Miami Hurricanes pushing for uncommitted top-125 cornerback: “I should be getting back down there”

Miami has picked up contact with Miami (Fla.) Norland four-star 2024 cornerback Jamari Howard, the No. 124 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, as the fall season has begun, and the blue-chip defensive back is showing mutual interest in the Hurricanes.

Miami’s contact with Howard was limited throughout the spring and summer, but it’s started to pick up over the last several weeks. Howard attended Miami’s 48-33 Week 2 win over No. 23 Texas A&M — just the second Miami game he’s attended as a recruit — and has started hearing from secondary coach Jahmile Addae more frequently.

Addae and graduate assistant Benedick Hyppolite have been his primary points of contact in Coral Gables, although he occasionally chats with head coach Mario Cristobal as well.

“The contact there is good,” Howard said. “It’s become more intimate as time passes and we get closer to me signing and everything.”

Howard was originally committed to Michigan State before decommitting over the summer, and Florida, Florida State, Penn State and Maryland have made recruiting pushes as well. Howard plans to wait until signing day to publicly announce his commitment, although he said he’ll likely make up his mind before he signs.

Howard said he’ll likely return to Miami this fall, but he wants to see how his fall schedule shakes out before locking in a date. He said he was impressed by the Canes’ performance against Texas A&M and is optimistic about the direction of the program after a 3-0 start and climbing to No. 20 in the AP Poll.

“I should be getting back down there,” Howard said. “It’s not too far from my house. I should be getting back down there, but I’m just not sure when yet.”

On3’s Chad Simmons recently reported Florida State is currently the team to beat for Howard and is expected to host him at least two more times before the Early Signing Period, but given there have been multiple frontrunners for Howard over the last several months, Simmons believes his recruitment could have several more twists and turns.

CaneSport’s Take

Florida State appears to be the current frontrunner, but the Hurricanes can’t be ruled out here, especially if Howard makes another return visit to Coral Gables before signing day. Miami’s contact with Howard had been pretty limited before the fall, but it’s safe to say the Canes are at least on his radar. This is a recruitment that we think will be an interesting one to monitor moving forward.

The post Miami Hurricanes pushing for uncommitted top-125 cornerback: “I should be getting back down there” appeared first on On3.