Miami ‘coming on strong’ for 5-star WR Jaime Ffrench

Jacksonville Mandarin five-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench is one of the many elite recruits set to come off the board this month.

Five finalists remain: LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee and Texas. Ffrench has been very candid about his process up to this point, naming different leaders at different points this year. When he announced his decision date in June, however, he told On3 that there was no current leader.

Each finalist aside from Ohio State has had the five-star in for an official visit this summer. During the final week of July, LSU and Miami were both able to get Ffrench back to campus. With the August dead period active, the Hurricanes are set to be the final program to get him in for a visit before his decision.

Miami has often been tabbed as a dark horse in Ffrench’s recruitment, but On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons says it’s time to consider the Canes as more than that in the race for his pledge.

“I don’t know if I would say ‘frontrunner,’ but I think you can take the ‘dark horse’ label off for sure,” Simmons said on ‘The Inside Scoop’. “They’re right there in the thick of this race.”

Connections are abundant between Ffrench and Miami

The one in-state program to make it this far in the push for Ffrench, Miami has long made the former Alabama commit a priority. Numerous visits have been logged to Coral Gables throughout his process and the Canes’ coaching staff has done plenty to show him that he’s a priority down the stretch.

Miami also recently locked down a commitment from four-star safety Hylton Stubbs, Ffrench’s teammate at Mandarin. There are connections all over for Ffrench and Miami as he considers the ACC program.

“I think Miami without a doubt has come on strong, getting the official visit, getting back on campus the last couple of days in the July recruiting period. I think Miami with Mario Cristobal, Kevin Beard — who he loves, he loves the staff down there,” Simmons said. “His teammate, close friend Hylton Stubbs committed to Miami earlier this summer. He’s always told me too that he would love to stay home if he feels that’s the best decision for him, so Miami cannot be called that ‘dark horse’ any longer, they’re right there with LSU and Texas in this race.”

Ffrench’s decision expected to go down to the wire

Ffrench has clearly kept his process fluid and isn’t afraid of letting other teams grab the momentum in his recruitment. Miami is firmly in the mix, while LSU and Texas have also consistently been mentioned at the top. That doesn’t mean you can count out Ohio State or Tennessee, however.

Nailing down a destination for Ffrench will likely remain a tall task until his commitment is announced, according to Simmons.

“I had somebody that I was talking to that spoke to Jaime earlier today and said ‘you can’t pin one, even two schools to Jaime right now. He could literally go to Miami, LSU or Texas, none would be a surprise.’ They think he will take this to August 30 — his mom’s birthday, when he’ll announce his decision,” Simmons said.

Ffrench is the No. 18 overall prospect and No. 4 wideout in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in Florida.

The post Miami ‘coming on strong’ for 5-star WR Jaime Ffrench appeared first on On3.