UCF Transfer Davonte Brown hosting Florida State and Miami Wednesday as he closes on a decision
UCF transfer cornerback Davonte Brown told CaneSport that he effectively was deciding between Miami and Florida State as he prepared to receive home visits from both schools Wednesday afternoon. His brother, four-star American Heritage cornerback Damari Brown, is a 2023 high school recruit also being recruited by Miami but also weighing Florida State and Alabama.
Davonte is a four-star transfer prospect and a former three-star high school recruit from American Heritage who has two years of eligibility remaining. He completed his junior year at UCF this season and has two former high school teammates playing for Miami.
Davonte is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound defensive back who hauled in two interceptions in 2022 and had three total interceptions in three seasons at UCF. He has played in all 36 games since arriving at UCF in 2020. He leaves UCF with 68 career solo tackles and 91 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, 21 pass deflections and a forced fumble.
“I like how (Miami) is recruiting right now,” Davonte said. “Even though they didn’t have the season they wanted to last year, they’re trying to bring in some veteran guys. They’ve got the portal and stuff. For me, schools have been reaching out, but I feel like it’s going to come down to Miami or Florida State.”
Davonte has already taken an official visit to Florida State and does not have plans to visit Miami, but he said he does not feel taking an official visit is necessary in helping him choose a school.
“I want to see what’s the best fit, the best fit for me scheme-wise and stuff, what they’re trying to do on the back end,” Davonte said. “Coaches that coach hard, have a relationship with their players.”
Davonte said Miami has pushed a message of staying home while Florida State has emphasized recent success, a turnaround that has the Seminoles ranked in the Top 25 and how heavily the program is trying to bring in “the right guys” that fit FSU head coach Mike Norvell’s culture.
Playing with Damari is something Davonte has considered and said the two have discussed, but neither are attempting to pull each other to a particular school and both players are trying to find their best individual fits. Davonte would like to make an announcement within the next two weeks.
Damari is an uncommitted four-star 2023 high school corner recruit currently being recruited by Miami, Clemson and Alabama – among others – who also attended American Heritage. High school teammates James Williams (a sophomore safety) and Daryl Porter Jr. (a third-year sophomore defensive back) also play for Miami.
CaneSport’s Take
Miami has an opportunity to land an experienced player out of the transfer portal if Davonte commits. Davonte slipped under the radar of football fans who didn’t follow UCF over the past several years, but his addition would be a tremendous help to the secondary. The Canes have already beat out Florida State for four-star EDGE Rueben Bain, and they could beat out their in-state rivals to land Davonte as well.
