27 Days to Miami football: Brian Balom part of deep safety group
Freshman safety Brian Balom signed with the Miami football program in the Class of 2020 as part of a deep safety group.
Brian Balom was one of four safeties signed by the Miami football program in the class of 2020. Balom was the 755th player, 59th ranked safety and 99th ranked player in Florida. A versatile safety equally adept in the box against the run and in pass coverage, Balom will provide the Hurricanes with good depth.
In addition to the four safeties Miami signed in 2020, the Hurricanes return senior Amari Carter and juniors Bubba Bolden and Gurvan Hall who led all Miami returnees in tackles. Balom could redshirt this season to help any depth Miami needs at safety in the future. Miami has commits from two highly ranked safeties in 2021.
Balom chose Miami over other Power Five programs Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, West Virginia and Utah as well as a handful of Group of Five programs. Balom earned his scholarship offer from Miami following a strong performance at Paradise Camp in June 2019. Balom was the latest Paradise Camp star to sign with Miami.
A free safety in high school, Balom told the Miami Herald that the Hurricanes project that the 6’0, 179-pound defensive back to play either safety position. Balom is likely to move up the depth chart at Miami with more experience. After the likely redshirt in 2020, Balom should be a special teams contributor in 2021.
With fellow freshmen, four-star safeties Avantae Williams and Jalen Harrell and three-star Keshawn Washington higher ranked with 2021 four-star safety commit Kamren Kinchens and five-star safety/linebacker hybrid James Williams the depth for Miami at the position in the future will create fierce competition.
Next. Miami safeties have bright future led by Avantae Williams. dark
The potential also lies that Balom could eventually be tried out at striker with his diverse skill set. A player who’s Balom’s career track could be similar to is Romeo Finley. Finley began as a safety and had an outstanding season as a striker in 2019. Balom is a great addition to the Miami football roster whose versatility is vital.