2022 Fort Pierce Westwood (FL) 3-star CB James Monds III earned a Miami Hurricanes offer in late March from cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph, and the rising junior corner was excited by the news.
“It was pretty cool because everyone growing up in South Florida is pretty much a Miami fan, they’ve had legends like Edgerrin James and Ed Reed,” Monds III said. “Coach Rumph said he really liked my game. He was basically giving me the rundown on what defense they run and how they use their scheme to fit their corners. He was telling me they’ll use 5 corners on the field sometimes because of how it’s become such a passing game. He thinks I can fit real well at the corner position playing man-to-man, or even switching it up and playing some zone.”
Monds III has already visited the Hurricanes three times in the past for game day visits, the most recent of which was last year’s Georgia Tech loss that featured visit multiple return TD’s by Georgia Tech and many missed FG’s by the Canes.
“I liked how everyone was focused in when it was ‘go time’, nobody was messing around,” Monds III said. “Everyone was focused and ready to play. It was a pretty crazy game.”
With the UM offer now in hand, Monds III expects UM to be a factor in his recruitment going forward.
“I really like the culture of Miami and how crazy their fans are,” Monds III said. “I really like Miami’s scheme because I feel like it fits me really well. Also their colors are iconic.”
Once the campus shutdowns end, Monds III is looking to see Miami’s campus for the first time, and he is also planning trips to Virginia Tech, Indiana, West Virginia, and Michigan State as well. All those schools have offered, and Monds III also has early bids from programs such as Penn State, Tennessee, and Arizona as well.
“So far, I’ve just been taking everything in, and once schools open up, I’ll take a bunch of unofficials and see where I can fit,” Monds III said. “By the end of my junior year, I’ll narrow them all down to my top 10, then top 5, take all my officials from there, and then commit sometime senior year.”
Michigan State has been considered an early contender for Monds III, and Spartans' cornerbacks coach Harlon Barnett has been on him hard since offering in April.
“I like how they’re going to use me in their game plan, and I also like the corners coach a lot,” Monds III said of MSU. “I feel like he’s a good coach and can add some stuff to my game.”
In evaluating his options, Monds III feels education and defensive playing style will be key factors for him in choosing a school.
“I’ll be looking at the academic aspect, as well as how they’re going to use me and how fast I can get on the field,” Monds III said.
In 2019 during his sophomore year, the 5-10 170 pound prospect recorded a productive 40 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 INT, 10 PBU, 2 FF, and 3 defensive TD’s. Monds III also comes from a family of both college and professional football players, with his father James playing at Toledo and Bethune-Cookman and his cousin Mario playing at the University of Cincinnati and with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. Monds III’s uncle Wonder also played for Nebraska and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL, while his cousin Wonderful played college ball at Buffalo and FIU.
“I’d describe myself as an all-around ballhawk who can read the game. I feel like I can play man or zone, whatever is needed in that situation. I also feel like I add another dimension to the game as a defensive back because I can return the ball.”
“It was pretty cool because everyone growing up in South Florida is pretty much a Miami fan, they’ve had legends like Edgerrin James and Ed Reed,” Monds III said. “Coach Rumph said he really liked my game. He was basically giving me the rundown on what defense they run and how they use their scheme to fit their corners. He was telling me they’ll use 5 corners on the field sometimes because of how it’s become such a passing game. He thinks I can fit real well at the corner position playing man-to-man, or even switching it up and playing some zone.”
Monds III has already visited the Hurricanes three times in the past for game day visits, the most recent of which was last year’s Georgia Tech loss that featured visit multiple return TD’s by Georgia Tech and many missed FG’s by the Canes.
“I liked how everyone was focused in when it was ‘go time’, nobody was messing around,” Monds III said. “Everyone was focused and ready to play. It was a pretty crazy game.”
With the UM offer now in hand, Monds III expects UM to be a factor in his recruitment going forward.
“I really like the culture of Miami and how crazy their fans are,” Monds III said. “I really like Miami’s scheme because I feel like it fits me really well. Also their colors are iconic.”
Once the campus shutdowns end, Monds III is looking to see Miami’s campus for the first time, and he is also planning trips to Virginia Tech, Indiana, West Virginia, and Michigan State as well. All those schools have offered, and Monds III also has early bids from programs such as Penn State, Tennessee, and Arizona as well.
“So far, I’ve just been taking everything in, and once schools open up, I’ll take a bunch of unofficials and see where I can fit,” Monds III said. “By the end of my junior year, I’ll narrow them all down to my top 10, then top 5, take all my officials from there, and then commit sometime senior year.”
Michigan State has been considered an early contender for Monds III, and Spartans' cornerbacks coach Harlon Barnett has been on him hard since offering in April.
“I like how they’re going to use me in their game plan, and I also like the corners coach a lot,” Monds III said of MSU. “I feel like he’s a good coach and can add some stuff to my game.”
In evaluating his options, Monds III feels education and defensive playing style will be key factors for him in choosing a school.
“I’ll be looking at the academic aspect, as well as how they’re going to use me and how fast I can get on the field,” Monds III said.
In 2019 during his sophomore year, the 5-10 170 pound prospect recorded a productive 40 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 INT, 10 PBU, 2 FF, and 3 defensive TD’s. Monds III also comes from a family of both college and professional football players, with his father James playing at Toledo and Bethune-Cookman and his cousin Mario playing at the University of Cincinnati and with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. Monds III’s uncle Wonder also played for Nebraska and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL, while his cousin Wonderful played college ball at Buffalo and FIU.
“I’d describe myself as an all-around ballhawk who can read the game. I feel like I can play man or zone, whatever is needed in that situation. I also feel like I add another dimension to the game as a defensive back because I can return the ball.”
