Recruiting: Three more eighth-graders claim Miami Hurricanes offers

The end zone at Greentree Practice Field. (Matt Porter/The Palm Beach Post)

The Hurricanes have no problem giving playing time to freshmen.

They also see the benefit of handing out early offers.

According to social media posts, offensive lineman Hayden Conner, wide receiver Jacorey Brooks and running back Amari Daniels, all in the high school graduating class of 2021, received UM offers.

Eighth-grade offers are becoming commonplace in the world of recruiting, where programs are constantly trying to one-up each other. One way to land a top prospect-in-the-making: be the first school to profess a belief in his potential, by extending the verbal promise of a scholarship.

Then hope he develops into a big-time player, of course.

And if you think that’s wild, know that recruiting websites like Rivals are tracking the development of players as young as sixth grade (and others much younger for other sports, like basketball).

Conner, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound native of Katy, Texas, said Miami is the first school to offer him. He will reportedly attend Taylor High in the fall.

In late March, Tennessee became Brooks’ first offer. According to 247Sports, Brooks is 6-1 and 155 pounds and is heading to Miami-Booker T. Washington High. He also plays basketball.

South Florida-based reporter J.T. Wilcox reported the news about Daniels, who will attend Miami Central. Wilcox, who has a strong handle on the local football scene, described him as a “youth league phenom and track star.” He is 6-0 and 160 pounds according to 247Sports.

That website also lists a Miami offer for another 2021 prospect, Jacksonville-Trinity Christian’s Dedrick Smith, a 6-2, 150-pound athlete. His brother, Derrick, signed with Miami as a safety in February.

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from mentioning unsigned recruits by name — but can share and like their posts on social media — and the above players cannot sign a binding letter of intent with a school until Dec. 2020.

Last year, UM offered two eighth-grade quarterbacks: Harrison Bailey and Max Johnson, both Georgia natives in the class of 2020. Neither player has made a commitment. UM has offered 13 players in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports, and has one commit. That’s Deland High safety Avantae Williams, the cousin of 2018 five-star Hurricanes running back commit Lorenzo Lingard.