Early Signing Period: How did the Hurricanes fare?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll get differing opinions on the current state of  the Miami Hurricanes recruiting going into the Early Signing Period. Overall, Miami did a relatively good job of keeping the majority of their commits but the Canes were also on the shorter end of the stick of a few recruits on the fence. Altogether, 19 recruits faxed over their national letters of intent to Manny Diaz today. Let’s take a look and evaluate how Miami did by position.

 

Quarterback: B+

 

Signees: Tyler Van Dyke (Suffield Academy, Suffield, CT)

 

This dude is the REAL deal. pic.twitter.com/odrqDT7NWU

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

No drama here as Miami and QBs coach Dan Enos were able to lock in their guy back in April of this year and he never wavered. Tyler Van Dyke is a four-star prospect from Suffield, CT and the 6’4” 212 lb. QB committed after a secret visit to campus with his father. The 209th-ranked overall prospect has excellent size and poise when in the pocket and shows excellent accuracy. It would be no surprise if Van Dyke shows enough talent in practice to compete for a starting job next season. 

 

Running Back: A

 

Signees: Don Chaney (Belen Jesuit, Miami, FL), Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)

 

The RB room continues to 📶 up! @Donchaney1_fpa | @jaylan_knighton pic.twitter.com/NCXlTTfi8e

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

I’m giving the team an A with this coup of backs coming in not only because of the talent level but also because of the talent level considering the current depth on the team. Running backs coach Eric Hickson received Chaney’s commitment in February after only three weeks on the job and is considered a borderline four/five-star prospect throughout every recruiting service. Very well-built at 5’10” and 203 pounds, Chaney is a weight room freak and has the perfect combination of size and speed. On top of that, adding Knighton only makes the cake a little sweeter as Knighton finishes his high school career as the all-time leading rusher in Broward County history. You most likely will not find another school in the entire country that has a better group of running back signees. As of right now, Miami will be five-deep at tailback with Deejay Dallas (assuming he returns), Cam Harris, Lorenzo Lingard, Chaney, and Knighton. 

 

Wide Receiver: B

 

Signees: Michael Redding (IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL), Dazalin Worsham (Hewitt-Trussville, Trussville, AL), Xavier Restrepo (Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)

 

Bringing the 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/wEX0f38rF4

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

With Jeff Thomas announcing his decision to enter the draft as well as losing two other receivers to the transfer portal, Miami has some work to do in terms of rebuilding the depth at receiver and it seems like they did just that with this year’s class. Redding is an outstanding athlete at 6’2”, 200 pounds as the four-star prospect runs a 4.5 40 with a 41-inch vertical leap. Wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was able to pry Daz Worsham away from Alabama and as a result, he gets a very productive receiver who graduates from Hewitt-Trussville High as the all-time leading receiver in school history. Restrepo wanted the Miami offer badly and he committed on the spot once he was given the go-ahead. He’s a very sneaky fast guy in the slot and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Would not surprise me if they utilize him in a comparable way to former UM receiver Braxton Berrios. 

 

Tight End: B

 

Signees: Dominic Mammerelli (Naples HS, Naples, FL)

 

Swagger down pat. pic.twitter.com/h3qNnCQ1LU

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

Mammarelli has been a long-time commit of Miami, even before Manny Diaz took the reigns as head coach. The 13th best tight end in the country measures out at 6’4” and 235 pounds and should be in the mix for playing time next season. 

 

One name to keep an eye out for, whether he makes a decision by Friday (the last day of the Early Signing Period) or waits until February to announce his choice is five-star tight end Darnell Washington. Washington announced on Tuesday that he would not be signing on Wednesday and has been deliberating between Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia with the odds swaying towards each of the schools at times. The Canes are pushing hard for 6’7” 261 pound giant from Las Vegas and a lot of credit goes to tight ends coach Stephen Field for keeping them in this race.

 

Offensive Line: C

 

Signees: Jalen Rivers (Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, FL), Chris Washington (Overton HS, Nashville, TN)

 

Big man, big list of credentials. pic.twitter.com/q0XKvygr7a

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

Miami is getting a very talented left tackle in Jalen Rivers, who has the ideal build and length at 6’6” and 330+ pounds and could very well compete for a starting position in the spring. Washington is considered a project at tackle, also with great size at 6’6”, and honestly, me calling him a project may be just a prediction when you consider that the same was said about Zion Nelson last year. The offensive line unit was probably the worst position group performance-wise this past season and even with Washington and Rivers coming in, there is still much to be desired. It would have been ideal to add more than just two bodies to a unit that is also lacking depth. Miami chasedafter Jacksonville-based guard Kobe Baynes but very late in the process and he opted to honor his commitment to Louisville. It is likely that Miami will re-evaluate their OL board and assess options that are still available as well as rummaging through the transfer portal.

