Miami recruiting storylines to watch on official visit weekend: Can Hurricanes separate themselves for 5-star Justin Scott?

Compared to the five-star-filled chaos of Miami’s last official visit weekend, this weekend should be relatively light, although that doesn’t make it any less important with No. 9 overall prospect Justin Scott and No. 5 running back Kevin Riley rolling into town.

Miami will host five official visitors this weekend – one five-star recruit, two four-stars, one three-star and one German-born unranked offensive line prospect – and there could be big implications for each recruit.

Here are the storylines to watch during this official visit weekend.

Can Miami separate itself from Georgia and Notre Dame for Justin Scott?

Justin Scott | 5-star DL | Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius | No. 8 national recruit, No. 2 DL | 6-foot-5, 310 pounds

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine has listed Miami as Scott’s frontrunner for about a month, and I stand by the prediction I made in mid-May that the 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman would end up a Hurricane. However, Scott told On3’s Chad Simmons following his Georgia official visit June 2 that the Bulldogs were “up there tied with Miami and Notre Dame in that No. 1 spot following the visit.”

I’m still very confident about the position Miami is in to land the five-star recruit, but the Hurricanes need to use this official visit to create some breathing room from Georgia and Notre Dame. A huge part of that will be whether or not Miami can impress Scott’s mom, who will be joining him on the official visit for her first trip to South Florida.

Scott will also take an official visit to Ohio State next weekend, although the Buckeyes have not been mentioned nearly as much as Miami, Georgia and Notre Dame in his recruitment.

Will the Hurricanes make a move for Kevin Riley?

Kevin Riley | 4-star RB | Northport (Al.) Tuscaloosa County | No. 80 national recruit, No. 5 RB | 6-foot, 192 pounds

Riley has been relatively quiet throughout his recruitment, but Alabama, Auburn and Miami have been in the picture throughout 2023. On3’s Chad Simmons reported he has heard the most about Miami with Riley, the No. 80 overall prospect in the On300, who took his first trip to Coral Gables for the Hurricanes’ spring game April 14. Still, Riley has spoken glowingly about Alabama, and Auburn Live’s Cole Pinkston reported the Tigers are in the mix as well.

With a race this tight, Miami needs to do something this weekend to help itself stand out to the four-star prospect and differentiate itself from the rest of the pack. The Hurricanes have pushed hard, and Riley said he talks to Miami more than any other program, but more is needed if the Canes want to get comfortable.

How quickly will things move for German-born Moritz Schmoranzer?

Moritz Schmoranzer | Unranked OT | Roanoke (Va.) North Cross School | 6-foot-5, 250 pounds

We didn’t have a 6-foot-5, 250-pound German-born fast-rising offensive tackle taking a Miami official visit days after receiving an offer on our bingo card this year. But with the wheels in motion for Schmoranzer to visit Coral Gables this weekend, it’ll be curious to see how quickly things will move.

The RPM lists West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Virginia as the three leaders for Schormoranzer, who now attends North Cross School in Roanoke (Va.), but this is the fastest things have come together for a Miami target in the 2024 class yet. Nearly every other player to visit Miami or is scheduled to visit Miami has been recruited for months by the Hurricanes.

Miami is coming on late for local 4-star Elias Rudolph. Will it be enough?

Elias Rudolph | 4-star LB | Deerfield Beach (Fla.) | No. 294 national recruit, No. 31 LB | 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Speaking of coming together quickly, Miami didn’t offer Deerfield Beach (Fla.) four-star linebacker Elias Rudolph until the spring evaluation period, but it didn’t take long for him to then schedule an official visit to Coral Gables. The RPM gives Rudolph nearly a 90% chance to land at Michigan and a 4.5% chance to land at Ohio State before Miami sneaks in, but the Hurricanes have given themselves a chance.

It’s just a question of whether the Canes will do too little too late.

Will Miami outperform Florida, Ohio State for Jayden Jackson?

Jayden Jackson | 3-star DL | IMG Academy | No. 546 national recruit, No. 48 DL | 6-foot-1.5. 295 pounds

The Hurricanes will receive three-star defensive lineman Jayden Jackson’s third official visit after traveling to Florida June 2 and Ohio State last weekend, and while Miami is very well in the mix for Jackson, the bigger question is whether or not the Canes can outshine the other two programs. He’ll also visit Texas the following weekend.

Seeing how former IMG teammates Francis Mauigoa, Riley Williams, Antonio Tripp, and Jayden Wayne have settled in also played a factor in his decision to take an official visit.

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