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Miami got a major addition to the 2018 recruiting class today when 4-star WR Mark Pope committed to the Hurricanes.
PLEASE RESPECT MY DECISION @r81dugans pic.twitter.com/GTEj1TeRZv
— Mark Pope3️⃣ (@markpop10517405) March 27, 2017
A star at local Miami (FL) Southridge HS, Pope is a dynamic player at the WR position. The 6’1” 170lb Pope is a major playmaker, and a premium talent in this recruiting class. A 3rd team All-State player in Florida’s 8A Classification (Southridge doesn’t really throw the ball well, so that hurt Pope’s stats a bit), Pope is among the best players at WR in America.
In the 8A State Championship game, Southridge was struggling to score and about to lose to Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips. That is, until Mark Pope made a play, racing 72 yards up the sideline for a game and State Championship-winning TD.
So, when his team needed it most, Pope — a big time player — stepped up with a big play in a big game. Word to Santana Moss.
Pope has seen his stock and recruiting ranking surge over the last year. In addition to being a top player for his HS team, Pope has been incredible in the camp/7v7 circuit so far this spring. After dominating at the Orlando Regional for Nike’s The Opening, Pope earned a bid to the elite recruiting camp which will be held in July. Many think Pope will end the 2018 cycle as a 5-star rated player, and if that doesn’t prove his value and pedigree on the football field, I don’t know what will.
For a long time, Alabama was the leader for Pope’s commitment. However, with the many staff defections from the Crimson Tide, and Miami hiring Southridge OC David Cooney in a support staff role, the Canes vaulted back to the top of the pack for Pope.
This is a major get. Huge. Massive. This is the embodiment of Mark Richt saying that, while you can’t get every 4-star/5-star player in SoFLA in a given recruiting year, you have to get the right ones. And Pope, my friends, is the right one.
A 2018 U.S. Army All-American, Pope joins his Miami (FL) Southridge teammate 4-star Daquris Wiggins and IMG Academy 4-star Brian Hightower as commits at WR in the 2018 class. He committed to Miami over 19 other offers, including Alabama, UCLA, Florida and Auburn. You can see more of Pope’s abilities in the HUDL highlights below.