Miami football tough battle as finalist for 4-star CB Azareyeh Thomas

Four-star safety Azareyeh Thomas who is projected by some recruiting analysts to play cornerback named the Miami football program as one of his top eight on Saturday. Miami is joined by mostly traditional schools as finalists. Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, Louisville and Oklahoma are the other finalists.

Clemson, Florida and Georgia Tech are currently the leaders to receive a commitment from Thomas per 247 Sports. Thomas is expected to commit in the next few months. Thomas has stated he wants to make a decision before his senior season. Gaining a commitment from Thomas would boost the Miami 2022 Recruiting Class.

Thomas is the 95th ranked player, ninth-ranked safety and 11th ranked player in the state out of Niceville, Florida. Former Miami safety and striker, Romeo Finley also attended Niceville High School. Miami is currently stacked at safety, but will definitely lose senior Amari Carter following the 2021 season.

Niceville is about 70 miles east of Pensacola, a difficult part of Florida for Miami to recruit from. The Miami football program is beginning to land as finalists on the lists of multiple players in the Class of 2022. The Hurricanes recently received a commitment from four-star quarterback Jacurri Brown after two de-commitments.

Defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland and Jamaal Johnson recently withdrew their commitments to Miami. The Hurricanes are still in a good position to sign a good class more than eight months ahead of Early National Signing Day. Manny Diaz and his staff have taken a more deliberate recruiting approach in the Class of 2022.

Thomas is a versatile athlete who also plays basketball and runs track in addition to playing offense and defense in football. At 6’3 he would provide Miami with the length Diaz prefers defensively. Thomas is 176 pounds, so he would need to work with Strength and Conditioning coach David Feeley to add muscle.