Miami football NSD: UM adds LB depth and signs a pair of transfers

After a flurry of players sent in their National Letters of Intent early on Wednesday morning, the Miami football program added a key linebacker and pair of transfers in the Surge ’19 recruiting class late

Three-star linebacker Samuel Brooks who has a ton of upside and transfers, offensive tackle Michael Kennedy from Butler and running back Asa Martin from Auburn will all be a part of the Surge ’19 Miami football recruiting class.

Brooks had been a long time Miami football commit before de-committing last week when Hurricanes Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz took the Temple Head Coaching job. After Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda and Outside Linebackers coach Jonathan Patke were named to replace Diaz, Brooks re-committed.

Brooks is the 726th ranked player, the 46th ranked outside linebacker and 97th ranked player in the State of Florida. Several local recruiting experts project the Miami Northwestern Star to exceed his National Rankings in College.

Banda and Patke will be the Co-Defensive Coordinators beginning this Spring. Banda is expected to call the plays on defense. Keeping Patke was probably the key with Brooks deciding to stay with his commitment. Patke will be Brooks position coach in addition to being the Co-Defensive Coordinator.

Kennedy was named second-team All-Pioneer League in 2018 with the Bulldogs. According to his Butler bio, he was part of an offensive line that allowed just seven sacks during the 2017 season. That was third in the Football Championship Subdivision. Kennedy started all 22 of Butler’s game at left tackle in 2017 and ’18.

Kennedy will likely slot in as the starting left tackle for the Miami football team in 2019. He is eligible to play immediately as a Graduate Transfer. The Hurricanes lose Tyree St. Louis after this season. St. Louis has started all 12 games at left tackle this year and 21 games at right tackle in 2016 and ’17.

Martin was top ten running back in the Class of 2018 and the Alabama Player of the Year in 2017 before signing with Auburn. He did not receive much playing time as a Freshman this season. Martin carried the ball 13 times for 57 yards and added two receptions for 36 yards for the Tigers. Martin also had one kickoff return for 18 yards.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Martin was the 202nd ranked player, the ninth-ranked running back and sixth-ranked player in Alabama in the Class of 2018. Martin’s addition to the Miami roster gives the Hurricanes three of the top seven running backs in the Class of 2018.

Five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard who missed most of 2018 with an injury was second in the 2018 Class. Four-star Freshman Cam’ron Davis played exceptionally well late in the season for the Hurricanes was the seventh highest rated running back in Class of 2018.

Martin will have to sit out the 2019 season as a traditional transfer. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining commencing in 2020. Miami loses 2017 and ’18 leading rusher Travis Homer after the 2019 season unless he leaves early for the NFL Draft after this season.

Miami could also lose draft eligible DeeJay Dallas after the 2019 season. Dallas has 1,511 All-Purpose yards and seven touchdowns in 2018.