California 4-star DL feels at home with the Miami Hurricanes after visiting for spring game: “There was great energy”

Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei defensive lineman Aydin Breland was one of many elite prospects on hand during the Miami Hurricanes 2023 spring game that left South Florida with a lasting impression of Mario Cristobal and his staff.

“The spring game was great, and there was great energy,” Breland told CaneSport. “I loved some of the defensive schemes I saw, and I loved how coaches (Mario) Cristobal, Joe Salave’a, and Jason Taylor were coaching the kids up. I like the campus, vibe, and ambiance; I just feel like I’m at home.”

Friday’s visit with the Hurricanes marks Breland’s second trip to Miami this year and his first since early March. The 6-foot-4.5, 320-pounder’s relationship with the Hurricanes has continued to grow since his last visit, and he looks to continue that trend moving forward.

“Our relationship has grown a lot since I last visited,” Breland said. “Me and all the coaches have come a lot closer, and the communication has increased a lot. It’s getting real close.”

Breland, the No. 34 overall prospect and No. 6 defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Rankings, feels at home whenever he is in Miami despite being nearly 3,000 miles away from Santa Ana, California. A big reason for that is his relationship with Cristobal, which started when Breland was just in the eighth grade and picked up an offer from the then-University of Oregon head coach.

“What stands out to me the most about Miami is the genuine family feel,” Breland said. “Cristobal gave me my first offer, so he’s always kept true to his word. It’s just a great feeling to be in Miami; I love it here.”

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, USC is the current favorite to land Breland’s commitment with a 19.6% probability, but not by much as Oregon (17.2%) and Miami (14.7%) are right in the mix as well.

When the decision does come for Breland, who said he is releasing his top ten schools relatively soon, a family feel and NFL development are his two biggest priorities when it comes to the program he’ll be choosing.

CaneSport’s take

Breland is one of the many west coast talents the Hurricanes are heavily recruiting this cycle on the defensive front, including Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic EDGE Elijah Rushing and Los Alamitos (Calif.) defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham, as Miami looks to establish a strong pipeline from one of the top regions in the country. Breland is a big fan of Miami thus far, and the ‘Canes look like they are heavily in the mix to land the blue-chip prospect.

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