Former Hurricane Rod Mack’s Miami Gardens Ravens program churning out top talent, future Canes

Over the years, South Florida youth football has been widely considered one of the top breeding grounds for elite athletes throughout the country, but one team coached by former Miami Hurricanes linebacker Rod Mack may have been the most talented of all time.

The Miami Gardens Ravens, also known as the Purple Machine, were one of the most dominant youth teams in the country during their run under Mack, as they featured the likes of 2024 prospects Jeremiah Smith, LaWayne McCoy, Davion Gause, Cedrick Bailey, and Miami commits Joshisa Trader, Chance Robinson, Vincent Shavers, Ryan Mack, Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and Romanas Frederique.

With six of his former players (Trader, Robinson, Shavers, Wheatley-Humphrey, Frederique, and Mack) now committed to his alma mater, Miami, Mack couldn’t be happier to see the success they have found in the early stages of his career and believes the best is yet to come.

“For a lot of reasons, it’s a dream come true to watch them do it at my school,” Mack told CaneSport. “It also makes my flight plans a lot simpler because I get to go watch them at one place, and hopefully a few more will join them. Since they were little kids, I’ve always taken them to the University of Miami, and Miami has always opened the door for them, so it’s in their blood.”

Since the group played at the 11U level, Mack has been their head coach and has been able to watch the young athletes develop into some of the most sought-after talents in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

“It makes you feel really good to see those kids succeed because they’ve put in a lot of work,” Mack said. “I’ve been around youth football and a high level of football, and I knew they were a special group, but to see them get the recognition is exciting and a wonderful feeling.”

Growing up, the idea of playing together in high school was something the group talked about numerous times … but playing at the collegiate level together was something that they could’ve only dreamed of at the time.

“They have all talked about it and talked about playing at the same high school at one point, but the opportunity to play in college together is something that was always in the conversation,” Mack said. “Those kids train together and have been training together on the weekends since they were very young.”

With the Hurricanes landing Trader, Robinson, Shavers, Mack, and Frederique, Mack has faith Miami will continue to have success recruiting the talented group if they continue to do what they have been doing so far.

“I think they have to just keep doing what they’re doing,” Mack said. “Mario (Cristobal) is doing a great job of staying in contact with the kids and letting them know they’re wanted. With a couple of those kids being receivers, Coach Kevin Beard coming there has been a really good thing for them and has made those kids feel comfortable. Miami just needs to continue on that path of really showing those kids that they can be successful at Miami again.”

Mack also believes the former Miami Gardens Ravens committed to the Hurricanes right now will be the key to helping secure the likes of McCoy and Smith.

“Right now, I think it’s going to have to be their brothers right now that are going to have to recruit them more than anything,” Mack said. “That’s how it was when I was there, getting other great players to recruit great players, so they’re going to have to do the same thing, in my opinion.”

As the Hurricanes look to turn the page on the program and return to its former glory, Mack believes keeping homegrown talents like his former Ravens players and beyond will be key to the revitalization of the program moving forward.

“I think the ultimate thing for them to be successful is to keep this talent home,” Mack said. “If you look at the struggles for the last few years, those special kids have not been in the state. If we had had someone like Lamar Jackson, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy or Dallas Turner on those teams, tell me what those teams could have done. I think by keeping those difference-makers home along with everyone else, I can see the program really turning around.”

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