacy at, start my own thing,” Brown told Rivals.
“Auburn, that’s just a good traditional school, a school that’s going to have a shot at winning it all.
“With Florida, I have a good relationship with Coach [Dan] Mullen, really good relationship. Again, another shot to win it all.
“Miami, same thing: ACC, just a good school. I love [offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee].
“[Texas] A&M, Coach [Jimbo] Fisher, again, another shot to win it all. All are good schools.”
Brown added it’s been difficult to set schools apart during a recruiting dead period that restricts in-person contact between prospects and college coaches amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCAA has extended the recruiting dead period through May 31.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Brown is the No. 5-rated dual-threat quarterback nationally and ranked No. 167 overall in his class, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Rivals tabs him as the sixthbest dual-threat quarterback.
Lowndes is the same high school from which Miami got defensive end Thomas Davis last recruiting cycle.
Martin is the seventh-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 247 Sports composite rankings.
Lashlee has been known to be able to coach both pro-style and dual-threat quarterbacks. While Miami starter D’Eriq King can run and throw, the three quarterbacks behind him on UM’s current roster, including Garcia, are more pocket passers — the other two being Tyler Van Dyke and Peyton Matocha.
Miami only has two football commitments thus far in the 2022 recruiting class. Both are defensive linemen, Jamaal Johnson from Chaminade-Madonna and Brandon Cleveland from Tampa Carrollwood Day.