Recruiting chatter during the dog days of summer doesn’t amount to much; especially with National Signing Day over half a year out. That said, when the player pledging his commitment is the son of a Miami Hurricanes legend, chances of that verbal sticking are pretty good. Especially in this case.
Michael Irvin II—Son of The Playmaker—appears headed to “The U”. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Irvin is a 3-star wide receiver / tight end entering his senior year at his father’s alma mater, St. Thomas Aquinas.
Irvin committed to Miami and head coach Al Golden on Monday afternoon. He was recruited by Canes’ running back coach Hurlie Brown; another UM football alum.
Irvin grew up in Texas and moved to Florida months back. Miami has always been that dream school, though there were offers from Georgia, Central Florida, Syracuse, Michigan and a half dozen others. Irvin says he’ll most-likely take some more visits, but at far as he’s concerned, he’s Coral Gables-bound. When asked how Dad took the news, a mix of excitement and expectation.
“We had been talking about where and what I was going to do for a very long time. He knew what was coming,” Irvin told the Sun-Sentinel. “We always stay in touch even though he’s still in Texas and I’m here playing at St. Thomas. We talk every day about everything and he was very excited, extremely excited. But I think he knew what I wanted to do. … I was a ‘Cane from the start. I grew up a fan and wanted to be a ‘Cane.”
Irvin comes to St. Thomas by way of Prestonwood Christian, where he’s totaled 2,741 receiving yards and and 34 touchdowns on 223 catches. While The Playmaker’s love for the orange and green played a part in the decision, so did Miami’s coaches and players—especially sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya.
“Watching what he did as a freshman was crazy, seeing how on point he was and the way he facilitated his team was amazing,” Irvin said. “I can’t want to get there, meet him and start throwing with him.”
Irvin is now the 22nd verbal commitment for Miami’s 2016 class, currently ranked third by Rivals.com, trailing Florida State and top-ranked LSU.