After committing to the Canes 10 months ago, Duncan U. Fletcher 4-star WR Jeremiah Payton finally signed his paperwork last week to officially become a Miami Hurricane. With the majority of his incoming class now set, Payton gave his thoughts on how Surge19 looks to him right now.
“I think there’s some really good things in store,” Payton said of his classmates. “Especially on the defensive side, we got a lot of good defensive players leaving to go to the NFL this season. So, coming in, I think we’re going to be a pretty strong team with a lot of young talent. These next 3 or 4 years are going to be great.”
Even with schools like Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Florida extending offers to him, Payton felt deep down that he was meant to be a Hurricane. How did he know Miami was the right place for him?
“Just basically the coaches. They came after me before I even stepped foot on a varsity football field to play a game,” Payton said. “Just being loyal basically. I’ve been talking to a lot of people and they ask me about that. It’s just being loyal to people that was loyal to you. Also, being able to go in and make a big impact for a team. It wasn’t because they were playing well last year; they definitely went through struggles this year, everybody goes through struggles. And also Coach (Ron) Dugans saying all the true stuff and me watching everything he said come true.”
For Payton, that loyalty went both ways. After he pledged to UM, Payton did not take visits to any other schools and essentially shut his process down, something that’s becoming increasingly rare in the world of recruiting at present.
“It’s hard to be able to deal with a whole bunch of people at one time, having to leave to go to places far out to take visits. It’s kind of a difficult thing,” Payton said.
“I think it’s by choice. I’m not going to say some kids aren’t loyal; it’s good sometimes to keep your options open, because you never know what could happen possibly. But it’s up to the person.”
On the final weekend of recruiting before the dead period, Payton joined most of the class of 2019 commits and other high priority targets on campus at Miami for his official visit. Payton spent his time furthering his bond with the coaches and players, but the best part about the trip?
“The food (laughs),” Payton said.
“But other than that, we sat down and listened to some Canes back from when I was younger. It’s called ‘UConnect’. Just the camaraderie and just listening to them talk about playing and graduating from the U. You could tell you’re always set up in places where you can succeed even after you leave.”
Payton watched UM struggled to a 7-5 record during the regular season this year. A talented WR corps didn’t exactly equate to great production for the Canes in 2018 and, with some unexpected early departures, there is plenty of available playing time at the position for a hungry underclassman next year.
“Yeah, I saw all the games, but when I’m watching the games, I wasn’t necessarily ‘watching the games’,” Payton said. “I was more watching coach Dugans and how the offense was running, and more of how coach Dugans ran his rotation.”
As an early enrollee, Payton will be on campus in Miami next month and will participate in spring ball. With the head start, Payton hopes it will give him the advantage he needs to see the field in his first season at UM, but he is not opposed to waiting his turn if necessary.
“I have high hopes for it,” Payton said on his freshman season. “Definitely ready for whatever. If I’ve got to be patient, then I’ve got to be patient. If I go in and play, I go in and play. But I definitely have real high expectations one way or the other and I’m going to do whatever I can.”
And his message for the Canes’ fans out there that have followed his recruitment?
“Stay tuned in, there’s some big stuff coming. I’m definitely trying to help out on the offensive end, and I’m on my way.”
“I think there’s some really good things in store,” Payton said of his classmates. “Especially on the defensive side, we got a lot of good defensive players leaving to go to the NFL this season. So, coming in, I think we’re going to be a pretty strong team with a lot of young talent. These next 3 or 4 years are going to be great.”
Even with schools like Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Florida extending offers to him, Payton felt deep down that he was meant to be a Hurricane. How did he know Miami was the right place for him?
“Just basically the coaches. They came after me before I even stepped foot on a varsity football field to play a game,” Payton said. “Just being loyal basically. I’ve been talking to a lot of people and they ask me about that. It’s just being loyal to people that was loyal to you. Also, being able to go in and make a big impact for a team. It wasn’t because they were playing well last year; they definitely went through struggles this year, everybody goes through struggles. And also Coach (Ron) Dugans saying all the true stuff and me watching everything he said come true.”
For Payton, that loyalty went both ways. After he pledged to UM, Payton did not take visits to any other schools and essentially shut his process down, something that’s becoming increasingly rare in the world of recruiting at present.
“It’s hard to be able to deal with a whole bunch of people at one time, having to leave to go to places far out to take visits. It’s kind of a difficult thing,” Payton said.
“I think it’s by choice. I’m not going to say some kids aren’t loyal; it’s good sometimes to keep your options open, because you never know what could happen possibly. But it’s up to the person.”
On the final weekend of recruiting before the dead period, Payton joined most of the class of 2019 commits and other high priority targets on campus at Miami for his official visit. Payton spent his time furthering his bond with the coaches and players, but the best part about the trip?
“The food (laughs),” Payton said.
“But other than that, we sat down and listened to some Canes back from when I was younger. It’s called ‘UConnect’. Just the camaraderie and just listening to them talk about playing and graduating from the U. You could tell you’re always set up in places where you can succeed even after you leave.”
Payton watched UM struggled to a 7-5 record during the regular season this year. A talented WR corps didn’t exactly equate to great production for the Canes in 2018 and, with some unexpected early departures, there is plenty of available playing time at the position for a hungry underclassman next year.
“Yeah, I saw all the games, but when I’m watching the games, I wasn’t necessarily ‘watching the games’,” Payton said. “I was more watching coach Dugans and how the offense was running, and more of how coach Dugans ran his rotation.”
As an early enrollee, Payton will be on campus in Miami next month and will participate in spring ball. With the head start, Payton hopes it will give him the advantage he needs to see the field in his first season at UM, but he is not opposed to waiting his turn if necessary.
“I have high hopes for it,” Payton said on his freshman season. “Definitely ready for whatever. If I’ve got to be patient, then I’ve got to be patient. If I go in and play, I go in and play. But I definitely have real high expectations one way or the other and I’m going to do whatever I can.”
And his message for the Canes’ fans out there that have followed his recruitment?
“Stay tuned in, there’s some big stuff coming. I’m definitely trying to help out on the offensive end, and I’m on my way.”
