During a pair of media appearances on Monday head coach Manny Diaz stated he did not anticipate the Miami football program to have any defections less than 48 hours before early national signing day.
Head coach Manny Diaz appeared on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM Monday morning and spoke to beat reporters later in the day to discuss the loss to North Carolina, Early National Signing Day on Wednesday and the Miami football bowl game later this month. Diaz does not expect to lose any commits on Wednesday.
The 2021 Miami football recruiting class is currently ranked 11th nationally. Miami should rise with the addition of a few signees who are not currently committed to the Hurricanes. The player everyone that Miami followers are waiting on is quarterback Jake Garcia. Garcia would boost Miami to ninth.
Garcia is the 46th ranked player in the Class of 2021, fifth-ranked Pro-Style QB and fifth-ranked player in Georgia. Diaz also stated on Monday that he thinks Miami will add a cornerback to their 2021 class. Miami currently is without a QB commit and three-star athlete Malik Curtis is the only player projected to play CB committed.
The Miami staff spoke with every 2021 commit within 90 minutes after the loss to North Carolina Diaz told the Joe Rose Show this morning. Diaz compared the 2021 Miami commits to the 2020 signees and stated they are all in. This class wants to be the one that changes the culture and success of the Miami football program.
"“(We) checked in on every one” (of the 2021 commits)…within 90 minutes’ (after losing to North Carolina (and all of the 2021 commits) are all in on the Canes…The majority of those guys committed before we even played a game this year…They committed off of 6-7 a year ago…Really good to show the relationships we’ve built with those players are solid.’’Courtesy Miami Herald"
Diaz elaborated later in the day speaking to the beat reporters that the Miami football program expects to add a cornerback in the Class of 2021 but it could be after the term which likely indicates the traditional National Signing Day in February. Miami is also likely to enter the transfer portal during the 2021 offseason.
"“On Wednesday [the early signing day] we have the opportunity to build and grow this team. We still think we’ll add another cornerback here shortly and probably, maybe even one after the term. The things you can’t predict anymore, losing guys to the portal, that type of stuff.So you always got to be on your toes recruiting wise and be able to add our numbers. It certainly hurt us and they were able to make two big plays in man coverage. Two great throws, but that’s where you’ve just got to continue to develop that position and get ourselves to where we want to be.We really feel good about some of the safeties we have signed and in this class and then corners, we still think we will add a corner here shortly and then probably another one after the turn.There are things you can’t predict anymore like losing guys to the portal and that type of stuff, you always have to be on your toes recruiting wise and add the numbers.”Courtesy Inside the U"
The 2020 Miami signing class will be its best since 2018. Garcia signing with Miami and the addition of one or two more players to the 2021 class could push the class this year ahead of the 2018 class that finished eighth. This is the first Miami class since 2008 that has two five-star signees.
Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safety James Williams are two of the top 15 players in the 2021 class. If Garcia signs with Miami he will eventually compete to be the Miami QB of the future. Several other 2021 signees will make impacts for Miami. The offensive line should be upgraded. The future of Miami football is bright.