Only one Miami Football 2021 de-commit signed with Power five program

A lot has been made in recent years about the de-commitments from the Miami football program. Only one of the 2021 de-commitments signed with another Power Five school. The four highest-ranked Hurricanes 2021de-commitments signed with Miami and six of the other seven signed with a Group of Five program.

Safety James Williams, wide receivers Romello Brinson and Jacolby George and running back Thad Franklin signed with Miami in December after de-committing earlier in 2020. Five of the seven decommits who signed elsewhere play on defense, one on offense and another was listed as an athlete who all signed elsewhere.

Linebacker Ja’Cory Hammett who ranked eighth of the 11 Miami football de-commitments signed with West Virginia. Hammett is the only Miami de-commitment to sign with another Power Five program. Hammett ranked seventh among the 2021 West Virginia signees. The Mountaineers have the 40th ranked class.

Chamon Metayer is listed as an athlete signed with Cincinnati. Metayer was wanted by Miami as an edge rusher with a big upside. Metayer de-committed from Miami saying that he wanted to be a tight end or big WR in college. Fred Eaford was the sole Miami de-commitment on offense. Eaford is a WR who committed to FAU.

Miami lost defensive tackles, Savion Collins and Anthony Hundley de-committed and signed with FIU and Central Florida. Hundley will play for defensive coordinator Travis Williams who left Miami as the linebackers coach on Monday. Collins was often thought to be flipping to Florida but will play for Butch Davis with the Panthers.

Outside LB Cortez McKenzie signed with Western Kentucky after de-committing from Miami in November 2019. McKenzie was committed to Miami for five months. Cornerback Tim Burns would have provided Miami much-needed depth at the position. Burns signed with UAB after being committed to Miami for over 15 months.

The difference between the 2021 Miami de-commitments and past years is that the biggest what-ifs recommitted and signed with Miami. West Virginia is a midway Power Five program with a signing class that reflects that. Williams, Brinson, George and Franklin are all signees that should contribute to Miami in the future.

Miami head coach Manny Diaz has revamped how and when commitments are allowed for the Hurricanes. One of the stipulations is that players have to visit campus before committing. Another allowance has reportedly been that players cannot visit other programs once committed. Those players can then uncommitted.

Those rules and other unwritten regulations should help the Miami football program minimize de-commitments from the Hurricanes in the future. Miami finished with the 12th ranked signing class in 2021, their highest since 2018 when Miami was eighth. Miami only has two committed players for 2022 very early in the process.