As expected five-star tight end Darnell Washington the top player in the Class of 2020 at his position chose Georgia over the Miami football program and several other schools. The Hurricanes are still strong at tight end.
Darnell Washington is considered the most imposing player in the Class of 2020 as a 6’8, 261-pound tight end who can play multiple positions. Washington was a long shot to sign with the Miami football program but developed a clear rapport with 2020 Miami quarterback signee Tyler VanDyke at Paraside Camp in June 2019.
The addition of Washington would have been significant for the Miami football program but since he was not expected to sign with the Hurricanes his decision to attend Georgia is not a huge loss. Miami is not expected to lose anyone at TE following the 2019 season. Starter Brevin Jordan returns for his junior season.
Washington is incredibly listed as an athlete at 6’8 261 pounds. The five-star signee is ranked the 10th best player in the country for 2020, the top athlete and player in Nevada. He would have been following in the footsteps of Jordan, safety Bubba Bolden and quarterback Tate Martell as Nevadans on the Miami roster.
Washington is the top player to sign with Georgia, The Bulldogs have the nation’s third-best recruiting class behind perennial leaders Alabama and Clemson. Miami is 17th best overall which is a credit to head coach Manny Diaz and his staff following a 6-7 season which many viewed the Hurricanes as underachieving.
Miami will maintain an excellent corps at TE without Washington. Jordan finished second on the Hurricanes with 495 receiving yards, third with 35 receptions and added two TDs in spite of missing the last three games of the 2019 Miami football season. The return of Jordan’s classmate Will Mallory will also help.
Mallory came on at the end of the season. He finished with 16 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Miami returns Michael Irvin II, Brian Polendey and Larry Hodges who redshirted in 2019. The Hurricanes also signed Dominick Mammerelli for 2020.