The Miami football program is in a good place for legacy four-star cornerback Earl Little Jr. Little named a top six of Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami and USC on social media this weekend. Little is the 102 ranked player, 12th ranked CB and 13th ranked player in Florida in the Class of 2022.
Little has three crystal balls trending towards LSU which are all over a year old and one from December for Miami. Earl Little Sr. played for Miami from 1993-1996 and had an eight-year NFL career. Alabama, Florida, FSU and LSU are listed as the favorites to sign Little. Being a legacy and local should help Miami.
Little also has the pedigree playing for American Heritage in Plantation who had six players drafted including three CBs this weekend. The Miami football program has not developed defensive backs in the last couple of seasons like they used to. The Hurricanes did have three DBs drafted in 2019.
The hiring of Travaris Robinson as DB coach and DeMarcus Van Dyke as CB coach is expected to help Miami in recruiting the secondary in the future. Miami safety Bubba Bolden is a borderline first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The addition of Georgia transfer Tyrique Stevenson could have an impact on recruiting in the future.
Stevenson left Georgia where he was primarily used as a slot CB for a chance to show he can play outside to NFL scouts. Entering his junior season, Stevenson would seem likely to enter the 2022 NFL Draft with a good season for Miami. Stevenson will be expected to be the shutdown CB Miami needs for 2022.
Depending on what happens with the other CBs on Miami after the 2022 season, Little might have a chance to come in and play immediately. Al Blades Jr. and D.J. Ivey are fourth-year juniors and Te’Cory Couch a third-year sophomore in 2021. All three will be eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Miami also has Marcus Clarke and Isaiah Dunson entering their second seasons. The Hurricanes only signed Malik Curtis in the Class of 2022 as a projected CB. Curtis was classified as an athlete by recruiting services but is expected to be a CB at Miami. Adding Little in the Class of 2022 would be a huge addition for Miami.