Miami football trending for 3-star DL Daylen Russell with Saturday commitment
The Miami football program is trending for three-star defensive lineman Daylen Russell ahead of his commitment announcement on Saturday night. Miami has a 75.9 percent chance for a commitment from Russell per On3. Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U reported that the commitment announcement will be Saturday evening.
Russell is the 993rd-ranked prospect, 93rd DL and 131st recruit in Florida in the 2023 class. As a junior in 2022, Russell had 62 tackles, eight tackles for loss and eight sacks. The Miami Herald named Russell the Miami-Dade Defensive Player of the Year. Russell will decide between Louisville, Miami and Nebraska.
Miami currently has no DL committed in the 2024 class. Linebacker Vincent Shavers and safeties Dylan Day and Isaiah Thomas are the sole defensive players committed to Miami for 2024. Miami is trending for 2024 blue chip DL T.A. Cunningham and Justin Scott according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
The primary recruiter for Russell is DL coach Joe Salave’a with offensive line coach Alex Mirabal listed as the secondary recruiter by On3. Miami would jump Mississippi and Wisconsin from 25th up to 23rd place in the 2024 recruiting team rankings per 247 Sports. Miami will have several DL to replace for 2042.
Miami definitely loses DL Jacob Lichtenstein. Jared Harrison-Hunte, Akheem Mesidor and Leonard Taylor are eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft. Harrison-Hunte and Taylor are the projected starting tackles for Miami in 2023. Mesidor is a versatile DL that is a projected starting edge rusher who often moves inside as a pass rusher.
Russell would provide the Miami football program with needed depth on the DL to the 2024 roster. Mario Cristobal stated in December they were going to make DT a priority in the transfer portal. Expect that to continue through recruiting throughout the summer. Miami added three transfer DTs for 2023.
Anthony Campbell who announced his transfer to Miami from Louisiana earlier this month has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Branson Deen from Purdue and Thomas Gore from Georgia State will have only one season of eligibility with Miami. Russell is an athletic and versatile DL with high upside.