Ephraim Banda was listening to the "Joe Rose Show with Zach Krantz" on Monday before hopping on WQAM for a 20-minute interview with the show and something Rose said caught Banda's ear. The host mentioned how someone he was talking to was surprised when Rose said he expected the Miami Hurricanes to be good in 2020.
These days, it's an understandable reaction. Miami finished 2019 with a losing record after winning just seven games in 2018. Still, Banda said hopes are high internally. At the end of his spot on the radio show, the safeties coach was adamant about his confidence.
"I know what's behind the curtain and whenever they let us freaking go I know we're going to be successful this year," said Banda, who is also the Hurricanes' co-defensive coordinator. "I know in the bottom of my heart, I really, really do because I've been here long enough, I know the signs, I see what's happening."
Banda, who has been in Coral Gables since coach Manny Diaz first took over as former coach Mark Richt's defensive coordinator ahead of the 2016 season, detoured into his confidence as he discussed Miami's recruiting efforts in South Florida. To conclude the interview, Rose asked Banda bluntly whether he feels the Hurricanes are doing a good job recruiting the Miami metropolitan area. Banda said, "Yes."
So far, 11 of the Hurricanes' 13 commits in their Class of 2021, which ranks No. 14 nationally in the 247Sports.com composite rankings, are from Miami-Dade County or Broward County, but none of the region's top 10 prospects are seriously considering the Hurricanes at this point. Results are firmly mixed as Miami is thriving at recruiting the next tier of prospects from the area.
Banda painted a picture of what is happening right now for the Hurricanes in South Florida. The Hurricanes currently currently have two coaches designated to recruit each of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, so they're discovering prospects early and becoming serious suitors early in the recruiting process. Inevitably, Miami starts to fade for some players as more schools catch wind of the player and the recruiting battles become more crowded.
"I know that we are thoroughly combing the area for these young players, and we're finding out about them and we know more about them than any school in the country _ I 100% believe that. I know that for a fact," said Banda, who primarily handles southern Miami-Dade. "Now what we have to do or continue to do is find ways to get them excited about Miami. Look: At the end of the day, these young men don't remember a lot of the past and it is what it is. That's part of life. What we've got to do is go out and win, and get them excited about Miami, and that will happen."
Banda has been one of the more consistent recruiters on the Hurricanes' staff since he arrived, and he actually pulled off his biggest recruiting win in the Class of 2020. On National Signing Day, the Florida Gators were the overwhelming favorite to land elite safety Avantae Williams, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball. Williams, however, signed a national letter of intent with Miami. Diaz gave Banda full credit for the coup. Although Williams is from DeLand, the Hurricanes' approach at recruiting the four-star safety was similar to the way they recruit players from the Miami area _ Williams even orally committed to the Hurricanes when he was a freshman.
Williams might have to be counted on right away, too. Safeties Amari Carter, Gurvan Hall and Bubba Bolden are all established veterans, but there's not much experienced depth behind them. Miami will need Williams or someone else to step up _ maybe one of the three other freshmen _ and fill the final spot on the depth chart.
"When we went into the recruiting cycle last year, we identified an area of our team that we wanted to stock up on. We got to the end of last year and were looking for bodies to put in the game," Banda said. "We were very, very persistent on taking as many safeties and corners as we could find, and that we thought could play at Miami, so, yes, I do expect those guys to come in and help us. It will be challenging for them because of not having a full _ quote-unquote _ 'summer,' if you will, but we have been already actively meeting with those players. We are allowed to by rule, so we have been meeting with those young guys alone in their own Zoom room and teaching them at a slower pace so that when they walk on the field or whenever they get to walk into those dorms for the first time it won't be the first time they've ever had us speak the defensive language, but I absolutely am anticipating all those guys contributing."
