Miami football 2021 signing class shaped by QB Jake Garcia flip from USC

The 2021 Miami football signing class was shaped by flipping four-star quarterback Jake Garcia. Garcia de-committed from USC on December 3, attended the Hurricanes game against North Carolina on December 12 and signed with Miami on December 16. Garcia was profiled by 247 Sports on Sunday.

In the article “Revisiting the decommitments that shaped the 2021 recruiting cycle” by Gabe Brooks of 247, Garcia was one of the 12, 2021 signees that were profiled. Garcia had been rumored to flip to the Miami football program since the spring of 2020. Many thought Garcia would commit to Miami during the fall of 2019.

Garcia impressed when he attended Miami football Paradise Camp in 2019. When 2020 signee Bryce Young flipped from USC to Alabama, Garcia committed to the Trojans in September 2019. That commitment held until Garcia signed with Miami in December 2020. Another QB offer by USC led to Garcia de-committing.

Four-star Miller Moss committed to the Trojans in May. Garcia revealed after Moss’ commitment that USC informed him they wanted to sign two QBs in the Class of 2021. USC sending out a third offer to four-star QB Jaxson Dart reportedly led to Garcia eventually de-committing from USC and signing with Miami.

"JAKE GARCIA DECOMMITS FROM USC“California high four-star quarterback Jake Garcia left the state for Georgia after the California Interscholastic Federation delayed the 2020 football season because of the coronavirus pandemic.Garcia, a top 50 prospect ranked fifth nationally among pro-style quarterbacks, appeared in one game for Valdosta (Ga.) High School before being deemed ineligible by the Georgia High School Association.Garcia wound up at Loganville (Ga.) Grayson, where he helped the Rams win the Georgia AAAAAAA state championship. Garcia committed in Sept. 2019 to USC and remained committed more than 14 months, but re-opened his recruitment in early December.That led to his signing with Miami, where Garcia is the third highest-ranked prospect in the Hurricanes’ 21-player class, which ranked 12th nationally and No. 2 in the ACC on the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.”"

In some ways, it seemed like Miami was all in on Garcia. Miami would have likely been without a QB in the Class of 2021. Garcia has stated that the hashtag Miami fans created in his honor made him feel wanted. #GarciatotheU helped the Hurricanes highest ranked QB signee in over a decade decide to matriculate in Coral Gables.

With D’Eriq King returning for the 2021 season, Garcia will have a chance to learn under King this fall. King will miss spring practice after tearing his ACL in the Cheez-it Bowl loss to Oklahoma State in December. Garcia will compete for playing time with freshman Tyler VanDyke and redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha this spring.

Garcia, Matocha and Van Dyke will contend for first-team snaps during spring practice which begins March 13. King will be out until training camp in August rehabilitating his knee. After King uses up his eligibility following the 2021 season, the expectation is for Garcia and Van Dyke as the main competitors to start in 2022.