Miami coaches making major strides with 4-star 2025 DB Antonio Branch as recruiting battle with FSU begins: ‘They’re definitely top 2’

Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington 2025 four-star defensive back Antonio Branch has been no stranger to the Hurricanes‘ coaching staff since they were permitted to start directly calling and texting recruits in that class Aug. 1.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, running backs coach Tim Harris Jr. and defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae already had made the 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback feel like a priority, but the trio has turned up the heat on Branch over the last week, and Branch is reciprocating the love. The No. 279 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking and No. 27 cornerback talks to the staff daily as the Hurricanes continue to solidify their position high on his radar.

“I’m really interested,” Branch said. “(Harris Jr.) wants me to stay home. He tells me that every day. They’re definitely top two.”

Branch took unofficial visits to Miami and Florida State in the final week of July just before the August dead period as the Seminoles make a recruiting push of their own. Florida State has aggressively recruited Branch “since before my recruitment started jumping,” Branch said, and has held strong interest from the four-star prospect for some time.

“It’s been great,” Branch said. “I’ve been hearing from them a lot since they could talk to 2025 guys. I’ve been hearing from them every day.”

Much like with his teammate, top-150 prospect and four-star cornerback Ben Hanks Jr., Harris Jr. talks about building the Booker T.-to-Miami pipeline daily and the importance of keeping South Florida talent home, the same strategy that turned The U into a dynasty in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Branch said he’d like to attend Miami’s season opener against Miami (Ohio) Sept. 1, a Friday night Booker T. does not have a game of its own.

5 best 2025 South Florida prospects who attended Miami’s June prospect camps

Branch has heard from Miami and Florida State roughly the same amount since coaches became permitted to contact 2025 recruits directly after Aug. 1. Branch said FSU head coach Mike Norvell has “shown me every day that they’re working” and building off the success the Seminoles experienced last season. Both programs have pushed hard to develop close relationships with Branch, which he said will be the biggest factor in his recruitment.

CaneSport’s Take

If Hanks is the most talented 2025 defensive back in South Florida, Branch isn’t too far behind. He’s currently listed as a cornerback but plays safety for Booker T. and is another prospect solidifying his position as an early target on Miami’s 2025 board — and as long as the Hurricanes keep bringing him back to campus, we like their chances.

The post Miami coaches making major strides with 4-star 2025 DB Antonio Branch as recruiting battle with FSU begins: ‘They’re definitely top 2’ appeared first on On3.