The Miami football program will have nine 2021 signees and three transfers enroll later this month according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The other 12 players Miami signed in the 2021 class are expected to enroll in the spring or summer. Miami had 13 signees enroll early in 2020.
The 2021 early enrollee freshmen are quarterback Jake Garcia, tight end Elijah Arroyo, receiver Romello Brinson, offensive tackle Michael McLaughlin, defensive end Thomas Davis, linebacker Deshawn Troutman, safety Kamren Kinchens, striker Chase Smith and kicker Andres Borregales. Those players will get a head start.
Transfers, Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson from Georgia, former Oklahoma wide receiver Charleston Rambo, and defensive end Deandre Johnson from Tennessee are also expected to enroll this month. Stevenson and Johnson are returning home. Both are alums from Miami Southridge.
The Miami football program currently have WRs Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins and offensive line Delone Scaife on their roster from Southridge. Garcia will be the highest-rated early enrollee in the 2021 Miami class with five-star signees, defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safety James Williams enrolling later this year.
Garcia, Arroyo, Brinson, McLaughlin, Kinchens and Smith are four-star signees. Davis, Borregales and Troutman are rated as three-stars. Garcia is the only early enrollee for Miami ranked in the top 100 in the Class of 2021. Garcia is the 46th ranked player overall, the fifth-ranked pro-style QB and the fifth-ranked player in Georgia.
Moved in today. Glad to be a hurricane
— Jake Garcia (@JakeGarcia14) January 22, 2021
Taylor is the 10th ranked player overall, top-ranked defensive tackle and third-ranked player in Florida for 2021. Williams is 13th, the top-ranked safety nationally and fourth in Florida. Arroyo is one of the freshmen to watch for Miami. With junior Brevin Jordan gone to the NFL Draft, Arroyo can expect playing time as a freshman.
Brinson and Kinchens have bright futures but could have a tough time earning playing time as freshmen. Davis and McLaughlin are likely projects that could redshirt as freshmen. Chase Smith will backup Gilbert Frierson and Keontra Smith at striker and Borregales will succeed his brother, first-team All-American Jose at kicker.
The delay of Taylor and Williams should not prevent them from contributing as freshmen. Miami needs to upgrade the talent level that put on the field. Taylor and Williams are the first five-star players Miami signed since running back Lorenzo Lingard, who is now at Florida, since 2018. Expect both in the defensive rotation.