The Miami football program has been hindered by the lack of development of the 2018 signing class. Only 13 of the 23 2018 signees remain with Miami. Tight end Brevin Jordan and defensive end Greg Rousseau entered the 2021 NFL Draft. Eight 2018 signees who left Miami have transferred to other programs.
Miami signed the eighth-ranked class nationally in 2018. Five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard was the highest-ranked signee in 2018. Jordan was second. Defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera was the third-ranked signee for Miami in 2018 and the highest-ranked 2018 signee remaining on the Miami football roster.
Jordan was a key player as a three-year starter at TE for Miami. If he had stayed one more season, Jordan would have challenged the Miami TE receiving records. Jordan finished his Miami career with 105 receptions for 1,358 receiving yards and 13 TDs. The Houston Texans drafted Jordan in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Off of his breakout 2019 season, Rousseau was a 2021 first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. Rousseau had 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in 2019 before opting out for the 2020 season. Rousseau developed quickly after being the 485th ranked player and 25th DE in the Class of 2018.
Rousseau is potentially the only 2018 Miami signee that exceeded his talent. Only five of the 23 signees for Miami in 2018
for the Hurricanes in their most recent game against Virginia.
started at running back,
on the offensive line and
at tight end on offense.
Silvera and defensive back Gurvan Hall were the only starters for Miami on defense against the Cavaliers. For the eighth-ranked class with only two players that left early for the NFL, that’s an indictment of the lack of development. Entering the 2021 season Miami had 478 games played and 215 starts from the Class of 2018.
Scaife has the most games played at 37 and most starts with 30 from the 2018 Miami signees. Former Miami DE and linebacker Patrick Joyner is the only transfer from Miami in the 2018 class making a significant impact at his new school. Joyner followed former Miami defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda to Utah State.
Banda was hired by the Aggies following the 2020 season. Joyner has 15 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and one sack for Utah State this season. In two seasons playing for the Miami football team, Joyner played in nine games without a start recording six tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Joyner missed the entire 2019 season with an injury.
It would be very easy to scrutinize all 23 2018 signees and their lack of production. Manny Diaz and his staff have tried to compensate for the lack of production from the Class of 2018 by filling in holes from the transfer portal. Diaz inheritated what was the 27th ranked Class in 2019. The last two classes have been much better.
Miami signed the 11th ranked class in 2020 and 17th in 2021. The momentum has been stunted for 2022 with the 44th ranked class. Miami should have a good foundation for the future with the talent they have signed the last two seasons. Miami needs the the 2020 and ’21 classes to develop better than 2018.