Miami Hurricanes News and Notes: A Pair of Decommitments, Wilder’s Uncertain Future, Recruiting Updates

Good Morning Canes Fam,

State of Declarations

Can Miami’s running backs be the strength of the offense in 2019? State of the U’s Marshall Thomas definitely believes they can in his 2019 Position Preview: Running Backs.

Our retrospective series the 100 Greatest Plays in Miami History continues to chug along. On Thursday, Marshall Thomas tackled the 70th play on the countdown, featuring Dyme Lyfe founder LB D.J. Williams.

Growing up in a hotbed for Penn State and Notre Dame fandom our own Evan Hadrick managed to foster a love for the Miami Hurricanes. Read how a boy from Pennsylvania grew to bleed Orange and Green in the latest edition of our Why I Became a Hurricane Series.

UM received some bad news on Thursday when 2021 DE Donnell Harris decommitted from the school, re-opening his recruitment. While the Booker T. Washington prospect isn’t closing the door on a return to UM, he is keen on exploring his options. SOTU’s Cam Underwood provides how this will impact UM moving forward.

And the hits come in pairs. Late Thursday night 2020 Palm Beach Central WR Bryan Robinson announced his de-commitment. Cam Underwood broke down what Robinson’s departure means for UM’s 2020 class.

Wilder’s Future Unclear and Linebacker Injuries

According to multiple sources, HC Manny Diaz stated that it’s “undetermined” if sophomore linebacker De’Andre Wilder will play again. Diaz explained that “[Miami is] still seeking information for him.” Wilder suffered a neck injury early in Miami’s 2018 season and was ruled out for the season immediately. Since the injury there’s been few updates on his condition. Wilder was absent throughout spring practices as he seeks second opinions on his injury.

Linebackers Bradley Jennings (hip) and Waymon Steed (knee) are the other players who are doubtful to be fully healthy at the start of July’s training camp according CMD.

Paradise Camp Takes Place Next Week

We’re a week away from Miami’s annual Paradise Camp. As I’ve mentioned previously in other News and Notes posts, Manny Diaz and the Hurricanes staff have kept camp details close to the chest. There’s been no hints, viable rumors or press release to date on anything as it relates to the camp.

If you haven’t kept up with Miami’s recruiting news, Manny Diaz and staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail since the end of spring practices. Making in-home visits everywhere from California to Canada, if you look like a Cane you’ve heard from this coaching staff.

State of the U has you covered with some guesses as to what may go down next weekend.

1. ProCanes in Attendance — Based on how the calendar shook out, the camp falls in a favourable window on the calendar where Miami’s NFL alumni can attend. Talent such as TE Greg Olsen, DE Calais Campbell and RB Frank Gore should be available to make an appearance. Schedule permitting of course.
2. Golden Jackets in the Gables? — Ed Reed has served as a coach in the initial Paradise Camp in 2017. Reed is just a few months away being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How great would it be to have the safety drop some words of wisdom to camp attendees once again. UM has options to choose from when it comes to Hall of Famers. DT Warren Sapp and LB Ray Lewis carry a similar weight to Reed as it relates to UM Football.
3. Roll Call — Schools across the country will also be holding camps of their own to lure targets next weekend. As much as we’ll focus on who shows up to Paradise, it will be interesting to see where the no-show Miami targets end up next weekend.

Latest News in Recruiting

Things are trending in the right direction for UM on the recruiting front. Miami recently reeled in a big commitment in Oakleaf OL Jalen Rivers this past Sunday. The Canes are not done adding to the 2020 recruiting class. Miami Norland OL Issiah Walker Jr. was on campus for an unofficial visit. Walker is a South Carolina commit that has continued to take visits despite his verbal pledge to Will Muschamp.

Joining Walker on his visit this past Tuesday was 247 Sports three-star Miami-Palmetto WR Kentron Poitier. While UM would love to see Poitier next weekend at Paradise, the receiver will be making an official visit to Syracuse that weekend.

