Hard to get over-excited about verbal commitment, but when it’s a local four-star recruit that flips from an arch-rival, it warrants mention. Even in late February.
Miami Central running back Joseph Yearby is the fourth verbal commit of UM’s 2014 recruiting class and a Florida State commit since summer 2012, this is a great pick-up for The U.
New offensive coordinator James Coley, who held the same position at Florida State the past few seasons (sans that whole little ‘play calling’ part) was a big reason Yearby appeared Tallahassee-bound, but with the Coley in Coral Gables, Yearby is now on board with his ‘dream school’, listing Willis McGahee and Frank Gore as his inspiration, with Miami as the place he always wanted to be.
He also made it clear that Coley’s switch to Miami had him looking harder at the hometown Canes and made it a no-brainer decision.
Yearby is listed at 5-foot-9, but a solid 191-pounds. He rushed for 1,448 yards on 212 carries and had twenty touchdowns last season, leading his team to the Class 6A title.
He’s also the cousin of current Miami running back Eduardo Clements and has chose The U over West Virginia, Alabama, Central Florida, and Florida State, obviously.
The recruiting battle started back up the Thursday after Signing Day weeks back and while Florida State landed Booker T. Washington linebacker Matthew Thomas, who Miami was vying for, the Canes nabbed Stacy Coley, which left Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher visibly shocked when ESPN cameras were on him later in the day.
As battle lines are drawn for the 2014 recruiting class, Miami looks to have landed a defining blow here, barring Yearby inks next February. Lest not forget that running back Alex Collins was a long-time Miami commit before decommitting and eventually winding up at Arkansas.
For now Yearby sounds all-in with The U and hopefully he’s one of many local kids who decides to stay home when Signing Day 2014 rolls around, Kudos to Coley, Al Golden and UM’s staff for getting after it the past few weeks, inkings kids for next year, as well as a few four-star stragglers who have bolstered the 2013 class.
#IStandWithTheU