Rising Sophomore Avery Huff and Brooks were both a part of the 2019 Miami football signing class. Huff was rated much higher as a four-star signee. He was the nation’s 207th ranked player12th ranked outside LB and 30th ranked player in Florida. The projected ceiling for Huff is higher than Brooks.
Huff will be entering his redshirt freshman season in 2020. The St. Thomas Aquinas alum had to take an academic redshirt in 2019. The keys for Huff according to Inside the U are for Huff to learn the playbook and play within the framework of the defense in 2020. Players often try and do too much to show what they can do.
At 6’3 200 pounds, Huff gives Miami better size than the 6’1.5 Brooks at linebacker. With McCloud graduating after the 2020 season, the potential is for them both to start in 2021. Four Hurricanes LBs including Brooks and Freshmen Tirek Austin-Cave and Corey Flagg will miss spring practice with injuries.
Redshirt Freshman WR Jeremiah Payton
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Payton was the highest-ranked player in the 2019 Miami football signing class. He has a high upside and is expected to challenge for a prominent role in the Miami passing game this fall. Payton was the 54th ranked player overall, the 10th ranked WR and ninth player in Florida in 2019.