Miami football signee Jason Munoz released from NLI, signs with Syracuse

The Miami football program has released defensive lineman Jason Munoz from his National Letter of Intent. Munoz has promptly committed to ACC Rival Syracuse.

Jason Munoz’s decision to be released from his National Letter of Intent makes him the 17th player to de-commit from the Miami football program’s Surge ’19 recruiting class. His decision to sign with Syracuse drops Miami from 33rd in the 247 Sports Composite rankings to 36th.

Miami has signed two other defensive tackles as part of Surge ’19 and is bringing in a graduate transfer at the position for the second year in a row. Four-star DT Jason Blisset from New York, three-star Jalar Holley from Georgia and Graduate Transfer Chigozie Nnoruka have all signed or committed to Miami.

Munoz is a three-star strongside defensive end who Miami was reportedly expected to convert to defensive tackle. He is 6’3.5 276 pounds. Munoz is the 843 ranked player in the country, the 58th ranked strongside defensive end and the 109th ranked player in Florida in the Class or 2019.

Miami Hurricanes Football

Blissett is 6’3.5 271 pounds, the 296th ranked player overall in 2019, the 23rd ranked defensive tackle and the second-ranked player in New York. Comparing a ranking in New York and Florida in Football is comparing apples to oranges.

The same can be said of comparing a ranking at defensive end to tackle. That can vary from class to class and its tough to know where Munoz would rank at tackle. Holley is 6’2, 280 pounds. He is the 769 ranked player in the Class of 2018, the 57th ranked defensive tackle and the 79th ranked player in Georgia this year.

Per his Twitter account, Munoz stated that he visited Syracuse this weekend. He stated on Twitter late Monday afternoon that he had committed to the Orange. Munoz’s Tweeted “I had an amazing visit this weekend and I’m excited to say I’m committed to Syracuse University. Happy to be apart of the Cuse family.”

Nnoruka could be the most important addition on the Miami defensive line for 2019. Miami lost second-team All-American Gerald Willis after last season. The Hurricanes only returnee with significant experience is Pat Bethel.

Nnoruka recorded 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks in two seasons at UCLA. He didn’t play as much in 2018 after new Bruins Head Coach Chip Kelly decided to give younger players more playing time. Nnoruka will be a favorite to start at defensive tackle next to Bethel in 2019.

The news of Munoz’s flip to Syracuse was initially broken by the 247’s site Cuse nation. Munoz’s tweet was released about an hour before CuseNation reported on his flip. Munoz is the second player from legendary St. Thomas Aquinas to flip from the Hurricanes. Miami also lost four-star linebacker Anthony Solomon to Michigan.

CuseNation and the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson both reported that the coaching change from Mark Richt to Manny Diaz contributed to Munoz’s decision. It seems like an odd development. Both Diaz who was Defensive Coordinator prior to becoming Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach Jess Simpson return in 2019.