Miami football recruiting class Surge ’19 gets high grade from ESPN

In an article by ESPN grading all of the Power Five teams recruiting classes, the Miami football Surge ’19 class received a B in their analysis.

It’s an encouraging grade for the Miami football Surge ’19 recruiting class that has been ranked between 28th and the upper 30s. The Hurricanes have been panned by recruiting analysts and rival fans and bloggers for having a subpar class.

Manny Diaz’s hiring in late December to replace the retiring Mark Richt has injected a lot of hope and enthusiasm into the Miami football program. The Hurricanes lost some recruits and players with Diaz’s hiring to be the Head Coach, but they have gained a lot more.

The biggest signing in the February signing period was four-star cornerback Christian Williams. The Hurricanes were able to get Williams to flip from Alabama. The Crimson Tide lost a lot of their coaches from last season’s staff. That included Defensive Coordinator Tosh Lupoi who left to join the Cleveland Browns staff.

Being able to flip Williams was a huge coup for Diaz and his staff. Diaz gave a lot of credit to Hurricanes cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph who will be working directly with Williams as his position coach. Diaz was quoted in the Sun Sentinel discussing Williams’ recruitment.

"“Got to give the credit to Mike Rumph. [He] did an amazing job finishing on Christian…A great young man and a very intelligent football player. Again a very highly competitive kid who we felt like fit in this culture. His family had a great visit down here and we think he has a great future in our secondary.”"

The Surge ’19 Miami football recruiting class lived up to its name by adding Williams late. The addition of three-star quarterback Peyton Matocha, defensive lineman Jared Harrison-Hunte from New York and punter Louis Hedley who has captured the attention of the college football world were a good way to close out the class.

Recruiting rankings do not include transfers. If they had, the Miami football program would have a top ten class. Quarterback Tate Martell from Ohio State is trying to get a waiver to play in 2019. Running back Asa Martin was the Alabama High School player of the year in 2017. He will have to sit out the upcoming season but could give the Hurricanes a big boost in 2020.

Miami also added two graduate transfers who should make a big impact on the Hurricanes offense in 2019. Left tackle Tommy Kennedy is expected to start for the Hurricanes this fall. K.J. Osborn matriculates south to Coral Gables from Buffalo. Osborn had 53 receptions for 892 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bulls in 2018.

The Miami defense added three transfers, all of who will be eligible immediately. Graduate transfers, defensive end Trevon Hill from Virginia Tech and defensive tackle Chigozie Nnoruka give the Hurricanes defensive line needed depth.

Safety Bubba Bolden is a big talent who went to USC as a Freshman in 2017 before sitting out last season. He was high school teammates with Martell and Rising Sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan. Bolden will have three years of eligibility at Mimi.

The important thing with any recruiting class is to upgrade and replace the talent on your roster. With the players, Miami is bringing in as Freshmen and through the transfer portal, the Hurricanes are doing that. ESPN focuses on the quality that Miami is bringing in next year and not the small size of Surge ’19.

"“Grade: B | National rank: 30The Hurricanes turned a fast start into a top-10 class for the 2018 cycle, but a tough season on the field and the post-early signing period transition from Mark Richt to Manny Diaz have resulted in a very tough 2019.On the plus side, ESPN 300 DB and one-time Alabama verbal Christian Williams signed with Miami over LSU and Texas A&M on Wednesday. Four-star OLB Avery Huff out of South Florida power Saint Thomas Aquinas is also a big win and holdover from the Richt regime.Four-star DE Jahfari Harvey will bring edge pass rush to Coral Gables, as could three-star DE Cameron Williams. Keeping No. 13 safety Keontra Smith close to home gives the class a physical defender and another ESPN 300 commit, as does flipping ESPN 300 cornerback Te’Cory Couch from Michigan.Under Armour All-America Game receiver Jeremiah Payton is a lengthy target with good ball skills who ranks among the top-10 WRs. On the heels of signing the No. 1 TE in the 2018 class, the Hurricanes have landed another four-star TE in Larry Hodges, who lacks ideal height but could be a versatile weapon because he is a shifty athlete with good hands.The QB in the class is Lone Star State three-star Peyton Matocha.”"

With the 2019 recruiting cycle behind them, Diaz and his staff can focus on the 2020 Class. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Miami is currently third behind Alabama and LSU.

As we learned with the 2019 Class where you are a year before National Signing Day is meaningless. The Hurricanes have to hold on to the players currently committed and add to them in the next year.

With the way Diaz has started, and the top recruits the Hurricanes are in on there is no reason to think Diaz and the “the new Miami” staff won’t raise the profile of the Miami recruiting during his tenure.