For the first time in a long time, it was good to be a Miami Hurricane during the U.S. Army All-American bowl week. Seems so often that Hurricanes hat is on the table and is quickly brushed aside as a future college start chooses elsewhere. Even more insult to injury comes in the form of hometown kids fleeing South Florida for another destination.
Thank God for Deon Bush, who finally stopped the bleeding.
The Christopher Columbus four-start safety chose Miami over Alabama and Auburn on Saturday, which proved to be a good-haul-day for the Canes as UM also landed defensive tackle Jacoby Briscoe, four-start defensive lineman Tyriq McCord and wide receiver Robert Lockhart, a Virginia Tech decommit.
Bush and McCord are the crown jewels in this recent haul. Many expected the Miami-bred safety to stay home, but McCord, the Tampa defensive lineman, was a bit of a surprise, with Georgia and South Carolina looking like there were in the lead. McCord visited UM a few weeks back and from that point felt Coral Gables was the place, though he will still take a planned visit to Southern California in two weeks.
As for Briscoe, the Louisiana product got on Miami’s radar weeks back, even though the Canes have been on his forever. Briscoe is a longtime UM fan, despite being from LSU’s backyard, and he committed on the spot after receiving an offer. Briscoe is a 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive tackle who chose Miami over Texas Tech, Memphis, Tulane and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Another coup for Miami; the fact that the Briscoe signing could help the Canes land Louisiana four-star running back Davante Bourque, which would obviously bolster a class that already includes Randy ‘Duke’ Johnson and Danny Dillard at tailback. Bourque already lists a dozen big time offers, but according to Briscoe stated that the could wind up a package deal at ‘The U’.
Regarding Lockhart, the four-start Fork Union (VA) Military Academy wideout appeared to be a Virginia Tech gimmie, but chose to return to the Sunshine State.
Lockhart played his high school ball in Boca Raton before attending Fork Union and a visit to UM last month helped seal the deal. Miami also got help from current offensive line commit Taylor Gadbois, who is also currently at Fork Union.
Lockhart is hoping to graduate early, though like many others is still awaiting his test scores.
Earlier last week Miami also landed three-star Cypress Bay (Weston) offensive lineman Daniel Isidora, pushing the Canes to thirty-one official verbal commitments with Signing Day a month out. – C.B.