Miami football making late push for four-star wide receiver from Alabama

After losing out on the top-ranked wide receiver in the Class of 2019, five-star Jadon Haselwood from Georgia, the Miami Football program has turned its attention to four-star receiver George Pickens from Hoover, Alabama.

The offer by the Miami coaching staff to Pickens was a late one that came during the third and last early signing day last month. There has been a lot of upheaval with the Miami Football staff since that offer was made.

Mark Richt retired as the Miami football Head Coach, Manny Diaz “returned” from Temple to succeed Richt and Diaz and Athletic Director Blake James relieved the entire Offensive Coaching staff and the Strength and Conditioning Coach of their jobs.

David Wilson of the Miami Herald reported that Pickens’ initial offer of a scholarship to the Miami Football Program was made by former Wide Receivers Coach Ron Dugans. Pickens said after playing in the Under Armour All-American Game last Thursday in Orlando that he has heard from the current coaching staff.

Pickens did not mention who contacted him from the Hurricanes current staff. Miami still has their entire defensive staff but has not made public if they have hired any offensive staff yet. Wilson quoted Pickens in the Herald during the postgame in Orlando. Pickens was surprised at the initial contact so late in the recruiting process.

"“It wasn’t a school that I was thinking about because I was thinking about my boy Jadon Haselwood…so I didn’t really know if they was going to offer me, but when they offered me it was really a shocker…It’s kind of the same…They texted me the other day, so the old staff liked me and the new staff liked me. So it’s OK.”"

Miami has only one wide receiver currently committed to their Surge ’19 recruiting class. Four-star Jeremiah Payton from Neptune Beach near Jacksonville.

The Hurricanes did sign four wide receivers in the 2018 Class. Dee Wiggins who was the only three-star signee at wide receiver in 2018 received the most playing time as a Freshman.

Richt and former Miami Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown were encouraged with Wiggins propensity as a blocker. With Diaz’s emphasis on wanting his players to play as he stated “fast, physical and violent” Wiggins should continue to see key playing time.

Pickens has exceptional size at 6’3.5 190 pounds. Payton is 6’0.5 186 pounds. They played on the same team in the Under Armour Game. According to Wilson, Pickens led their team with four receptions for 55 yards.

Pickens is the nation’s 36th ranked player, the seventh-ranked wide receiver and third-ranked player in Alabama. He is a 100 percent commit to Auburn according to 247Sports.Com. Pickens has been committed to Auburn since 2017. He decided to take his time and use the first few weeks of January to solidify his college decision.

Miami is not likely to receive any verbal commitments until they hire at the least a new Offensive Coordinator and potentially the new Offensive Staff. That is expected to happen by Thursday when the NCAA recruiting dead period ends. The traditional National Signing Day begins February 6.