Buzz could be boon for ’Canes
With new coach Diaz at helm, UM is gaining recruiting momentum
CORAL GABLES – There is no denying it — things didn’t exactly go as the Miami Hurricanes wanted during the Early Signing Period.
Last December, the Hurricanes were coming off an ugly 7-5 regular season that included a four-game losing streak and several forgettable offensive performances that likely scared off some top prospects. The heat was turned up considerably on coach Mark Richt and Manny Diaz — Miami’s successful and wildly popular defensive coordinator — had left Coral Gables to become the head coach at Temple.
All of that took its toll on the recruiting trail, with Miami signing just 14 players, mostly on defense. While the Hurricanes brought in several talented playmakers that will likely have an impact on the program for years to come, Miami’s recruiting class lacked the star power of past classes and was ranked 45th in the nation by recruiting website Rivals.com. That’s the lowest any Miami class had been since the site began ranking classes in 2002.
Things have changed significantly ahead of National Signing Day.
Three days after Miami wrapped up its season with a 35-3 loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl, Richt opted to retire. Ten hours later, Miami lured Diaz back to Coral Gables, making him the Hurricanes new coach.
In the weeks since, Diaz has been on a major recruiting push that has some analysts wondering if Miami could pull a surprise or two on what was previously expected to be a relatively quiet signing day, considering how many prospects signed during the Early Signing Period.
“It may not be quiet for Miami. They’re in it for some guys,” said Steve Wiltfong, the director of recruiting for 247Sports.com. “It seems like they have a chance to have a nice close here. The transfer market has obviously done them well and they’ve added some nice pieces since Coach Diaz transitioned into being the head coach, but they have some guys still out there right now. … You went from a program that didn’t have much buzz after losing those games in the season to now. There’s optimism around the program and the prospects they’re recruiting are feeling it. And Manny Diaz already had relationships with some of these young men, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.”
Since Diaz took over on Dec. 30, the Hurricanes have landed commitments from two 2019 prospects: three-star quarterback prospect Peyton Matocha and three-star defensive tackle Jared HarrisonHunte.
The Hurricanes, though, remain in the mix to potentially flip Cardinal Gibbons defensive end Khris Bogle, who has committed to Alabama but has made two official visits to Miami. Miami’s coaches have also been pushing to flip Mississippi State commit Martin Emerson — a three-star cornerback prospect out of Pensacola Pine Forest — and four-star safety Christian Williams, who has committed to Alabama, but has been heavily considering either signing with the Hurricanes or LSU.
Miami is also in the mix for three-star offensive tackle Darius Washington of Pensacola’s West Florida Tech and four-star Wellington High standout Mark-Antony Richards, the younger brother of former Hurricanes receiver Ahmmon Richards, who suffered a career-ending neck injury last season.
Diaz and the Hurricanes are competing with the likes of Florida, LSU, Auburn and Mississippi State for those prospects. If Miami can land any of them, it would be a boost to the group it signed in December.
Even if the Hurricanes can’t secure any of those targets, Miami is off to a solid start with recruiting 2020 prospects and it’s there, really, where analysts say Diaz will have the chance to put his stamp on his first real class as Hurricanes coach.
“It’s really tough to have buzz around 2019, because other than the kids that are pending, they don’t have any major, major stars,” said longtime South Florida recruiting expert Larry Blustein. “But they do for 2020. … The excitement is great, the buzz is great … They’ve done an outstanding job, which you knew they would with Manny. He hired like-minded people that are enthusiastic, that want to sell the program and that want to be a part of the program. That could have a lot to do with it.”
Richt to join ESPN Signing Day broadcast: Richt, who has yet to speak publicly since he announced he was stepping down as Hurricanes coach, will be a part of ESPN’s National Signing Day coverage, the network announced this week.
The network did not give any specifics in its announcement as to when Richt will be on or what he might discuss, but the former Miami and Georgia coach will join ESPN recruiting analysts Tom Luginbill, Jim Mora, Trevor Matich and Matt Schick from ESPN’s studios.
ESPN’s National Signing Day coverage begins at noon, with the first two hours on ESPN2 before shifting to ESPNU from 2-3:30.
The network will also air an episode of College Football Live at 4 p.m. hour-long beginning