In this installment of The Recruit Notebook, we meet a dynamic, record-setting WR who will add speed and playmaking ability to the Canes’ WR room: WR Dazalin Worsham.

Bio

A year after going into Alabama to get a 4-star blue chip recruit on defense (Christian Williams in case you were wondering), Miami returned to the heart of the South to do the same, but with an offensive player. Meet Trussville (AL) Hewitt-Trussville 4-star WR Dazalin Worsham, a dynamic receiver with offers from CFB powers all over the country.

Like many top players from the State of Alabama (and country at large), Worsham committed to Alabama early in the process. His commitment to the Crimson Tide initially came in the spring of 2018 (the end of his sophomore year of HS). Worsham maintained that commitment for more than a year. That was until he took an official visit to Miami in June 2019. Worsham waited a bit after returning home from that visit, but decommitted from Alabama 4 days after his Miami OV, and all the signs pointed to a flip coming in Miami’s favor in short order.

But that didn’t happen.

Over the next few months, Worsham announced Alabama and Miami as his top 2, but there was little public connection to either. But, due to his hometown and proximity to Alabama, and the Crimson Tide’s stature as one of the preeminent teams in CFB, many assumed he would end up committing back where he started. But THAT didn’t happen either.

All the while, behind the scenes, Miami kept in contact with Worsham, working a long-play seldom seen in recruiting. Miami chipped away at the Under Armour All-American Worsham, steadily convincing him that his talents were needed in Coral Gables, and that ended up being the foundation for Worsham’s commitment to the Canes.

Recruiting Ranking

On the 247sports composite, Worsham. is a 4-star prospect, the #57 WR nationally in this class, #15 in the State of Alabama, and #328 recruit overall.

Worsham committed to Miami over Alabama, where he was initially committed and his other named finalist prior to his decision, and offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, and Florida from his list of 26 scholarship offers.

As a player

At 6’0” 185lbs, Worsham is a quick, sudden, dynamic athlete with the ability to run many routes in the route tree, and the speed to score on any play where he gets the ball. When you put on Worsham’s highlights (embedded lower in this piece), you’ll see him get behind the defense repeatedly and with ease. That should be exciting for Hurricanes fans both now and in the future.

In addition to being able to make people miss and exploit defenses vertically, Worsham just has a dual knack for getting open and catching the ball. I know he plays receiver and that should be a given, but hey, not every receiver has natural hands like Worsham does.

And I’m not just saying that narratively: Worsham ended his prep career as the all-time leading receiver by receptions in Hewitt-Trussville history with 215 catches. That number lands him 8th all-time in Alabama HSFB history. And, there are plenty of other stats, like yards and TDs, that went with those 215 catches.

When you look at what Worsham does in his HUDL highlights (below, they’re close so you can see them soon I promise), he can impact the game in the quick screen game, short passing game with slants and whip routes, and deep passing game with sluggos, go routes, posts and corners.

As an exclusively outside WR in HS, Worsham’s route tree mainly had him working between the hash and sideline. He has the athletic ability to run routes over the middle of the field, or even find space from being aligned in the slot, but those are areas of his game that will have to come with future development at Miami for college.

Strengths

• Highly productive in terms of catches
• Short area quickness
• Solid route running
• Knack for making big plays

Weaknesses

• Physical development (could get stronger)
• Limited experience/usage in the slot or going over the middle (like an RPO slant would be, for example)

2020 Outlook

A good offense always needs receivers. Miami has been one of the more talented teams in the country in recent years at this position, and adding Worsham will continue that trend. With the departures of K.J. Osborn — Miami’s leading receiver by catches and TDs — to graduation and Brian Hightower and Evidence Njoku to the transfer portal, and the potential departure of Jeff Thomas to the NFL, there will be snaps available for younger guys in the rotation. It’s up to Worsham to get on campus and prove himself worthy of that playing time.

Chances for a Redshirt: 2/10

Said similar things about Jeremiah Payton heading into 2019 about him being game-ready but he wasn’t able to crack the rotation this year. Worsham has similar talent, and with less returning players in front of him, there’s nothing but opportunity for Worsham to see the field in 2020.

That’s it for this installment of the Recruiting Notebook.

Go Canes