Miami adds in-state linebacker Deshawn Troutman to growing 2021 recruiting class

The Miami Hurricanes’ Class of 2021 continues to grow amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest addition is an in-state linebacker, who should help Miami continue to compile depth at an uncertain position.

Deshawn Troutman, a three-star inside linebacker from Orlando Edgewater, orally committed to the Hurricanes on Wednesday, announcing his decision on Twitter. He’s the 14th member of Miami’s 2021 recruiting class and the fifth to commit to the Hurricanes since the coronavirus pandemic forced an extended dead period.

Troutman is a relatively under-the-radar prospect, boasting more than a dozen scholarship offers, mostly from schools outside the Power 5 Conferences. Miami offered Troutman in January, but the linebacker never got to visit Coral Gables before the virus’ spread forced the Hurricanes away from campus, although he did grow up in South Florida before moving to Central Florida. Miami ramped up its recruitment of the 6-foot-1, 205-pound athlete in the last few months to secure his pledge anyway.

Although he’s barely a top-1,000 overall prospect in 247Sports.com composite rankings, Troutman was one of the top linebackers in Florida last year. In just nine games for Edgewater, the junior racked up 89 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, a sack, three passes defended and a fumble recovery. He helped the Eagles reach the Class 7A championship, where they nearly upset Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas before falling 28-23 in Daytona Beach.

Linebacker remains a serious position of need for Miami after the departures of Shaquille Quarterman Michael Pinckney. The two linebackers were four-year starters for the Hurricanes before exhausting their eligibility. Zach McCloud is entrenched as one likely starting linebacker heading into 2020, but the remainder of Miami’s linebackers corps has combined for just one start. The 2021 linebackers class, which also includes three-star outside linebackers Tyler Johnson and Ja’Corey Hammett, will join a mostly inexperienced group with one starting spot likely up for grabs.

On Tuesday, the NCAA also extended its ongoing dead period through at least the end of July, meaning coaches won’t be able to evaluate prospects in person or host visits until at least August. With an uncertain future, the Hurricanes continue to do a good job building depth in the class, which now ranks No. 13 in the nation and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.