Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
American Heritage’s Spells has Hurricanes high on his list
MIAMI — American Heritage four-star cornerback Jacolby Spells is set to reveal his top five college choices on Thursday.
The hometown Miami Hurricanes will be among those five. In fact, Spells knows exactly where they rank for him.
“They’re No. 2 in the spot for my recruiting right now,” he said at Sunday’s Under Armour All-America camp at Ives Estates Park.
Which team is ahead of UM? Who’s vying to move up from the third, fourth or fifth spot for him? He stops short of revealing any further information before releasing his top five.
“Y’all got to find out when I put out my top five,” said the 6-foot, 175-pound former wide receiver who switched to cornerback earlier in his high school career.
What would it take for Miami to move up to No. 1?
“Nothing, really,” said Spells, who added he grew up a fan of the Hurricanes as the hometown team. “Just keep showing me what they’re showing me now. And see how the football season goes for them and how it comes out.”
He listed Indiana, Minnesota, West Virginia, Syracuse and Texas A&M as other schools recruiting him the hardest. He already has plans of visiting the Mountaineers in early June, assuming the NCAA recruiting dead period is lifted on May 31, and might make a commitment before the fall season if he can take his visits.
Recently promoted Miami cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke is Spells’ primary recruiter for the Hurricanes.
“Me and DVD got a great relationship,” Spells said. “We’ll talk once a week. It’s a good talk. We’ll have a good conversation.”
UM coach Manny Diaz was at Sunday’s camp because his son was participating, so he got an up-close look at several of the area’s top prospects.
“I’ve talked to him a few times — not a lot, but just a few,” said Spells of Diaz, who took notice of him after his performance in a playoff game against Miami Northwestern. “I was just trying to show him I’m one of the best he’s recruiting in 2022. I feel I’m under-ranked. I’m the top DB in my class. That’s how I feel.”
Spells, with his position listed as an “athlete” by 247 Sports, is ranked as high as No. 15 at his position and No. 236 in his class overall.
As a player who just switched from receiver to defensive back last year, he’s focused on improving his technique ahead of his senior season.
“I just need to get that down better,” Spells said. “I’ll mainly focus on DB [as a senior]. I love putting my hands on the receiver. I’m a physical guy. That’s where my future is at.”
Playing on the outside for the Patriots opposite of fellow fourstar cornerback Earl Little Jr., the son of the former Hurricanes and NFL safety by the same name, Spells also has the speed. He said he ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash on Sunday.
With his coach at Heritage being former Miami Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain, Spells said he has studied former Heritage star and 2021 NFL draft prospect Patrick Surtain II’s film, as well as Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Ultimately, what Spells is looking for in his college choice: “Somewhere I can feel at home. Somewhere I can feel comfortable. I know where I can get on the field and play, and show those schools why they recruited me.”