The Miami football team led all schools with the most blue-chip signees in Florida and all in-state schools with the best 2021 signing class. According to a Tweet from David Wilson of the Miami Herald, the Hurricanes signed 11 four and five-star players from Florida. That is more than twice as much as every program but Alabama.
The Crimson Tide added its sixth blue-chip signee from Florida on National Signing Day on Wednesday. Four-star defensive back Terrion Arnold signed with Alabama. Florida has five blue-chip signees from the Sunshine State including five-star cornerback Jason Marshall from Miami Palmetto High School.
With the help of the six blue-chip players from Florida, Alabama signed the highest-ranked recruiting class ever. The Miami football program signed the 12th best class in 2021 with Florida right behind the Hurricanes with the 13th best class. Miami owned the elite in-state signees in 2021. Miami has two five-star signees in 2021.
Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safety James Williams should be the cornerstones of the Miami defense over at least the next three seasons. Winning recruiting in South Florida was one of the first goals stated by Manny Diaz at his introductory news conference in January 2019 when he was elevated to head coach.
Where the blue-chip Florida players signed:
— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) February 3, 2021
Miami 11
Alabama 6
Florida 5
Clemson 3
Ole Miss 3
Florida State 3
Maryland 2
LSU 2
Auburn 2
Texas A&M 2
Notre Dame 2
Georgia 1
Oklahoma 1
USC 1
Arizona State 1
Michigan 1
Arkansas 1
Georgia Tech 1
Jackson State (FCS) 1
Utah 1
Texas 1
In addition to Williams and Taylor, Miami signed 11 blue chip players overall. Marshall is the Gators only five-star signee from Florida with 12 four-star players signing to go to Gainesville overall. Miami has a higher ranked class than Florida despite having only 21 signees to 22 for the 2021 Florida class.
Florida State which finished 3-6 in 2020 and lost 52-10 to Miami has the nation’s 22nd best signing class for 2021. Miami has won the last four years against the Seminoles. Alabama signed the top two players in Florida in 2021 including defensive end Dallas Turner from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale.
Taylor and Williams are the third and fourth highest-ranked players in Florida for 2021. Marshall ranked ninth. Three of the top eight ranked players in Florida played at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Many of the IMG players enroll from out of state. Continuing to win Florida will help Diaz and his staff continue to upgrade the roster.