Another highly-rated recruit doesn’t work out for Canes, leaves. Some perspective on this
One question asked by Miami Hurricanes fans, over the past decade, is why generally highly-rated recruiting classes have not translated into more winning.
Here’s one of several factors: Sometimes highly-rated recruits simply don’t work out.
Twice this week, two such recruits decided to leave UM after barely playing in two years here.
Former four-star edge player Cyrus Moss became the latest on Wednesday. He follows Tuesday’s departure of four-star tight end Jaleel Skinner. Both entered the transfer portal.
247 Sports rated Moss the 56th best player overall and the sixth best edge prospect in the 2022 class.
But he played in just three games as a freshman and two games this season. He ends his UM career with one total tackle and just 50 snaps on defense, including 27 this season.
“Thank you Miami!” Moss wrote on social media. “I am forever grateful for the opportunity. I won’t forget the family I’ve gained here. I wish nothing but the best to the (Hurricanes) organization going forward.”
Moss was listed at 215 pounds, and lack of bulk and strength hampered him at Miami.
“Cyrus is a talented guy,” UM defensive line coach Jason Taylor said during the offseason. “He’s struggled trying to keep weight on, and I can relate to that.”
Alabama, Florida, Clemson, FSU and Notre Dame were among Moss’ other offers coming out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
Like Moss, Skinner also was a coveted prospect; 247 rated him the 100th best player in the nation and the No. 4 tight end in 2022.
But after catching 9 passes for 129 yards in nine games as a freshman, he played only 25 offensive snaps this season and had one catch for nine yards. He picked UM over an offer from Alabama.
Skinner and Moss join a lengthy list of former Hurricanes whose performance at UM never measured up to their recruiting pedigree, at least over the past 15 years.
Since 2018, that list includes -- among others -- four-star running backs Lorenzo Lingard and Thad Franklin and Cody Brown; four-star quarterback Jarren Williams; four-star linebacker Avery Huff; four-star safety Avantae Williams; four-star cornerbacks Isaiah Dunson and Khamauri Rogers and four-star receivers Michael Redding, Jeremiah Payton and Romello Brinson.
Most of those players transferred after not making as big an impact at Miami as their recruiting evaluation would suggest. Redding remains on the team.
It’s important to note that many top programs lose four-star recruits, and many of those players simply don’t work out. But the fact that a significant percentage of them hasn’t worked out for Miami has been one of many factors contributing to the modest on-field success in recent years.
Since 2018, UM’s recruiting classes over the past six years have been ranked 8th 17th, 11th, 11th, 13th and 8th by 247 Sports.
But UM is just 40-33 over that period.
Moss is the eighth Hurricanes player to depart since the regular season ended. Of those eight, four turned pro: Leonard Taylor, Javion Cohen, Kamren Kinchens and James Williams.
