CORAL GABLES – Early National Signing Day was a huge success yesterday (Dec. 16) for the Miami Hurricanes and Manny Diaz, despite facing some major pressure.
During Wednesday’s Early National Signing Day, the Hurricanes officially signed 21 players from their 2021 recruiting class. The class currently ranks 10th in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
The class is highlighted by five-star recruits James Williams and Leonard Taylor. The two headline a long list of players from South Florida, as Williams (American Heritage-Plantation) and Taylor (Miami Palmetto) were just two of more than a dozen who chose to stay in South Florida.
Despite facing an immense amount of pressure from people following an unacceptable loss to North Carolina, head coach Manny Diaz found his way around the recruiting trail.
They attacked multiple needs and filled the depth in a lot of positions. Despite a significant need at wide receiver, Diaz added three, potentially four, players.
Romello Brinson will highlight that group, opting to stay home after a successful career at Miami Northwstern.
Diaz also added two tight ends, including one of the nation’s finest in Elijah Arroyo from Texas.
Questions were also filled in the trenches on the offensive side.
Three offensive linemen were signed, all from local high schools. Ryan Rodriguez (Columbus) and Michael McLaughlin (Stoneman Douglas) will occupy bookend spots, while Laurence Seymore will try and help operate the inside.
The largest signing, however, might be under center.
As the team’s final act, quarterback Jake Garcia (originally from California) committed to Miami. Although Garcia was committed to USC, he recently decommitted and chose Miami.
Garcia is, simply put, a big-time signing for the Hurricanes. A 4-star prospect, Garcia is ranked as the fifth-best quarterback in the 2021 class.
The highest rated Hurricanes quarterback since 2003, Garcia could potentially fight for the starting quarterback job next season, should D’Eriq King choose to go to the NFL.
Garcia shows a moving of tides for the Hurricanes.
Most years, the Hurricanes struggled to convince truly top-tier talent to sign. Mostly, they would settle for some of the middle-tier 4-star prospects and try to make it work.
Players like Williams, Taylor, and Garcia will earn immediate playing time for Miami. They are all elite playmakers capable of making big-time plays.
The year 2021 was always going to be a critical class for Diaz and his coaching staff, and Diaz executed. Not often can a team immediately recover from a 6-7 season and make all the right signings, which Diaz did.
Few scholarships remain for Miami, but those will likely also be filled with strong talents. Diaz mentioned that two cornerbacks should take a few of those spots, and rightfully so.
Diaz won’t need to hit home runs with those players. But even just doubles will prove what many expected.
Miami should be able to dominate the recruiting trail this season.
PHOTO CREDITS: Canes Football and Colin Hubbard
