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With the dead period in effect, the Miami Hurricanes spent a ton of time last week evaluating junior film from the 2021 class. A prospect that caught the staff’s eye was Cardinal Newman (FL) LB Jaydon Hood, and for good reason - Hood put himself on the radar with a monster 2019 that included 115 tackles, 25 TFL, 7 sacks, 1 INT, 4 FF, and a TD.
“It was amazing, it was a really good year,” Hood said. “We lost first round of the playoffs to the Benjamin School, but we had a good run. We ended up 8-3, we beat a couple good teams, we beat Heritage (Delray). It was a good season. Personally, I want more tackles next year, I don’t want to stop at 115. I want 130 or 150, and I want to not miss a tackle. I think I’m going to work on my instincts, my footwork, my sideline-to sideline speed. Those are the goals I have for this off-season.”
UM certainly has recognized his talent, extending Hood an offer last Friday and making sure he felt like a priority by having the entire defensive staff on the call.
“I was in contact with coach (Ephraim) Banda the whole day, then my coach took me out of class and coach Banda FaceTimed me,” Hood began. “The whole defensive staff was there and I met all of them, they told me they loved my film. The defensive coordinator, coach (Blake) Baker, he was the one that offered me. It was amazing. Especially getting an offer from your home state, it’s a blessing.”
The 6-1 212 pound prospect has been a playmaker at inside linebacker for the Crusaders and Cardinal Newman head coach Joe Molina, and that’s exactly where the Canes see Hood at the next level.
“They definitely like me at inside linebacker,” Hood said. “They said they’d want to put a little more size on me. They said they want me there, that I’m a good fit for their team and their organization.”
Being a local recruit from West Palm Beach, Hood has plenty of experience with the Miami program in general, but he also has a personal tie to the school as well, and cites a former Hurricane as one of the players he models his game on.
“I definitely follow the team a lot. My mom’s an alumni,” Hood said. “It has a history of having great linebackers, and Shaq Quarterman was one of my favorite linebackers. The way he comes downhill and thumps, and his attitude, the way he leads the team. Just being able to be a part of that would be a great opportunity and a blessing.”
With an offer now in hand, a UM visit could be on the horizon for Hood, who has been invited to Miami’s scheduled Junior Day event set for next weekend.
“I’ve driven past the campus, but I’ve never actually visited,” Hood said. “I’m still trying to figure out with my family if I can go to the Junior Day event or not. But I’m definitely thinking about visiting.”
In terms of other programs after the skilled linebacker, Kentucky, Pitt, Washington State, and Maryland are some of the Power 5 schools that have already offered Hood, and he names a few more that could be on the verge of giving him a bid.
“Currently, Virginia Tech has been texting me,” Hood said. “Nebraska has been texting me, Rutgers has been texting me, Notre Dame, Penn State, Yale – I’m interested in the Ivy League schools too.”
Of his current offer list, it seems the Canes would have an early edge, but Hood made clear he is not in a rush to make a quick decision on his future.
“I’m keeping it open, but Miami would definitely be at the top right now,” Hood said. “I’m going to wait until next year to decide, I’m not going to verbally commit early. I still want to be able to receive offers from other schools, weigh my options, be smart.”
What are some factors Hood is looking for in a program?
“Definitely coaching style, I do like coaches that believe in 1-on-1 coaching and that are always there to help,” Hood said. “Certain academic programs, I’ll be looking into schools to see what they have and don’t have. Definitely just being able to be a leader on the team, being able to connect to the players easily. Just having a good connection and bond with the team.”
“It was amazing, it was a really good year,” Hood said. “We lost first round of the playoffs to the Benjamin School, but we had a good run. We ended up 8-3, we beat a couple good teams, we beat Heritage (Delray). It was a good season. Personally, I want more tackles next year, I don’t want to stop at 115. I want 130 or 150, and I want to not miss a tackle. I think I’m going to work on my instincts, my footwork, my sideline-to sideline speed. Those are the goals I have for this off-season.”
UM certainly has recognized his talent, extending Hood an offer last Friday and making sure he felt like a priority by having the entire defensive staff on the call.
“I was in contact with coach (Ephraim) Banda the whole day, then my coach took me out of class and coach Banda FaceTimed me,” Hood began. “The whole defensive staff was there and I met all of them, they told me they loved my film. The defensive coordinator, coach (Blake) Baker, he was the one that offered me. It was amazing. Especially getting an offer from your home state, it’s a blessing.”
The 6-1 212 pound prospect has been a playmaker at inside linebacker for the Crusaders and Cardinal Newman head coach Joe Molina, and that’s exactly where the Canes see Hood at the next level.
“They definitely like me at inside linebacker,” Hood said. “They said they’d want to put a little more size on me. They said they want me there, that I’m a good fit for their team and their organization.”
Being a local recruit from West Palm Beach, Hood has plenty of experience with the Miami program in general, but he also has a personal tie to the school as well, and cites a former Hurricane as one of the players he models his game on.
“I definitely follow the team a lot. My mom’s an alumni,” Hood said. “It has a history of having great linebackers, and Shaq Quarterman was one of my favorite linebackers. The way he comes downhill and thumps, and his attitude, the way he leads the team. Just being able to be a part of that would be a great opportunity and a blessing.”
With an offer now in hand, a UM visit could be on the horizon for Hood, who has been invited to Miami’s scheduled Junior Day event set for next weekend.
“I’ve driven past the campus, but I’ve never actually visited,” Hood said. “I’m still trying to figure out with my family if I can go to the Junior Day event or not. But I’m definitely thinking about visiting.”
In terms of other programs after the skilled linebacker, Kentucky, Pitt, Washington State, and Maryland are some of the Power 5 schools that have already offered Hood, and he names a few more that could be on the verge of giving him a bid.
“Currently, Virginia Tech has been texting me,” Hood said. “Nebraska has been texting me, Rutgers has been texting me, Notre Dame, Penn State, Yale – I’m interested in the Ivy League schools too.”
Of his current offer list, it seems the Canes would have an early edge, but Hood made clear he is not in a rush to make a quick decision on his future.
“I’m keeping it open, but Miami would definitely be at the top right now,” Hood said. “I’m going to wait until next year to decide, I’m not going to verbally commit early. I still want to be able to receive offers from other schools, weigh my options, be smart.”
What are some factors Hood is looking for in a program?
“Definitely coaching style, I do like coaches that believe in 1-on-1 coaching and that are always there to help,” Hood said. “Certain academic programs, I’ll be looking into schools to see what they have and don’t have. Definitely just being able to be a leader on the team, being able to connect to the players easily. Just having a good connection and bond with the team.”
Excellent striker material.
