Miami football could approach Alabama and Ohio State with two 5-star commits

With one five-star player committed and one on the precipice, the Miami football program would become one of only three with Alabama and Ohio State in the 2021 recruiting class to have multiple five-star commits.

The addition of five-star athlete James Williams last week and potential commitment of five-star DT Leonard Taylor next month has the Miami football program approaching Alabama and Ohio State as the only 2021 recruiting classes with multiple five-star commits. Miami last had two five star commits in 2008.

Taylor was trending towards Florida throughout most of his recruitment. That has changed recently. Miami received a huge crystal ball Monday when 247Sports Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong projected Taylor to commit to Miami. The overall crystal balls for Taylor are split evenly.

Half of the crystal balls have Taylor trending towards Miami and half towards Florida. The Hurricanes currently have the advantage with an average confidence level of seven with the Gators trending with a confidence level of five. Williams’ commit to Miami last week over Georgia shocked football recruiting analysts.

Eight crystal balls for Williams all trended towards the Bulldogs. The idea of staying home and building Miami back into an elite college football program amidst the Covid-19 pandemic appealed to Williams. Miami was named with UNC, USC and Washington as programs that have benefitted from the shutdown of recruiting visits.

Manny Diaz and his staff have been able to focus on recruiting via Zoom and been able to sell the idea of staying home and building a winner to recruits. It has worked. Nineteen of the 21 Miami commits for 2021 are from Florida. Sixteen of the Hurricanes commits for 2021 are from Dade or Broward counties.

Of the four players not from South Florida, two spent a majority of their childhood in the Miami area before moving elsewhere. Four-star tight end Elijah Arroyo currently residing in Frisco, Texas and three-star linebacker Deshawn Troutman in Orlando. Landing two five-star recruits would be a huge boost for Miami in 2021.

Alabama and Ohio State both currently have four five-star commits for 2021. Wide-receiver Jacorey Brooks from legendary Booker T. Washington High School in Miami is one of the five-star recruits commited to Alabama for 2021. Miami has commits from four-star WRs Romello Brinson and Jacolby George and three-star Brashard Smith.

Not surprisingly, Alabama and Ohio State are the top-ranked recruiting classes for 2021. If Miami can receive a commitment from Taylor as expected it should help boost the rest of the Hurricanes 2021 recruiting class and continue to build momentum. Taylor has an August 6 announcement date set for his commitment.

Four days after Taylor, his Palmetto teammate, four-star safety Corey Collier will make his collegiate destination known. If Taylor commits to Miami the chances of Collier joining him increase. Smith and four-star defensive tackle Savion Collins who is commited to Miami also play for Palmetto.

The biggest thing for Miami in the Class of 2021 is keeping the talent home. Both Williams and Taylor are from South Florida. Miami has significantly increased its commitment from South Florida from the 2020 class.

The Hurricanes signed 12 players in 2020 who were from Florida. Only seven 2020 signees are from Dade or Broward counties. Diaz and his staff have cleaned up recruiting since the March shutdown. Twelve of the 21 Miami commits have come since the end of March. Miami has also secured four re-commits.

Brinson, George, running back Thad Franklin and Williams re-committed to Miami after previously de-committing. Being able to receive a commitment from Taylor to add to Williams would make a big statement. Being able to sign two five-star recruits would show that the Miami football staff can compete with anyone recruiting.