Recovery Speed: Miami Hurricanes Coach CB Mike Rumph and Annual Late Commits

In what has become reoccurring expectation among fans of the Miami Hurricanes, Coach Mike Rumph, current Cornerbacks’ coach, has netted a commitment from a cornerback down the stretch of each recruiting cycle during his tenure at Miami.

As well documented, the big names that fans have longed to see come in at the position always seem to alluded the Canes. Each season Miami chased a Tyson Campbell or a C.J. Henderson only to be left at the alter. This is a regular trigger for those that follow Miami recruitment. But yet, every season, a late commit seems to quell the waters and round out the cornerback class for that season. (Save for Malek Young, find a Recruiting Notebook for Each Player by clicking there names at the beginning of each section. )

2016

Malek Young

Commitment Date - January 15th, 2016

Sports Illustrated

Malek young was coach Rumph’s very first commit at the University of Miami. The commitment was viewed as a great job of recruiting by Rumph who had only been on staff 2 weeks prior to Young’s commitment. The 5’9 cornerback out of Coconut Creek High was heavily considering overtures from Ohio St. before committing to the U. A fan favorite, the diminutive CB played well above his stature in winning over the fan base with his high football IQ and penchant for the big play. Unfortunately, Young would be forced to retire following an injury early in the 2017 Orange Bowl. He will always be remembered as a great Canes player and the FIRST to where the Turnover Chain with the first interception 2017 season.

2017

Jhavonte Dean

Commitment Date - January 31st, 2017

Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Jhavonte Dean was the bookend to a solid defensive back class in 2017. The class included Trajan Bandy, Deejay Dallas, Amari Carter and Derrick Smith. Dean was viewed as an experienced addition to the Miami Hurricanes cornerbacks room. This was similarly seen as good pull by Rumph, which saw Dean decommit from Alabama as the top Juco CB of the 2017 cycle only to commit to Miami 10 days later. The former South Dade HS product had an up and down track record during his time at Miami, but was able to utilize Rumph’s coaching into a spot on the Browns practice squad following the 2019 and is currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2018

Nigel Bethel

Commitment Date - January 22nd, 2018

Nigel Bethel, the lengthy speedster from Hurricanes pipeline school Miami Northwestern, had quite a journey through his 2018 recruiting cycle. Previously a local star among following recruiting, Bethel splashed onto the scene at the 2017 Paradise Camp displaying his rare speed and physicality at cornerback. However, as alluded to earlier, it was year that featured a chase of not one, but TWO former players under Mike Rumph during his time as American Heritage head coach, Pat Surtain Jr. and Tyson Campbell. While Miami put almost all their attention into the two players that would spurn the Canes, inevitably for Alabama and Georgia respectively, Bethel sat in the background, rumored to be a vaunted silent commit and plan B for the Canes. It was during this chase however, that Bethel seemingly came of the board as he committed to rival Florida on November 5th. However, following the departure of interim Head Coach Randy Shannon to become UCF’s defensive Coordinator, Bethel decommitted from the Florida Gators on December 5th. It wasn’t until Miami learned of Malek Young’s career ending injury that they reignited talks with Bethel. Almost two following the Young news Bethel committed to the Canes on January 22nd. His tenure at Miami would be short lived, as Bethel transferred to the Colorado Buffaloes prior to the 2019 season.

2019

Christian Williams

Commitment Date: February 6th, 2019 - National Signing Day

Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Another year, another late pull. This, more than the others was a true surprise to the Canes faithful. Previously a soft Alabama commit for nearly a year, the current Canes sophomore helped Rumph pull off the unthinkable by choosing Miami over hometown Alabama and LSU in a signing day coup during Daphne High’s signing ceremony. Rumph gaining a win over two local powerhouses was viewed as major win and hopefully a sustained improvement in the Canes ability to recruit cornerbacks. The lengthy corner was a ranked as the 20th CB of the 2019 class and is expected to be a steady contributor to the 2020 edition of the Miami Hurricanes.

2020

Isaiah Dunson

Commitment Date - January 19th, 2020

247 Sports

Isaiah Dunson of Tucker High truly came on the radar for Coach Rumph and Miami following the exodus of fans out of Doak Campbell all season and recruits from the Florida State class follow Willie Taggart’s firing. Another lengthy and athletic cornerback, a Rumph special to a fault, (Rumph regularly seeks out tall, long athletes, sometimes to the detriment of short players) Dunson comes to the U out of Tucker, Georgia. A 2 way player, Dunson follows in a long line of cornerback recruits to decommit elsewhere and join the squad in the last stretch of the season. Ranked as the 21st cornerback nationally by 247 sports, Dunson adds an athletic and promising player to a budding CB room for Coach Rumph.