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When former Miami Hurricanes great Ed Reed was welcomed back to the program as UM’s Chief of Staff this January, many hoped the move would provide recruiting benefits to Miami with the simple promise to prospects that an NFL Hall of Famer would be around UM more often.
Not many people expected him to assist in the “talent discovery” department.
Earlier today, 2021 Franklin (MD) 3-star S and Baltimore native Daymon David earned an offer from the Canes in an unexpected way after Reed, who starred for the Baltimore Ravens for 11 of his 12 year NFL career, was tipped off about David and sent his tape over to the Hurricanes’ coaches. Later, safeties coach Ephraim Banda got in touch with David and offered him a chance to play for UM.
“I actually have a cousin that knows [Reed], and since he played up here in Baltimore, he has some connections here and they’ll tell him about talent in the Baltimore area,” David said. “So I guess he had saw my tape and liked me and got the ball rolling by sending my film to coach Banda and the staff.”
With Reed being more involved with the Miami program as the Chief of Staff, David said it makes the Hurricanes a more appealing choice for him.
“Definitely, especially having a direct connection around from Baltimore to the Miami area, that’s big,” David said. “They’re one of the schools I’d be comfortable going to, so definitely Miami’s high on my list because of that.”
And it’s not just Reed that attracts David to the UM program.
The 6-1 170 pound prospect says he followed the Hurricanes growing up and has paid attention to the safeties they’ve sent to the next level recently.
“I’m a big fan of them, Sean Taylor is actually my favorite player,” David said. “So I’m a big fan of the Hurricanes and the safeties that come out of there.
“I really like how they develop players there and the safety talent that they bring out every year. It feels like they always have at least two good safeties coming out. Coach Banda always give his safeties a chance to play in the NFL.”
Did he tell Reed that Taylor was his favorite player?
“(Laughs) No, I didn’t talk to him yet,” David said. “I heard he was supposed to actually call me later on today, though.”
While he waits to talk with Reed, David has spoken to Banda, and the UM safeties coach spent some time outlining what the Franklin star’s role might look like if he ended up playing for Miami.
“[Banda] actually said that there’s three different positions of safety they play there – a rover, a field, and a boundary safety,” David said. “He said I’d be a good rover safety because of how smart I am, how I can cover, how I can play in the box, tackle. He thinks I’d be a good fit for rover and I’d mainly play there.”
It seems the Canes are getting involved with David at the right time as well, as the talented safety’s stock is beginning to heat up: After a slow start to his recruitment, David has landed 10 Power 5 offers in the last month alone.
“It’s been moving pretty good, this quarantine has actually been helpful and more schools have called me since then,” David said. “I probably won’t make a decision until close to the season and I plan on making a top group pretty soon, I’m not sure what date yet. Maybe in a couple weeks or so I’ll make a top 8 or something like that.”
Boston College, Louisville, Purdue, and Oklahoma are some schools standing out for David right now, and David said that Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley has become involved in his recruitment.
“[Riley] was telling me I play at a high level,” David said. “He told me they thought I will probably get a lot more offers and be a highly-rated player and that they really wanted me. It’s a good offer, but I am not rushing anything. I'm going to weigh my options and just keep working hard.”
Like many other prospects, it seems early playing time will be a key factor in David’s decision when he’s ready to make his choice.
“What I’m really looking for is how quickly I’ll be able to play,” David said. “Let’s say a school has two sophomore safeties that are already established there, I won’t really want to go to a school where I might not be able to play early. But if there’s a chance where I could step in or at least learn for a year and then play, then I will consider them. Miami actually told me I will have a chance to play early if I come in and compete and do good, because they have open roles.”
As a junior in 2019, David racked up 67 tackles, 8 PBU, 4 interceptions, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble in 12 games for the Indians.
“I’m doing it just like Sean Taylor did - hit people and catch interceptions,” David said. “That’s all I think about is hitting and catching interceptions.”
Not many people expected him to assist in the “talent discovery” department.
Earlier today, 2021 Franklin (MD) 3-star S and Baltimore native Daymon David earned an offer from the Canes in an unexpected way after Reed, who starred for the Baltimore Ravens for 11 of his 12 year NFL career, was tipped off about David and sent his tape over to the Hurricanes’ coaches. Later, safeties coach Ephraim Banda got in touch with David and offered him a chance to play for UM.
“I actually have a cousin that knows [Reed], and since he played up here in Baltimore, he has some connections here and they’ll tell him about talent in the Baltimore area,” David said. “So I guess he had saw my tape and liked me and got the ball rolling by sending my film to coach Banda and the staff.”
With Reed being more involved with the Miami program as the Chief of Staff, David said it makes the Hurricanes a more appealing choice for him.
“Definitely, especially having a direct connection around from Baltimore to the Miami area, that’s big,” David said. “They’re one of the schools I’d be comfortable going to, so definitely Miami’s high on my list because of that.”
And it’s not just Reed that attracts David to the UM program.
The 6-1 170 pound prospect says he followed the Hurricanes growing up and has paid attention to the safeties they’ve sent to the next level recently.
“I’m a big fan of them, Sean Taylor is actually my favorite player,” David said. “So I’m a big fan of the Hurricanes and the safeties that come out of there.
“I really like how they develop players there and the safety talent that they bring out every year. It feels like they always have at least two good safeties coming out. Coach Banda always give his safeties a chance to play in the NFL.”
Did he tell Reed that Taylor was his favorite player?
“(Laughs) No, I didn’t talk to him yet,” David said. “I heard he was supposed to actually call me later on today, though.”
While he waits to talk with Reed, David has spoken to Banda, and the UM safeties coach spent some time outlining what the Franklin star’s role might look like if he ended up playing for Miami.
“[Banda] actually said that there’s three different positions of safety they play there – a rover, a field, and a boundary safety,” David said. “He said I’d be a good rover safety because of how smart I am, how I can cover, how I can play in the box, tackle. He thinks I’d be a good fit for rover and I’d mainly play there.”
It seems the Canes are getting involved with David at the right time as well, as the talented safety’s stock is beginning to heat up: After a slow start to his recruitment, David has landed 10 Power 5 offers in the last month alone.
“It’s been moving pretty good, this quarantine has actually been helpful and more schools have called me since then,” David said. “I probably won’t make a decision until close to the season and I plan on making a top group pretty soon, I’m not sure what date yet. Maybe in a couple weeks or so I’ll make a top 8 or something like that.”
Boston College, Louisville, Purdue, and Oklahoma are some schools standing out for David right now, and David said that Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley has become involved in his recruitment.
“[Riley] was telling me I play at a high level,” David said. “He told me they thought I will probably get a lot more offers and be a highly-rated player and that they really wanted me. It’s a good offer, but I am not rushing anything. I'm going to weigh my options and just keep working hard.”
Like many other prospects, it seems early playing time will be a key factor in David’s decision when he’s ready to make his choice.
“What I’m really looking for is how quickly I’ll be able to play,” David said. “Let’s say a school has two sophomore safeties that are already established there, I won’t really want to go to a school where I might not be able to play early. But if there’s a chance where I could step in or at least learn for a year and then play, then I will consider them. Miami actually told me I will have a chance to play early if I come in and compete and do good, because they have open roles.”
As a junior in 2019, David racked up 67 tackles, 8 PBU, 4 interceptions, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble in 12 games for the Indians.
“I’m doing it just like Sean Taylor did - hit people and catch interceptions,” David said. “That’s all I think about is hitting and catching interceptions.”
