Miami football recruiting: Patrick Payton De-commits, Damarius McGhee announcing Dec 16

Miami football 2021 four-star targets edge rusher Patrick Payton and cornerback Damarius McGhee both made news recently regarding their recruitments.

Four-star 2021 recruits, cornerback Damarius McGhee and defensive end Patrick Payton both made news in the last couple of days regarding their college decisions. The Miami football program is still involved on both of their recruitments. Miami has a greater need at CB with one commit for 2021.

McGhee announced Friday he will make his college choice known on Early National Signing December 16 and Payton de-commtited from Nebraska on Saturday. McGhee is the 184th ranked player, 14th ranked CB and 28th ranked player in Florida in the Class of 2021.

The official news that McGhee will announce his college destination on December 16 came via his Twitter account Friday. McGhee told 247 Sports he is considering LSU, Miami, Mississippi State and Mississippi and Tennessee. McGhee was formerally committed to Tennessee. LSU has the only three crystal balls for 247 for McGhee.

Steve Wiltfong, the Director of Recruiting for 247, LSU Insider Andrew Dixon and Southeast Recruiting Analyst and Inside the U, Miami reporter Andrew Ivins are the three who project McGhee to sign with LSU. Miami came in late on the recruitment for McGhee.

The Miami football program lacks depth at CB with only five scholarship players currently on the roster and one projected CB committed for 2021. McGhee discussed the importance of the relationships he has with the programs recruiting him and specifically Miami with 247.

"“Me and Coach (DeMarcus Van Dyke) have a good relationship and the DB coach relationship. They kind of came late in my recruitment but they came one of the hardest ones.”"

Payton de-committing from Nebraska is the latest player from South Florida who has flipped on the Cornhuskers. Four Nebraska players who signed in 2020 entered the transfer portal this season. Payton is the 328th ranked player, 22nd ranked outside linebacker (but considered an edge rusher in college) and 52nd ranked player.

Wide receiver Romello Brinson, safety Kamren Kinchens and tight end Khalil Brantley who are committed to Miami for 2021 are teammates with Payton at Miami Northwestern. Cornerback Ronald Delancy who was one of the transfer portal entrees from Nebraska also played at Northwestern.

Payton wrote on Twitter than Nebraska is still among his top schools. Florida and Florida State are also reported to be in the mix to sign the 6’5, 205 pound edge rusher. Miami is deep at edge rusher both on their current roster and with the commitments from Jabari Ismael and Thomas Davis to the 2021 class.