DL Daylen Russell commits to Miami

May 27, 2023

Daylen Russell, defensive lineman from Columbus and one of Miami-Dade County's most productive defensive players, has pledged to play for the Miami Hurricanes. Russell chose Miami over Louisville and Nebraska.

Russell, who stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 270 pounds, marks the ninth commitment to the Hurricanes' 2024 recruiting class, and he is the fourth player from South Florida to join the roster. He is the reigning Miami-Dade County Defensive Player of the Year and was instrumental in leading the Explorers to their second state championship last year. Russell recorded 62 tackles, eight tackles for loss and eight sacks along with a standout performance in the state title game.

Russell joins three-star running back Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, four-star wide receiver Chance Robinson from St. Thomas Aquinas, and three-star Central linebacker Vince Shavers as 2024 commits from Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Russell’s commitment is yet another tie between UM and Columbus High School, the alma mater of Mario Cristobal, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal and general manager Alonzo Highsmith.

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TexasCane90

Dec 8, 2023

If kid is signing then I hope he peeps this board for bulletin board material to push himself

BostonCanes47

Dec 8, 2023

I don’t hate it as a 3rd or 4th DT but his frame looks maxed out to me

He’s going to be the Corey Flagg of the DT room which I’m all for

C
CT Cane 44

Dec 8, 2023

He looks quicker then last years film showed and he does look 270ish

Dec 9, 2023

Canesfreak said:
Boys told me this cat was too small as well. SmhView attachment 270507

Tell me these two are close to similar players lol

T
TheReturn2023

Dec 9, 2023

Number1CanesFan said:
Your statement doesn’t make sense. Do you know how many DTs are 6'1-6'2? A lot. Even at the NFL level. Aaron Donald is 6'1". DTs play with leverage. OL and DEs play with reach.

Too many fans hung up on star ratings. Did you know that Russel was Dade County Defensive Player of the Year as a junior? By all accounts, he's having an even better senior year.

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/all-county-sports/article269576747.html

Eddie, the problem is that Russell has a small frame. His ceiling is very low. The best we can hope for is for him to contribute 2-3 years in the future.

Canesfreak

Dec 9, 2023

E1k said:
Tell me these two are close to similar players lol

Don’t have to convince me. My point was, don’t go after a DT because he is a bit undersized. Measurables don’t tell the whole story. I’m not gonna go into receipts, but I was a huge Klancey fan in HS.

Morey161

Dec 9, 2023

Was at the Columbus game yesterday and this kid is thick as ****. Could easily see someone like him sitting for a few years and being a solid contributor. He was listening to coaches the entire time when the defense was off the field. Give me kids like this to fill out a roster. Plazz was awesome but the WR for Mandarin was easily the best player on the field(I know he is committed to Alabama and QB is FSU).

C
canesmang1

Dec 9, 2023

Morey161 said:
Was at the Columbus game yesterday and this kid is thick as ****. Could easily see someone like him sitting for a few years and being a solid contributor. He was listening to coaches the entire time when the defense was off the field. Give me kids like this to fill out a roster. Plazz was awesome but the WR for Mandarin was easily the best player on the field(I know he is committed to Alabama and QB is FSU).

unfortunately kids dont sit to develop anymore, he will just transfer off

Ghandi

Dec 9, 2023

TheReturn2023 said:
Eddie, the problem is that Russell has a small frame. His ceiling is very low. The best we can hope for is for him to contribute 2-3 years in the future.

It’s not just the small frame, he’s got short arms for a guy who’s already at a disadvantage.

It’s their jobs, their roster. If it was mine, I wouldn’t bring him here.

Dec 9, 2023

Canesfreak said:
Don’t have to convince me. My point was, don’t go after a DT because he is a bit undersized. Measurables don’t tell the whole story. I’m not gonna go into receipts, but I was a huge Klancey fan in HS.

Measurables don’t tell the whole story but there is a baseline on what measurables u should target for each position. Nothing is cut and dry but size is an important factor in football, there is decades of evidence to prove it.

HurricanesR1

Dec 9, 2023

He could be a solid rotational DT and I don't mind him being #3 at his position in the current class.

No_Fly_Zone

Dec 9, 2023

Canesfreak said:
Don’t have to convince me. My point was, don’t go after a DT because he is a bit undersized. Measurables don’t tell the whole story. I’m not gonna go into receipts, but I was a huge Klancey fan in HS.

I was also a fan of Calijah Kancey, but recognize he was a freak who at 6'1" 280 lbs. w/ short arms made up for it with elite burst, agility, and balance (7 second 3-cone and 4.67 40) and a great motor. I don't see those elite traits with Russell, though he doesn't take plays off and is productive.

TheOriginalCane

Dec 9, 2023

TheU32 said:
Is he about to be a two time dude player of the year? I honestly like this recruit a lot

TheOriginalCane

Dec 9, 2023

Canesfreak said:
Don’t have to convince me. My point was, don’t go after a DT because he is a bit undersized. Measurables don’t tell the whole story. I’m not gonna go into receipts, but I was a huge Klancey fan in HS.

Agreed.

The problem that a lot of posters have (NOT you) is confusing "citing an example" with "making a direct comparison" whenever anyone tosses a name like Kancey into the conversation.

I'm not saying that Russell and Kancey are comparable in any way, but both MIGHT end up being examples of kids who outplay their projections. For whatever reasons, skillsets, attributes, motors, etc.

Dec 9, 2023

This guy reminds me of Lawrence Taylor

gogeta4

Dec 9, 2023

Canesfreak said:
I was one of his advocates. Apparently he underwhelmed the Staff at Paradise Camp. My point is, half the attacks on this board against Russell are based on his measurables, which is why I made the Kancey comparison.

I was at that camp they just didnt like the size. I was at the camp with a former um coach at the time that was the word he stated when asked as calijah walked up.

Calijah was more athletic he played offense, and his technique hand work always was legit.

Russel has a chance as a 3 tech based on his body type be needs a shirt and work.

TexasCane90

Dec 9, 2023

Canesfreak said:
Don’t have to convince me. My point was, don’t go after a DT because he is a bit undersized. Measurables don’t tell the whole story. I’m not gonna go into receipts, but I was a huge Klancey fan in HS.

Agree… if the staff which includes Jason Taylor like him enough over say a portal kid who might have a couple years like that kid from South Carolina who has 3 years fine so be it…

Measurables are very important but at the end of the day this isn’t a **** NFL minor league team where we don’t ballers like Kancey, Tutu, or Asante Samuel jr because they don’t fit NFL molds…

G
goblin deez nuts

Dec 9, 2023

Morey161 said:
Was at the Columbus game yesterday and this kid is thick as ****. Could easily see someone like him sitting for a few years and being a solid contributor. He was listening to coaches the entire time when the defense was off the field. Give me kids like this to fill out a roster. Plazz was awesome but the WR for Mandarin was easily the best player on the field(I know he is committed to Alabama and QB is FSU).

Ffrench is good. I can't believe he is only a junior. Feels like he has been in hs for 10 yrs.

Y
Yoyo82

Dec 16, 2023

One thing I like about these 3* evals is that this is how you build depth. When you sign high ranking kids only they all expect to play/start by year 2 or they'll hit the portal.. The 3* kids are typically (or at least more likely) willing to hang out for an extra year or 2 and "wait their turn". So they're the guys who you see flourish in years 3 and 4.