Electric return man Malik Curtis commits to Miami football

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21: Trajan Bandy #2 of the Miami Hurricanes in action in the first half against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Hard Rock Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21: Trajan Bandy #2 of the Miami Hurricanes in action in the first half against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Hard Rock Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Electric return man and three-star athlete Malik Curtis announced his commitment to the Miami football program on Saturday.

Three-star athlete Malik Curtis announced his commitment to the Miami football program on Saturday. Curtis is the 12th commit to the Hurricanes 2021 recruiting class and the first from outside South Florida. Miami rises to seventh in 247 Sports national rankings with the commitment from Curtis.

Curtis is expected to be a defensive back and return man in college by the Miami coaching staff with the potential to play wide receiver. Miami beat out Boston College, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky to sign Curtis who is from Fort Myers. Curtis should be an elite returner at the next level.

The departures of K.J. Osborn and Jeff Thomas to the NFL after the 2019 season leaves the return men for Miami open entering the 2020 season. Curtis will have a chance in 2021 to get on the field as an electric return man. A lot will depend on who the return men are for Miami and how well they perform in 2020.

The talent Curtis has belies his three-star ranking. Curtis is the 907th ranked player in the nation overall, the 72nd ranked athlete and 130th ranked player in Florida according to 247Sports.Com. As a return specialist and developmental player in the secondary or at WR expect Curtis to outperform his rankings.

Greg Rousseau is a good example of a recent Miami football signee who the Hurricanes staff ranked higher than his recruiting rankings, Rousseau has developed from a three-star signee in 2018 to a potential top-five NFL Draft pick in 2021. Miami loves the speed that Curtis brings and his versatility.

The ability for Curtis to play offense, defense, and/or special teams with a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash could provide Miami with their most dynamic playmaker in the return game since Devin Hester. Curtis primarily played offense for Bishop Verot. As a junior in 2019, Curtis had 34 receptions for 680 yards and eight TDs.

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Curtis added 55 yards, four punt return TDs, one kickoff return for a TD. On defense, Curtis added 15 tackles and three pass breakups. If Curtis winds up at CB as projected, he is the second defensive back and CB in the 2021 Miami recruiting class. Three-star CB Tim Burns has been committed to Miami since July.