2021 Plantation (FL) WR Jacolby George returned to the class and committed to the Miami Hurricanes for a second time earlier today.
The 5-11 160 pounder is currently a consensus 4-star prospect in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, George is the #178 player nationally in 2021, the #34 WR in the country, and the #26 player in Florida. His commitment moved UM’s class ranking on 247Sports up to #11 in the nation and to #12 on Rivals.
The Player
George broke out as a sophomore in 2018 for Plantation, increasing his profile even more during the following spring and summer and earning his first taste of P5 attention. He later landed his Miami offer after putting on a dominating performance during the summer in the UM 7-on-7 tournaments on campus in front of the coaching staff. After returning for Paradise Camp two weeks later, George felt that Miami was the place for him and gave his commitment to the staff. George later backed off his commitment in November, telling CIS that the poor offense and QB play that Miami showed in 2019 was the main reason, but his relationship with Miami never wavered and even seemed to grow when UM changed up their offense over the offseason. After a brief flirtation with Penn State and former UM receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield, George again decided his place was at Miami today. He chose the Canes over PSU, WVU, Georgia Tech, Pitt, and UCF.
George shows he can make plays both on the outside and the inside, but probably profiles best as a slot at the next level. Posted a 4.72 40 time, a 4.69 shuttle, and a 32 inch vertical at the Opening Miami Regional in February 2019. George had 46 catches for 1,030 yards last season, a whopping 22.4 ypc clip, and also had a nose for the endzone in grabbing 12 TD passes. He also was a threat on the ground via reverses and jet sweeps, putting up 191 rushing yards on just 6 attempts (31.8 ypc) and 3 rushing TD’s. His efforts helped him make first team All-Broward as a junior.
George is not a burner by any means, but there are subtleties in his game that allow him to have success and he is very good at maximizing his ability. Seems faster on tape and in person because of his great change of direction and quickness getting in and out of his breaks, and he was a frequent top performer at camps this spring before the quarantines. His ability to win battles for contested passes stands out, as well as pinpoint route running to create separation.
Demonstrates he can take a quick pass and go the distance, and he is a threat from all over the field. His routes feature sharp and relentless angles designed to maximize the space between him and his defender. Instinctively finds open areas on the field; adept at running the scramble drill when his QB breaks the pocket and knows how to exploit gaps in zone coverage. Strong at breaking off and converting comeback routes just before the sticks. Adding those factors to great hands and body control shows that he is an advanced receiver prospect for his age. Will need to improve his blocking at the next level. Plenty of room to fill out his slight frame at this stage, something that could hamper him against aggressive press coverage early in his career. Ultimately, George has all the traits to really make magic in the slot at the next level.
The Class
George’s commitment brings the total class numbers to 15 and he is the first wide receiver commit in the 2021 class. After taking 4 receivers last class, UM will likely take 3 WR’s in 2021 as the new offensive coaches try to mold the roster in their image. As is tradition in South Florida, the Hurricanes will never be lacking for options at WR, and that has proven to be the case this cycle as well.
Miami Northwestern (FL) 4-star WR Romello Brinson and Monarch (FL) 3-star WR Jaden Alexis continue to remain Miami's “1A and 1B” top targets at the position. UM would like nothing more than to close out the class with these two, but ending up with just one seems more realistic at this time. Brinson is a former commit that recently put the Canes in his top 5, although some see Texas A&M currently in the pole position, while Alexis has talked extremely highly of UM in terms of the new offense and as a school he grew up loving. Despite that, some see Texas as the program out in front for Alexis right now. Even though they might be slightly behind at this point for both, I expect UM to relentlessly recruit the pair until they are told no.
If Miami misses on one or both, they are still involved with a few other talented WR’s including Comeaux (LA) 4-star WR Malik Nabers and Miami Palmetto (FL) 3-star Brashard Smith. The Canes are seen by some to be leading for Nabers, but UM will have to hold on for a few months as Nabers told CIS that he isn't planning to make a decision until during his senior season, while sources close to Smith told CIS that he has quickly warmed up to the idea of staying home since his decommitment from UF last month. Miami sees Miami Central (FL) 4-star ATH Yulkeith Brown as a player that can line up at both receiver and running back, and he has long-favored LSU and Miami as his unofficial top 2.
Miami is still technically involved with Edgewater (FL) 4-star Christian Leary, Trinity Christian Academy (FL) 4-star Marcus Burke, and Palmetto Ridge (FL) 3-star Kamonte Grimes, although all three seem like longshots at this point due to lack of interest on their part or just simply being behind too many other options. Leary's interest in Miami has bounced back and forth, as he left the Canes out of his top group multiple times before saying he plans to make a visit to UM after the quarantines are over, while Burke has been seen as a heavy UF lean for months. Grimes remains an intriguing option that WR coach Rob Likens is personally very high on, but UM would have to strike out on a few players for him to be a take at this point.
The Team
Adding quality receivers to the roster takes on that much more of an importance with Lashlee’s spread offense now in town, as pass catchers are expected to have a bigger role in his scheme than in years past at Miami. After taking 4 receivers in 2020, Lashlee and Likens will look to continue to reshape the roster with this position group in the coming years.
With the type of talent Miami is going to have at WR, George will have to be well-prepared both mentally and physically if he wants to crack the rotation as a freshman, as the competition will be fierce for reps. Still, even though the overall upside is there at WR, UM doesn’t really have a proven group of returnees at the position going into 2020, so reps are going to be up for grabs and it could be anyone that impresses the new coaches and develops into UM’s go-to receiver this year. By the time George hits campus in 2021, the landscape will be a little more clear and there is a good chance George has to wait his turn as he improves his frame. At the end of the day, though, George profiles as the type of player that is overlooked early in his career due to average physical traits, yet still develops into a very good ACC player by the end of his tenure in college.
