James Williams makes Miami football only Florida school with 5-star commit

James Williams’ commitment to the Miami football program on Tuesday made the Hurricanes only one in Florida with a five-star player in the 2021 recruiting cycle.

The commitment of five-star athlete James Williams to the Miami football program on Tuesday made the Hurricanes the only team in Florida with a five-star recruit for 2021. Williams will be the highest-ranked player to sign with Miami since linebacker Arthur Brown in 2008.

The addition of Williams raised the 2021 Miami recruiting class from 12th to 11th nationally passing Texas. Miami is less than two points behind Florida to move up to 10th nationally. The Hurricanes have Williams as their sole five-star commit, nine four-star commits and nine three-star commits for 2021.

Florida has 11 four-star recruits and 10 three-star recruits. The Gators have an edge with an average of 89.5 per recruit to an 89.19 average for the 2021 Miami recruiting class. Florida State is far behind Miami and Florida. The Seminoles recruiting class ranks 21st nationally with four four-star commits and 10 three-stars.

The Florida State class has an average of 88.27 per recruit. Among the Group of Five programs, former Florida State head coach Willie Taggart has the 2021 Florida Atlantic recruiting class ranked 42nd nationally one four-star commit and 21 three-star commits. The Owls average commit is 83.32.

The highest-ranked commit to the 2021 Florida class is four-star defensive end, Tyreak Sapp, from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. Miami is still trying to flip Sapp who wants to see the Hurricanes win in 2020 to consider signing with them.

Sapp has a grade of .9558, is the 95th ranked player, seventh-ranked strongside DE and 16th ranked player in Florida for 2021. Miami’s highest-ranked (weakside) DE for 2021 is Jabari Ishmael who received a rating of  .9154, is the 215th ranked player, 14th WDE and 30th ranked player in Florida in 2021.

The highest-ranked player for Florida State in the 2021 class is outside linebacker Branden Jennings who is the brother of Miami LB Bradley Jennings Jr. Jennings received a rating of  .9648 is the 77th ranked player, sixth-ranked OLB and 13th ranked player in Florida.

Four-star pro-style quarterback Shadeur Sanders from Cedar Hill, Texas is the highest-ranked player commited to FAU. Sanders is rated at .9148, the 219th ranked player, 14th ranked Pro-Style QB and 34th ranked player in Texas. The addition of Williams is huge for the Miami football program.

Five-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor could be next. The Miami Palmetto star named Miami and Florida as his finalists and will announce on August 6. Adding Taylor would give Miami two-five star commits for the first time since the Hurricanes signed cornerback Tracy Howard and running back Duke Johnson in 2012.