With the commitment of Suffield Academy 2020 four-star QB Tyler Van Dyke, the Canes have turned their focus towards finding a signal-caller for the 2021 cycle. Some believe that Narbonne QB Jake Garcia fits the bill. A 6’2” and 185 pounds pro-style passer, Garcia hails from Harbor City, California and has offers from most of the major programs in the country. Garcia will be spending the next two days exploring UM’s campus.

McKendry Signs with the Rays, Keysor Stays

Just a week after being drafted by the Tampa Rays, former Hurricanes RHP Evan McKendry has officially signed to star in the show.

RHP pitcher Tyler Keysor has decided not to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers, choosing to return to UM for another season. Keysor was selected in the 40th round of the MLB Draft.

Adrian Del Castillo Named a Freshman All-American

For the second time this off-season freshman outfielder Adrian Del Castillo was named to the Perfect Game Freshman All-American’s Second Team. It’s the second time that Del Castilllo has been honored with an All-Freshman nod. He was also named to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s Freshman All-American Team.

ProCanes ‘Mandatory’ Minicamps Updates

Last week we reported on the ProCanes who took part in the NFL’s first week of mandatory minicamps. This week, the 23 remaining teams took to their turn at compulsory team activities. Here are some of the highlights from the past three days.

Greg Olsen Putting Behind Foot Injury. Rumors swirled this offseason that the former Hurricanes TE could make the move from the field to the announce booth. Instead, Olsen wants to go out on his own terms, appearing healthy and refreshed for the 2019 season.

The Chargers have established themselves as ProCanes West. LB Denzel Perryman, S Rayshawn Jenkins, WR Travis Benjamin and Michael Badgley have drawn positive reviews during OTAs and minicamp.

Dallas Cowboys WR Allen Hurns made his return to the field this week. David Helman of dallascowboys.com talked with the wideout as he works his way back from a gruesome ankle injury.

Staying with the Cowboys, rookie ProCane CB Mike Jackson scored an interception on day one of minicamp.

Seeing RB Frank Gore in a Buffalo Bills uniform still looks awkward to this scribe. The number four all-time leading rusher in league history took to the field with his new teammates in upstate New York.

Jacksonville Jaguars DE Calais Campbell has started a new one-on-one interview series called Mini Interviews.

Swoope to Receive the Hard Knock Treatment

On Tuesday the Oakland Raiders were officially announced to be the next team featured on HBO’s training camp documentary program Hard Knocks. The lone ProCane that has chance to star in the upcoming season will be former Canes Hoops star TE Erik Swoope.

The 305 Beat

“Is Somebody going to own it?” That’s a question asked by head coach Manny Diaz highlighted by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald regarding Miami’s QB race.

Christy Chirinos of the Sun Sentinel diesects why head coach Manny Diaz believes that his QB decision is a good problem to have almost a month out from training camp.

Manny Diaz and his staff continue to build on their relationship with South Florida coaches at the grassroot levels. The Athletic’s Manny Navarro discusses how UM’s staff has gone about strengthening its presence in Broward County along with plenty of Canes notes.

The term “dream school” has been bandied about far too often on the recruiting trail as it pertains to the Hurricanes. However, David Wilson of the Miami Herald discusses why the phrase has meaning for three-star Gulliver Prep DT Westley Neal.

Canes BB Add Assistant Coach

On Wednesday Miami Men’s Basketball announced that Bill Courtney as the newest addition to head coach Jim Larrañaga’s staff. Courtney worked as an assistant for Larrañaga coaching tenure with George Mason and Bowling Green from 1996-2005.

Non-Revenue Roundup

Miami Track & Field Hauls in All-American Honors

With the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the books the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced their All-American selections. Miami hauled in an impressive 17 All-American selections (4 First-Team, 11 Second-Team, 2 AA Honorable Mentions). You can find all the Canes who made the All-American team in this hurricanesports.com article outlining the accomplishment of each individual.

Go Canes and Have a Great Day!