Miami Football: Top 5 Targets for 2019 National Signing Day
Under new management, Miami football now led by Manny Diaz, are looking to acquire key signatures from key players on National Signing Day.
Miami has had one of the wildest offseasons of any team in the ACC this offseason. Miami’s list of decommitted players is longer than their list of commitments, Mark Richt decided to retire and the Hurricanes chose to rehire former-defensive coordinator and Temple Head Coach Manny Diaz as their new head coach. Jeff Thomas transferred from Miami to Illinois, then wanted back, then reaffirmed his commitment to Illinois, then transferred back to Miami.
Miami began the year with plenty of promise after reaching the ACC Championship Game in their first season under Mark Richt. The Hurricanes were No. 8 in the nation when they traveled to Arlington, Texas to take on the No. 25 LSU Tigers. Miami already had drama brewing going into the game with promising quarterback N’Kosi Perry facing his first suspension of the season going into the matchup and things only got worse from there. A blowout loss to LSU would send Hurricane fans from “The U is Back” to “uh oh.”
Although Manny Diaz’s hire came with some skepticism, they at least bring continuity with it as well as a new offensive coordinator in Dan Enos. Miami’s recruiting this season has become less about the incoming freshman and more about the newly introduced transfer portal. The Canes have added Ohio State-transfer quarterback Tate Martell, Auburn-transfer running back Asa Martin, Buffalo-transfer receiver KJ Osborn, Butler-transfer offensive lineman Tommy Kennedy, UCLA-transfer defensive tackle Chigozie Nnoruka, and USC-transfer defensive back Bubba Bolden.
With National Signing Day right around the corner, Who are the Top-Five Targets for the Hurricanes on signing day?
5. The Players They Have Committed
Manny Diaz, plase keep the players you have committed. Miami currently has 15 players signed or committed in the 2019 class. Their 2019 class is ranked 36th nationally which is 28 spots lower than last seasons class and this is largely in part due to the 17 decommitments they’ve had this season.
Miami has lost 17 players commitments to other teams this season with 16 of them coming out of the state of Florida. Of those 16, six of them elected to go to other in-state schools Florida State, Florida, Central Florida, and Florida Atlantic. Miami has to go into National Signing Day aggressive to get the guys in the upcoming slides, but also greedy for the guys that they have including…
Peyton Matocha, Dual-Threat Quarterback
Mark Richt seemed okay with not bringing in a quarterback in this class but the new regime of coaches were adamant that they bring in a quarterback. Dan Enos offered Lance LeGendre and Peyton Matocha and the latter committed to The U on Jan. 26 and looks to sign his LOI on National Signing Day. Matocha doesn’t seem to be going anywhere considering his only Power Five offer came from Miami, Matocha could still depart for more playing time at Wyoming if the Canes aren’t careful.
Louis Hedley, Punter
I know you’re already dismissing Hedley as a huge loss considering he’s a punter but he’s a guy they absolutely can’t lose. Hedley is listed as the top punter in the 2019 class and Miami has to improve this aspect of their game. Hedley is listed as a JUCO-transfer but he came over from Australia and had to sit out a season due to the transfer. Hedley could still hear offers and initially had interest from Texas Tech. Please, Coach Diaz, don’t lose anybody else.