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Although the Miami Hurricanes now have 13 commitments in 2021, they are still without a safety pledge in the class. With the staff hard at work trying to fill that slot, defensive coordinator Blake Baker and safeties coach Ephraim Banda have put focus on University Lab (LA) 3-star S Jardin Gilbert.
“I’ll talk to them twice a week,” Gilbert said of Baker and Banda. “They both told me, with the way they play their safeties, I could either play as a nickel or as a free (safety). They just like my versatility, they like my explosiveness, and they like my instincts for the game. So they feel like I would be a good addition.”
The 6-1 175 pound safety prospect says he has truly built a strong relationship with Banda, and Gilbert could see himself playing for the UM safeties coach in the future.
“As a person, coach Banda’s without question a good dude,” Gilbert said. “I would have no problem being under his wing if I do make that decision to go to [Miami].”
Although he has yet to visit the Canes, Gilbert said he is open to visiting UM once the campus lockdowns end.
“It’s a strong defensive program, and at the end of the day, they’re putting their players in the league,” Gilbert said of UM. “That’s really my main goal.”
Miami was Gilbert’s second Power 5 offer and third FBS offer overall, and that came over the summer last June when he was a rising junior.
“Without a doubt, it meant a lot having them as one of my first offers,” Gilbert said of Miami. “Knowing the background behind Miami, the legends they’ve put out, I was very excited.”
It seems the Canes got in early on prospect whose stock was low at the time, but has since shot through the roof. Since Gilbert’s junior film from this fall starting circulating, he’s landed offers from schools such as Alabama, Oklahoma, Auburn, Texas, and Notre Dame to name a few. Still, Gilbert wasn’t giving much away when it came to who is standing out to him at the moment.
“Everybody is about the same right now,” Gilbert said. “[Coronavirus] kind of changed a lot of things for me, but I’m still enjoying things as much as I can. I don’t know when I’ll make my top 10 or a have decision. I will take all my officials before I commit, that’s something I’m promising, because some schools don’t like you taking visits if you’re committed to them.”
One visit Gilbert was able to take before the shutdowns was to Alabama for their junior day in early March, and the University Lab star was able to take a look inside the Crimson Tide program.
“They just gave us a tour of the campus, because their facilities weren’t done yet, so all we could do is look from the outside - I did enjoy it,” Gilbert said. “They really focus on their players, not just on their team as a whole, but as individuals. I liked that.”
While he’s still unsure of which programs will become real factors in his recruitment, Gilbert says he will narrow his list based on which schools fit a certain criteria.
“I’m interested in all the schools that have a good defensive program, just a place that can develop me all the way around,” Gilbert said. “In football of course, but also in education and as a person to put me in good shape post-football.”
Gilbert pulled double duty as both a receiver and a safety as a junior for the Cubs in 2019, and although he felt things went well for him individually, was still looking for more team-wise.
“I feel like I didn’t do good enough because we didn’t go to states, we lost in semis,” Gilbert said. “But other than that, I feel I did pretty good, could always get better though.”
What will he be working on to ensure a better result for his team as a senior in 2020?
“Footwork, my agility, tackling, my eyes on the ball, just improving everything. You aren’t ever too good to improve yourself.”
“I’ll talk to them twice a week,” Gilbert said of Baker and Banda. “They both told me, with the way they play their safeties, I could either play as a nickel or as a free (safety). They just like my versatility, they like my explosiveness, and they like my instincts for the game. So they feel like I would be a good addition.”
The 6-1 175 pound safety prospect says he has truly built a strong relationship with Banda, and Gilbert could see himself playing for the UM safeties coach in the future.
“As a person, coach Banda’s without question a good dude,” Gilbert said. “I would have no problem being under his wing if I do make that decision to go to [Miami].”
Although he has yet to visit the Canes, Gilbert said he is open to visiting UM once the campus lockdowns end.
“It’s a strong defensive program, and at the end of the day, they’re putting their players in the league,” Gilbert said of UM. “That’s really my main goal.”
Miami was Gilbert’s second Power 5 offer and third FBS offer overall, and that came over the summer last June when he was a rising junior.
“Without a doubt, it meant a lot having them as one of my first offers,” Gilbert said of Miami. “Knowing the background behind Miami, the legends they’ve put out, I was very excited.”
It seems the Canes got in early on prospect whose stock was low at the time, but has since shot through the roof. Since Gilbert’s junior film from this fall starting circulating, he’s landed offers from schools such as Alabama, Oklahoma, Auburn, Texas, and Notre Dame to name a few. Still, Gilbert wasn’t giving much away when it came to who is standing out to him at the moment.
“Everybody is about the same right now,” Gilbert said. “[Coronavirus] kind of changed a lot of things for me, but I’m still enjoying things as much as I can. I don’t know when I’ll make my top 10 or a have decision. I will take all my officials before I commit, that’s something I’m promising, because some schools don’t like you taking visits if you’re committed to them.”
One visit Gilbert was able to take before the shutdowns was to Alabama for their junior day in early March, and the University Lab star was able to take a look inside the Crimson Tide program.
“They just gave us a tour of the campus, because their facilities weren’t done yet, so all we could do is look from the outside - I did enjoy it,” Gilbert said. “They really focus on their players, not just on their team as a whole, but as individuals. I liked that.”
While he’s still unsure of which programs will become real factors in his recruitment, Gilbert says he will narrow his list based on which schools fit a certain criteria.
“I’m interested in all the schools that have a good defensive program, just a place that can develop me all the way around,” Gilbert said. “In football of course, but also in education and as a person to put me in good shape post-football.”
Gilbert pulled double duty as both a receiver and a safety as a junior for the Cubs in 2019, and although he felt things went well for him individually, was still looking for more team-wise.
“I feel like I didn’t do good enough because we didn’t go to states, we lost in semis,” Gilbert said. “But other than that, I feel I did pretty good, could always get better though.”
What will he be working on to ensure a better result for his team as a senior in 2020?
“Footwork, my agility, tackling, my eyes on the ball, just improving everything. You aren’t ever too good to improve yourself.”
