Miami football program can replace de-commits Marcus Fleming and Daran Branch
The recent de-commitments from the Miami football program by 2020 recruits three-star cornerback Daran Branch and four-star wide receiver Marcus Fleming are not crippling blows to the Hurricanes freshman class next season.
There are plenty of options available to Manny Diaz and the staff of the Miami football program over the next month to make up for three-star cornerback Daran Branch flipping on Sunday to Mississippi and four-star wide receiver Marcus Fleming de-committing from the Hurricanes on Monday.
Branch is a prospect that many recruiting analysts believe is better than his three-star rating. The commitment by Branch to Mississippi leaves one CB committed to Miami for 2020. Marcus Clarke is also a three-star CB for 2020. Clarke is the 779th ranked player overall, 58th ranked CB and 108th ranked player in Florida for 2020.
The losses of Branch and Fleming drops the 2020 Miami recruiting class to 17th nationally in the 247 Sports Composite rankings. Branch is a versatile player that projects as either a CB or safety in college. Andrew Ivins of Inside the U reported that Branch might have flipped to be close to his sick grandfather.
The loss of Fleming was the 15th for the Miami football program in the 2020 recruiting cycle and seventh since Manny Diaz was hired nearly 11 months ago. The Hurricanes are down to 20 commits in the 2020 class. FBS programs can sign up to 25 players in each recruiting class. Diaz could be looking to the transfer portal again.
One of the CBs that Miami could be looking at to take the place of Branch could be three-star CB Davonte Brown of American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale. Diaz and his staff are looking extensively at some high profile defensive backs to add the Miami football roster for 2020. Safety Jalen Harrell is considering the Hurricanes.
Harrell attends Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah which is the same school that sent Redshirt freshman defensive end Greg Rousseau to Miami. Manny Navarro of The Athletic profiled Harrell on Monday. Rousseau and sophomore defensive tackle Nesta Silvera were at Harrell’s playoff game over the weekend.
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Harrell is listed by Max Preps as a CB but 247 Sports projects him at safety. He has exceptional size in the secondary at 6-2½, 191 pounds with a 73-inch wingspan and ran 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Harrell is third on the Lions with 48 tackles this season. He de-committed from Florida State last month.
The train wreck that is currently going on in Tallahassee means it is unlikely that Harrell would re-commit to the Seminoles. Harrell told Navarro that Miami was his dream school growing up. Diaz and the Hurricanes staff have increased their recruitment of Harrell over the last month. Miami also has players lined up at WR.
Four-star WR Dazalin Worsham from Titusville, Alabama de-committed from the Crimson Tide after attending Paradise Camp announced he will make his college choice public on Friday. Ivins reported on Sunday that he expects Worsham to commit to Miami. The only WR currently committed to Miami for 2020 is Michael Redding III.
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Redding is the 29th ranked WR for 2020. The Miami football program also has a commitment from athlete Xavier Restrepo who is projected as a slot receiver. Restrepo is frequently compared to former Miami WR Braxton Berrios. Miami is still recruiting several highly rated recruits. The Hurricanes should finish in the top 15.