Where Miami football looks next after CB Marcus Banks commits to Mississippi State
Former Alabama cornerback Marcus Banks surprisingly chose Mississippi State over the Miami football program on Monday night. Banks was projected by most recruiting sites to sign with Miami. Miami signed three CBs in the 2022 Class and might be content with their current depth chart entering 2022.
Whether or not Miami pursues another CB through the transfer portal or in the Class of 2022 could depend on if starter Tyrique Stevenson returns next season. Second-year freshman Marcus Clarke emerged this season. Banks is the second-ranked transfer CB behind Eli Ricks who transferred from LSU to Alabama.
When Banks signed with Alabama in the Class of 2019, he was the 127th ranked player, 13th ranked CB and 21st in Texas by the 247 Sports composite rankings. Banks had eight tackles and one interception with one start during his Alabama tenure. Miami signee Khamauri Rogers scored higher than Banks out of high school.
Rogers graded out at .9569, while Banks was rated at 0.9441. Miami is also high on 2022 signee Chris Graves who received a score of .9137. The Hurricanes also signed three-star CB Jaden Harris in the Class of 2022. Harris is regarded as a player with a high upside who was focused on other sports in high school.
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The remaining CBs in the transfer portal were three stars or less out of high school. If Miami does sign another CB in the Class of 2022 a name to watch could be former Oregon commit Jahlil Florence. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal already has a relationship with the four-star prospect from San Diego.
Florence played in high school with current Miami wide receiver Keyshawn Smith. With Graves, Harris and Rogers, if the Miami football program does not sign another CB in the Class of 2022, the Hurricanes have a promising future at the position. If Stevenson returns in 2022, Miami will have good depth at CB.
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The Hurricanes are also expected to return Al Blades Jr, Te’Cory Couch, Malik Curtis and Isaiah Dunson at CB in 2022. Blades has missed a lot of time the past two seasons with injuries. Miami has experience and depth if Blades, Couch and Ivey all return in 2022. The Hurricanes CB room looks promising for the future.