 

Defensive Line: B+

 

Signees: Chantz Williams (Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, FL), Quentin Williams (Mallard Creek HS, Charlotte, NC), Elijah Roberts (Columbus HS, Miami, FL)

 

Unsigned Commits: Willie Moise (Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Hollywood, FL)

 

Not taking any chances. pic.twitter.com/dLaT4fiQyW

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

This is such a great haul for Miami at this position as Todd Stroud has plenty to work with next season. This group is headlined by Chantz Williams, who is ranked as the 4th-best weak side defensive end in the country and 77th overall. Williams had an excellent senior season and is considered an athletic freak, who has been clocked in at a 4.56 40 and an 6’8” wingspan at 6’3”. The same can be said about Quentin Williams, who was a great find out of Charlotte and is ranked as the 31st-best weak side defensive end in the country. Quentin had excellent testing numbers at The Opening in Charlotte in January, where was clocked in at a 4.8 40 with a 33.4 inch vertical. The four-star prospect Roberts most recently led his high school to a state championship and is a hometown kid who always preferred to stay home and play in Coral Gables. He’s extremely strong at 6’3”, 267 pounds and it seems like the plan is to move him to the inside at tackle, which is reminiscent of what Miami did with RJ McIntosh. Miami could look to add another DT in the next couple of months.

 

Miami did lose the commitment of Romell Height, who did indeed take a secret visit to Auburn this past weekend and signed with the Tigers as a result.

 

Must note that Willie Moise has been committed to Miami for a long time but due to grades, Moise will wait to sign in February. 

 

Linebacker: B

 

Signees: Corey Flagg (North Shore HS, Houston, TX), Tirek Austin-Cave (Camden HS, Camden, NJ)

 

⛓🙌⛓ pic.twitter.com/akwy3KK0L7

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

The Canes are preparing for the loss of seniors Shaq Quarterman and Mike Pinckney after this season so it was imperative that linebackers coach Jonathan Patke had to re-up and reload at the position. Manny Diaz may have missed out on a big fish in five-star prospect Justin Flowe (Oregon), but they found a way to hold on to A tackling machine from Houston area , Flagg is ranked as the 38th best inside linebacker in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Austin-Cave is a lengthy linebacker at 6’1” and plays very physical and knows how to navigate through traffic. Would it have been more ideal for Miami to add a 3rd linebacker? Maybe, and they would’ve had they added the services of Flowe or decided to keep Largo’s AJ Mathis, but luckily their position is more favorable than not with Zach McCloud and Avery Huff redshirting.

 

Cornerback: C

 

Signees: Marcus Clarke (Winter Park HS, Winter Park, FL)

 

The DB room keeps adding p-l-a-y-m-a-k-e-r-s. pic.twitter.com/1lDN1XI4ZD

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

Miami’s bringing in a speedy cornerback in Clarke from the Orlando area. Clarke should add depth to a unit that will possibly lose Trajan Bandy should he opt for the draft. However, outside of performance, this is a very similar situation compared to the offensive line, where depth could become a problem next season. If you do not include Clarke, the Canes could have as little as four scholarship cornerbacks on the team next season. Look for Miami to add another corner to close out the class.

 

Safety: B+

 

Signees: Keyshawn Washignton (South Dade HS, Homestead, FL), Jalen Harrell (Champagnat Catholic, Hialeah, FL), Brian Balom (Miramar HS, Miramar, FL)

 

🏈🚫🤲 pic.twitter.com/LpA9cm50qs

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 18, 2019

 

Miami missed out on getting a third and final commitment from South Dade’s Jaiden Francois, who opted to attend Nebraska after a very strange signing ceremony in which he appeared to step out twice, causing delays. Nevertheless, safeties coach Ephraim Banda deserves a lot of credit for the group of safeties joining the team next year. Headlined by Harrell, the 6’2” 180 lb. long-ranged safety committed to Miami on Black Friday after decommitting from FSU in October. The 22nd-ranked safety country is a great addition to a now loaded safety room. Washington is also highly-regarded as a four-star prospect and played a big role on South Dade’s tenacious defense this past season. Balom is considered a project but the three-star prospect is not afraid to lay the hammer down by any means. 

 

The Canes are still after top safety Avantae Williams who recently decommitted from Oregon and will wait until February to sign. Miami’s chances are really good but they have to fend off Florida for his services. 

 

Overall: B

 

If it weren’t for the holes yet to be filled at offensive line and cornerback, the 17th-ranked class in the country could’ve very well been a B+, even without the possible additions of Darnell Washington and Avantae Williams. When you consider the team’s performance at this point in the season and the plethora of decommitments they’ve had, it is astounding to me that Diaz and his staff were still able to pull off a top-20 class with lots of talent. Miami only added to the depth at defensive end and the competition for playing time at running back next year will be very intense. We would be having a very different conversation if Miami did not lose to FIU and Duke and carried on the momentum that came about after the win at Doak Campbell. 

 

Just a reminder that this class may not be finished yet. Miami only signed 19 players, which means they will have six spots available and with the recent attrition that occurred during the season, the Canes should look to utilize all six. 

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