The 5-11 160 pounder is currently a consensus 4-star prospect in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, George is the #178 player nationally in 2021, the #34 WR in the country, and the #26 player in Florida. His commitment moved UM’s class ranking on 247Sports up to #11 in the nation and to #12 on Rivals.
The Player
George broke out as a sophomore in 2018 for Plantation, increasing his profile even more during the following spring and summer and earning his first taste of P5 attention. He later landed his Miami offer after putting on a dominating performance during the summer in the UM 7-on-7 tournaments on campus in front of the coaching staff. After returning for Paradise Camp two weeks later, George felt that Miami was the place for him and gave his commitment to the staff. George later backed off his commitment in November, telling CIS that the poor offense and QB play that Miami showed in 2019 was the main reason, but his relationship with Miami never wavered and even seemed to grow when UM changed up their offense over the offseason. After a brief flirtation with Penn State and former UM receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield, George again decided his place was at Miami today. He chose the Canes over PSU, WVU, Georgia Tech, Pitt, and UCF.
George shows he can make plays both on the outside and the inside, but probably profiles best as a slot at the next level. Posted a 4.72 40 time, a 4.69 shuttle, and a 32 inch vertical at the Opening Miami Regional in February 2019. George had 46 catches for 1,030 yards last season, a whopping 22.4 ypc clip, and also had a nose for the endzone in grabbing 12 TD passes. He also was a threat on the ground via reverses and jet sweeps, putting up 191 rushing yards on just 6 attempts (31.8 ypc) and 3 rushing TD’s. His efforts helped him make first team All-Broward as a junior.
George is not a burner by any means, but there are subtleties in his game that allow him to have success and he is very good at maximizing his ability. Seems faster on tape and in person because of his great change of direction and quickness getting in and out of his breaks, and he was a frequent top performer at camps this spring before the quarantines. His ability to win battles for contested passes stands out, as well as pinpoint route running to create separation.
Demonstrates he can take a quick pass and go the distance, and he is a threat from all over the field. His routes feature sharp and relentless angles designed to maximize the space between him and his defender. Instinctively finds open areas on the field; adept at running the scramble drill when his QB breaks the pocket and knows how to exploit gaps in zone coverage. Strong at breaking off and converting comeback routes just before the sticks. Adding those factors to great hands and body control shows that he is an advanced receiver prospect for his age. Will need to improve his blocking at the next level. Plenty of room to fill out his slight frame at this stage, something that could hamper him against aggressive press coverage early in his career. Ultimately, George has all the traits to really make magic in the slot at the next level.
The Class
George’s commitment brings the total class numbers to 15 and he is the first wide receiver commit in the 2021 class. After taking 4 receivers last class, UM will likely take 3 WR’s in 2021 as the new offensive coaches try to mold the roster in their image. As is tradition in South Florida, the Hurricanes will never be lacking for options at WR, and that has proven to be the case this cycle as well.
Miami Northwestern (FL) 4-star WR Romello Brinson and Monarch (FL) 3-star WR Jaden Alexis continue to remain Miami's “1A and 1B” top targets at the position. UM would like nothing more than to close out the class with these two, but ending up with just one seems more realistic at this time. Brinson is a former commit that recently put the Canes in his top 5, although some see Texas A&M currently in the pole position, while Alexis has talked extremely highly of UM in terms of the new offense and as a school he grew up loving. Despite that, some see Texas as the program out in front for Alexis right now. Even though they might be slightly behind at this point for both, I expect UM to relentlessly recruit the pair until they are told no.
If Miami misses on one or both, they are still involved with a few other talented WR’s including Comeaux (LA) 4-star WR Malik Nabers and Miami Palmetto (FL) 3-star Brashard Smith. The Canes are seen by some to be leading for Nabers, but UM will have to hold on for a few months as Nabers told CIS that he isn't planning to make a decision until during his senior season, while sources close to Smith told CIS that he has quickly warmed up to the idea of staying home since his decommitment from UF last month. Miami sees Miami Central (FL) 4-star ATH Yulkeith Brown as a player that can line up at both receiver and running back, and he has long-favored LSU and Miami as his unofficial top 2.
Miami is still technically involved with Edgewater (FL) 4-star Christian Leary, Trinity Christian Academy (FL) 4-star Marcus Burke, and Palmetto Ridge (FL) 3-star Kamonte Grimes, although all three seem like longshots at this point due to lack of interest on their part or just simply being behind too many other options. Leary's interest in Miami has bounced back and forth, as he left the Canes out of his top group multiple times before saying he plans to make a visit to UM after the quarantines are over, while Burke has been seen as a heavy UF lean for months. Grimes remains an intriguing option that WR coach Rob Likens is personally very high on, but UM would have to strike out on a few players for him to be a take at this point.
The Team
Adding quality receivers to the roster takes on that much more of an importance with Lashlee’s spread offense now in town, as pass catchers are expected to have a bigger role in his scheme than in years past at Miami. After taking 4 receivers in 2020, Lashlee and Likens will look to continue to reshape the roster with this position group in the coming years.
With the type of talent Miami is going to have at WR, George will have to be well-prepared both mentally and physically if he wants to crack the rotation as a freshman, as the competition will be fierce for reps. Still, even though the overall upside is there at WR, UM doesn’t really have a proven group of returnees at the position going into 2020, so reps are going to be up for grabs and it could be anyone that impresses the new coaches and develops into UM’s go-to receiver this year. By the time George hits campus in 2021, the landscape will be a little more clear and there is a good chance George has to wait his turn as he improves his frame. At the end of the day, though, George profiles as the type of player that is overlooked early in his career due to average physical traits, yet still develops into a very good ACC player by the end of his tenure in college.
