ESPN named five-star freshman defensive tackle Leonard Taylor the most intriguing newcomer for the Miami Hurricanes football team in 2021. Taylor is the highest-ranked signee in the 2021 Miami freshman class. Miami also added the transfers to fill in critical spots on the roster for the 2021 season.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, wide receiver Charleston Rambo and defensive end DeAndre Johnson join the Miami roster and could have easily been named the most intriguing newcomer for the Miami Hurricanes. ESPN included in their words “recruits, transfers and new coaches” among their most intriguing newcomers.
Miami added four new coaches on defense. Any of them could also have been considered the most intriguing newcomer for Miami in 2021. ESPN mentioned one newcomer for each of their top 25 teams for the 2021 season. Eight of the top 25 have coordinators list as their most intriguing newcomer.
Five of the players listed by ESPN are transfers. The other 12, like Taylor, are freshmen in 2021. Taylor and fellow five-star freshman, safety James Williams are expected to contribute for Miami in 2021. Andrea Adelson of ESPN summarized the outlook for Taylor and Williams entering the 2021 season.
"25. Miami Hurricanes: DT Leonard TaylorManny Diaz revamped his entire defensive coaching staff in the offseason, and will now call plays on defense in 2021. It should help that he just signed the top players in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.Miami Palmetto defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, No. 6 in the ESPN 300, is the highest-rated defensive lineman the Hurricanes have ever signed. Miami is in need of a disruptive presence on the interior of the defensive line, and Taylor will certainly have the opportunity to prove himself.He will not arrive until the summer, so his progression in the weight room and practice will go a long way toward determining what type of impact he will have right away. Then there is James Williams, an ESPN 300 safety from Fort Lauderdale.Williams won’t be there until the summer, either, but there is large significance to the Hurricanes bringing in the top recruits in their area in the hopes of building a championship team. — Adelson"
Taylor joins a deep DT rotation for Miami. Senior Jon Ford, junior Nesta Silvera and redshirt freshman Jared Harrison-Hunte are likely to be the top three for Miami in the rotation at DT in 2021. Miami also has redshirt sophomore Jason Miller, redshirt freshman Jalar Holley and freshmen Elijah Roberts and Quentin Williams.
Harrison-Hunte earned his way into the rotation in 2020 with stellar play. As Adelson said, Miami needing a disruptive presence on the defensive line will likely earn Taylor snaps if he can live up to his recruiting rankings. Neither Taylor nor Williams were early enrollees. This will be an important summer for Taylor and Williams.