Miami football 2021 class still great after 5-star CB Jason Marshall commits to Florida

Five-star cornerback Jason Marshall who had been trending to the Miami football program recently, chose Florida on Sunday.

Five-star cornerback Jason Marshall who was crystal balled to commit to the Miami football program committed to Florida on Sunday. The commitment by Marshall comes three days after five-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor committed to Miami and a day before safety Corey Collier is announcing his commitment.

All three players attend Palmetto high school in Miami. Miami was hoping to add Marshall as the third five-star commitment in the class of 2021. In addition to Taylor Miami received a commitment from the top player in Florida in the Class of 2021, athlete James Williams who projects as a linebacker or safety in college.

Williams and Taylor make the 2021 Miami recruiting class only one of three nationally with Alabama and Ohio State that have more than one five-star commit. The Crimson Tide and Buckeyes each have four five-star players committed for 2021. All six crystal balls for Marshall from 247 Sports trended to Miami.

That happens in recruiting. The Miami football program was able to flip four-star safety Avantae Williams who had all 15 of his crystal balls projected towards Florida and Taylor was also projected to be a heavy Florida lean before committed to Miami on Thursday. Taylor’s crystal balls shifted shortly before his commitment.

Williams was expected to commit to Georgia during the recruiting cycle. Even with the commitment from Marshall, Miami is still ahead of Florida in the 2021 recruiting cycle. The Hurricanes are eighth and the Gators ninth. If Collier commits to Florida as expected that would move the Gators up to sixth nationally.

Without Marshall Miami has three-star cornerback Tim Burns from Miami Northwestern and athlete Malik Curtis who is projected to play corner in college. Getting a commitment from Marshall would have been huge for the Hurricanes 2021 recruiting, but being eighth in the cycle is still exceptional.

When it comes to recruiting Florida and particularly South Florida for 2021, Manny Diaz and his staff have been lauded as the dominating this year. Bud Elliott who tracks recruiting in Florida for 247Sports.Com stated in late July before Taylor’s commitment “The Sunshine State Scorecard: Hurricanes surging over Gators.”

Collier might put the Gators past Miami, but the importance of recruiting well in state and at two positions that have greater impact than cornerback, Miami secured key players in Taylor and Williams. Recruiting in Florida is the most competitive nationally. Miami, Florida and Florida State are all going to win some of those battles.

The coaches all know that and maintain a level of decorum and maturity. The fans often forget that. Getting down to the last few open scholarships losing Marshall is not going to dampen the success Miami has had recruiting over the last few months. The Hurricanes should still finish with a top 10 class.