2025 four-star OL Douglas Utu talks his early interest in Miami and relationship with Alex Mirabal
After offering Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman four-star offensive lineman Douglas Utu in the eighth grade, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and his Hurricanes staff have remained in contact with the elite 2025 prospect, which has Miami in the mix as one of Utu’s top programs.
“They offered me (when Cristobal and Alex Mirabal were coaching at Oregon) my eighth-grade year; they’re one of my options,” Utu told CaneSport. “They have a great offensive line coach, and they produce great offensive linemen over there.”
Over the years, the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder has developed a strong relationship with Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, who was the one who initially offered him.
Utu, who is the No. 46 overall prospect and No. 7 offensive tackle in the 2025 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, loves the fact that Mirabal played a vital role in the development of 2021 first-round draft pick Penei Sewell and believes he could potentially reach that level under his guidance.
“Coach Mirabal was the one who offered me,” Utu said. “For him to coach Penei Sewell, I think it would be great for me, and it’s a big thing for me.”
Thus far, Utu, who holds over a dozen offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Oregon, and Miami, has not put too much focus on his recruitment but has instead just let things come naturally.
According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, not one single program has a double-digit percentage chance of landing the No. 1 overall prospect from the state of Nevada.
“Honesty, I’m just going on with recruiting,” Utu said. “I’m not taking it too fast or too slow. I’m just going through the motions with this one. I don’t want to speed through it and make any mistakes.”
Utu talks Bishop Gorman and Miami connection
Over the last few years, a handful of Bishop Gorman players have suited up for the Hurricanes, including the likes of Brevin Jordan, Bubba Bolden, Tate Martell, Cyrus Moss, and now 2024 commit Elija Lofton, who has been recruiting the 2025 prospect as well.
“He’s been trying to get us to go to Miami,” Utu said.
With a number of former Bishop Gorman players traveling across the nation to play in Coral Gables, Utu has developed an interest in the program, which he intends to visit soon.
“There must be something in Miami attracting Gorman guys,” Utu said. “I’ll probably go down there and see what it’s about.”
CaneSport’s take
Despite being a top 50 prospect in his class, Utu hasn’t paid much attention to the recruiting process and is letting things unfold naturally. Although he didn’t have much to say about his recruitment as a whole, when we spoke about the Hurricanes, he expressed legitimate interest in Miami and explained how they are a program he could see himself playing in for various reasons.
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