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The Hurricanes acquired another weapon on the outside for Malik Rosier and Co. today when 4-star Stockbridge (GA) WR Marquez Ezzard announced his intentions to spend the next four years in the orange and green, choosing the Canes over Ole Miss.
Marquez Ezzard commits to Miami. #Canes #TheU
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) February 7, 2018
Signing number 2 in is for the #Canes as Stockbridge (GA) product WR Marquez Ezzard has joined Miami’s talented WR corps as the newest member of #Storm18 ! The big and burly outside target chose UM over Ole Miss at his high school earlier today #theU #NSD18 pic.twitter.com/XXCbLnbaCI
— Stefan Adams (@stefan_adams305) February 7, 2018
A big and physical presence at 6’2” 215 pounds, Ezzard is an early impact type of talent that gets comparisons to Anquan Boldin. Ezzard has great hands and is a powerfully built receiver that can bully defensive backs that try and get physical with him. He’s not the fastest wideout ever, but plays without concern going over the middle and uses his frame to box-out defenders on contested catches. Ezzard will come in over the summer and immediately compete for a coveted spot in the Canes’ deep WR rotation in 2018.
A former FSU commit, Ezzard had early Miami interest, but Mark Pope, Brian Hightower, and Daquris Wiggins were already committed, and it seemed like the staff was not planning on taking a 4th receiver in the class. Fast forward to during the season, when WR Dionte Mullins was kicked off the team and FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher left town. Ezzard backed off his pledge to the Seminoles and the Canes were beginning to consider adding another receiver. It was then Miami WR coach Ron Dugans began honing in on Ezzard as the top target for the final WR spot in the class.
Dugans made multiple trips to Stockbridge over the past 2 months to see Ezzard and developed a great bond with the young pass-catcher, letting him know just how valued he was to this class. A Mark Richt in-home and a late January official visit to Coral Gables helped seal the deal with Ezzard, and a prior relationship with his future QB and fellow Georgia product, Miami signee Jarren Williams, certainly didn’t hurt.
It’s a Family thing !!! @Solid_Quez @MarkRicht pic.twitter.com/TQpaoPiyOe
— Realus George (@RealusGeorge2) January 25, 2018
As mentioned previously, Ezzard is the fourth WR to sign with Storm18, as well as the second former FSU commit to flip to the good guys, joining December signee LB Patrick Joyner.
Part of a concerted effort to recruit Mark Richt’s old stomping grounds, Ezzard is the third Georgia product to come on board to Storm18. Lawrenceville (GA) QB Jarren Williams and Atlanta (GA) FB Realus George are the others.
Take a more in-depth view of what Miami is getting in Ezzard right here: