Miami takes lead for Rivals100 wide receiver

MIAMI -- Wearing a Alabama lanyard around his neck, Mark Pope doesn’t mind going in a another direction verbally. The Rivals100 receiver who not so long ago was seen as a Crimson Tide lean has abruptly changed his stance.

He has a leader, sure, and, despite his crimson-colored accessory, it’s not the defending SEC champions. Not anymore. As he registers at Florida Fire 7-on-7 tryouts, he outlines the situation with dozens of small Alabama logos around his neck.

“Miami is on top” Pope said on Saturday. “UM is home, man. They have great coaches. They have some great people coming in. They have players coming in my class and in 2017.”

The fact that the Hurricanes recently hired David Cooney, who coaches Pope in high school and on the 7-on-7 circuit, in a quality-control role isn’t the sole reason for the Hurricanes’ jump to the top of the list. There are more important factors.

Still, the situation hasn’t hurt things.

“That helped a lot,” Pope said. “Me being there with [Cooney] will just be better. I’ll be comfortable.”

Pope, who attends Miami Southridge High School, once hoped to have q commitment done this winter. Now, however, the timetable has shifted.

“I’m going to wait,” Pope said. “I’m going to wait until after spring at least.”

IN HIS WORDS: “Miami, Utah, Georgia and then LSU are probably talking to me the most. There are some other schools, too. But those … and some others.”

RIVALS REACTION: Alabama recently talking a commitment from 2018 wide receiver Xavier Williams, a player comparable to Pope in every way, may have knocked the Tide down a notch here. Cooney’s arrival in Coral Gables may have helped the Hurricanes at the same time.