Miami football makes top 6 for 2021 4-star LB Naquan Brown

The Miami football program was named in the top six for 2021 four-star linebacker Naquan Brown on Tuesday. Brown currently has a pair of projections that unanimously predict he will sign with Virginia Tech.

Four-star 2021 linebacker Naquan Brown announced his final six schools via Twitter on Tuesday that included the Miami football program. Both of the current crystal ball projections for Brown have him signing with the Hurricanes ACC Coastal Division rival Virginia Tech. Brown currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Brown is the 201st ranked player in the nation, listed as the 11th ranked weakside defensive end by 247Sports and sixth-ranked outside linebacker by Rivals.Com and the seventh-ranked player in Virginia by 247. The other five schools listed in Brown’s top six were LSU, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

Three-star inside LBs Tyler Johnson, Ja’Corey Hammett and Deshawn Troutman are already commited to Miami for 2021. Brown would presumably be an OLB in the Miami defense. Miami will be fairly young at LB for the next two seasons. Miami does have fifth-year senior Zach McCloud and sophomore Sam Brooks in 2020.

Brown told Inside the U that Miami plans on using him as an OLB and Rivals that Miami offered him in March and have kept in touch since. At 6’3, 205 pounds, Brown will have to add muscle with Miami strength and conditioning coordinator David Feeley. Brown has the length that Miami head coach Manny Diaz likes on defense.

"“Right after they offered me, they got right on me…They started recruiting me real hard. So, for me, I want to go to a school who shows interest in me. They say I fit their scheme and I’m the one to be able to do it.How I have the frame and stuff to be the outside linebacker and to dominate down there because they’re like a defensive team down there. I was planning on setting up a visit,” Brown said. “It depends on when student-athletes will be able to get back on campus, I was going to go take a visit [to Miami] as soon as possible.”They offered me back in March I think and they jumped right on me,” said Brown. “They kept in touch almost every single day. They seem like good people and have honest and truthful. We keep in touch a lot."

Brooks and redshirt freshman Avery Huff project as the future for the Miami football team at LB in 2021 and (if Brooks returns for his senior season) in 2022. The Hurricanes signed ILBs Tirek Austin-Cave and Corey Flagg in 2020 who project to be in the rotation in 2021 and beyond. Miami has depth beyond them.

Bradley Jennings Jr., Patrick Joyner and Waynmon Steed have all dealt with injuries throughout their Miami careers. Miami could get by without adding another LB to the Class of 2021. Brown would be a big addition to the recruiting class. Brown has not announced his commitment date. Brown would vault Miami to ninth in the rankings.