Miami Hurricanes have upgraded RB talent significantly last two classes
The Miami Hurricanes football program has significantly upgraded the talent at running back with their last two signing classes. Each of the last two years the Hurricanes have added two top 12 running backs. Miami signed the 10th ranked RB, Jaylan Knighton and 11th ranked RB Don Chaney Jr. in 2020.
The Miami Hurricanes received a commitment on Monday from Cody Brown the 10th ranked RB in 2021. Brown signed with Tennessee in December but was released from his National Letter of Intent following the firing of Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Thad Franklin, the 12th ranked RB signed with Miami in December.
Chaney, Knighton, Franklin and Brown combined with 2018 signee Cam’Ron Harris give Miami five four-star RBs on the roster. The return of Harris and additions the Hurricanes have made in the last two classes give Miami a deep RB unit that has dealt with injuries and players leaving early recently.
Miami lost starter Mark Walton for the season in 2017. Walton entered the 2018 NFL Draft foregoing his senior season. Travis Homer was the replacement for Walton and also left for the NFL Draft following his junior season in 2018. DeeJay Dallas suffered a season-ending injury in 2019 and also entered the NFL Draft early.
With tonight's addition of 4-star RB Cody Brown (193rd overall), UM closes with 9 members of Rivals' top 200 national recruits in 2021 class.... Strong top five at RB for UM with Cam'Ron Harris, Chaney, Knighton, Thad Franklin and now, Cody Brown.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 9, 2021
Walton is the highest-ranked of any of the aforementioned RBs according to 247Sports. The Booker T. Washington alum earned a rating of 0.9607 from 247 and was the 10th ranked RB in the Class of 2013. Homer was the 10th ranked RB in the Class of 2016 and Dallas was the 12th ranked athlete in the Class of 2017.
Miami has had talent at the top of the RB depth chart in recent seasons, but the 2021 roster will be the first time in recent memory that the Hurricanes will have five four-star RBs. The addition of Brown on Monday significantly helps the Miami RB corps. Harris is the first leading rusher returning to Miami since Homer in 2018.
Next. Cody Brown chose Miami for offensive fit. dark
The 2021 season will also be the first time since Walton in 2017 that Miami has a RB start the season as first-team two years in a row. Manny Diaz and his staff are doing a good job getting their players to not leave early for the NFL while continuing to add talent. Miami should be adept at RB for at least the next three seasons.