Recruiting roundup: 4-star DL likes Miami, hoops official visit breakdown
By Matt Porter Aug 28, 2015
A few notes on Hurricanes recruiting to kick off your weekend …
* Four-star defensive tackle Darius Whitfield (6-1, 268), from Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s High, told Canesport he plans to choose between UM, South Carolina, Missouri and Florida on Oct. 13. He wants to take an official visit to UM before then.
* Four-star wide receiver Freddie Swain will visit Tennessee Oct. 10 and Miami Oct. 17, Scout reported. Swain (6-0, 177), from Citra-North Marion High, is rated the No. 3 receiver in Florida. Florida and USC are reportedly contenders. His teammate, uncommitted three-star defensive end Jordan Woods, will accompany Swain to UM.
* Rivals analyst Rob Cassidy on recent UM commit Jawaan Taylor, a three-star offensive lineman from Cocoa High: “They’ve got to like his power. That’s what pops off the page when you see him, his upper-body strength … he carries some bad weight, but the raw tools are there and he moves his feet well for someone 330 pounds.” Cassidy predicted a redshirt season as a freshman for Taylor, so Miami can “reshape him.”
* The Hurricanes are the frontrunner to land three-star offensive tackle Brandon Walton, of Seminole High, according to Canesport. Walton (6-5, 285) said he likes Miami more than Vanderbilt, one other school he’ll visit this fall. Walton’s other major-conference offer is from Kentucky.
* UM safety commit James Pierre said UNC is making a run at him. He told Canesport the Hurricanes are “definitely at the top” but there’s a “small chance” he could flip to the Tar Heels. Pierre (6-2, 170), a three-star recruit, said North Carolina State, West Virginia and Bowling Green are recruiting him the hardest, aside from UM.
* Canesport reported UM is working hard to flip Eddy Pineiro, one of the top kickers in the nation. Pineiro (6-1, 180), from North Miami Beach, is an Alabama commit. He attends ASA College Miami, where he has hit from as far as 73 yards in training sessions. He told Canesport his family is “all UM fans,” but he grew up rooting for the Crimson Tide.
* Hoops news: three of the Hurricanes’ top targets in the 2016 class set their official visit dates to Miami. Tampa Prep’s Juwan Durham (6-9, 200), the No. 38 player in the class and ninth among power forwards by ESPN, will visit Sept. 18. Miami Norland standout Dewan Huell (6-9, 230), ranked 21st nationally and No. 5 among power forwards, arrives Oct. 2. Lima (Oh.) Senior High point guard Xavier Simpson (5-11), ranked 12th among point guards and 66th nationally, comes Oct. 10.
