While the recruiting landscape has changed so much – with the early signing day in December – that first Wednesday in February still holds with it some drama.
Yesterday. It was evident that schools such as FSU, USF and FAU would be real busy, trying to close this class out with new coaching staffs in place – others such as Florida, UCF, FIU and Miami were just looking to top off what was started during late December.
In Coral Gables, it has indeed been a busy month – with head coach Manny Diaz looking to get this program back in order after a disappointing 6-7 season and three straight (FIU, Duke and Louisiana Tech) losses to end the season.
It was all about the transfer portal, new coaches and the addition of Hall of Fame Chief of Staff hire Ed Reed to get things buzzing once again.
Offensive Coordinator Rhett Lashlee and offensive line coach Garin Justice were brought in – and then the ball started rolling.
The transfer portal gave the Hurricanes Houston quarterback D’Eriq King, Temple defensive end Quincy Roche and FIU kicker Jose Borregales.
Then on Wednesday, while the iron was still blazing for Coach Diaz and his program, Miami brought in nationally-rated safety Avantae Williams (Deland) and athlete Isaiah Dunson (Tucker, Georgia).
The class, which is among the top 12 in the country has signees:
Brian Balom, S, Miramar
Tirek-Austin Cave, ILB, Camden, New Jersey
Don Chaney, Jr., RB, Miami Belen Jesuit
Marcus Clarke, WR, Winter Park
Corey Flagg, ILB, Houston North Shore, Texas
Jalen Harrell, CB, Hialeah Champagnat Catholic
Jaylan Knighton, RB, Deerfield Beach
Dominic Mammarelli, TE, Naples
Michael Redding III, WR, Bradenton IMG Academy
Xavier Restrepo, Athlete, Deerfield Beach
Jalen Rivers, OL, Orange Park Oakleaf
Elijah Roberts, DL, Miami Christopher Columbus
Keyshawn Smith, WR, San Diego Lincoln, California
Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Suffield Academy, Connecticut
Chris Washington, OT, Nashville Overton, Tennessee
Keshawn Washington, S, Homestead South Dade
Chantz Williams, DE, Orange Park Oakleaf
Quentin Williams, DE, Mallard Creek, North Carolina
Dazelin Worsham, WR, Hewitt-Trussville, Alabama
FAU
Willie Taggart’s recruiting class certainly came together with some local prospects helping to give this program some quality prospects.
Miami Edison DB Trevor Reaves is a way under-the-radar player who has plenty to give this program. Also, very talented Coconut Creek defensive end Chris Jones was added.
D’Marcus Adams, WR, FSU (Sophomore)
Nate Apleri, OL, St. Thomas
Evan Anderson, DL, Orlando Jones
Alex Atcavage, OL, Bradenton IMG Academy
Alvin Dempsey III, DT, Port St. Joe (Junior)
Sebastien Dolcine, OL, Miramar (Kentucky transfer, Junior)
Eli Fields, OL, Butler CC (Sophomore)
DeCarius Hawthorne, DL, Birmingham Center Point, Alabama
Ja’Marcus Johnson, LB, Berrien, Georgia
Malik Jones, OL, Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Marlon Krakue, DE, Marietta Sprayberry, Georgia
Malcolm Lamar, DT, FSU (Sophomore)
Joe Lewis, LB, Tampa Bay Tech
Andre Llamas, OL, Miami Christopher Columbus
Travis Lockhart, DL, Villa Rica Carrolton, Georgia
Justin McKithen, WR
Yanez Rogers, WR, Cincinnati Transfer (Sophomore)
Willie Taggart, QB, Tallahassee FSU
Charles Toombs, DB, Immokalee
Peter Warrick Jr., DB, Marietta, Georgia
Jaden Wheeler, DL, Berrien, Georgia
Aaron Young, WR, Grad Transfer
FIU
Coming off a year where Butch Davis and his team beat Miami and went to a bowl game, recruiting saw a spike with some quality talent coming aboard.
Tamarick Best, DE, Pahokee
Haden Carlson, QB, Lutz Steinbrenner
Chance Coleman, ILB, Tampa Gaither
Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson
Miles Frazier, OT, New Berlin Milford Academy, New York
Chase Gabriel, PK, Brunswick Glynn Academy, Georgia
Shykieim Gloster, DE, Miami Monsignor Pace
Maljon Joor, DE, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
A.J. Mathis, LB, Largo
Xavier McGriff, WR, Baldwin
Jose Mirabal, OL, Homestead South Dade
Kejon Owens, RB, Miami Central
Theodore Richardson, WR, Miami Booker T. Washington
Jahmari Sylvester, OL, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
Andrew Volmar, S, Plantation American Heritage
Bobby Washington, DL, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
Kameren Williams, OT, Athens Trinity Valley, Texas