ANALYSIS: Miami adds violent runner in 4-star RB Kevin Riley in big recruiting win over SEC challengers

After a relatively quiet official visit weekend, Miami came through with an elite running back addition Monday evening in Northport (Al.) Tuscaloosa County four-star prospect Kevin Riley, who chose the Hurricanes over programs including Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Auburn.

According to On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power, the No. 5 running back in the class and No. 81 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking has serious potential at the college level.

“Kevin Riley’s a really interesting running back prospect and one who has risen for us at On3 throughout the offseason,” Power said. “First off, he shows really strong junior film. He’s a violent runner with very good burst. He shows the ability to make a lot of translatable runs, a guy who runs with power but also shows some speed and twitch. I like a lot about his skillset relative to what he shows on film.”

Less information about Riley’s production is available than some other running back prospects in the class. That makes his evaluation relatively murky compared to some other prospects On3 has more information on. But the potential he’s shown already is very encouraging and his athleticism is remarkably promising.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop as a senior,” Power said. “He’s powerful, plays with burst, is a downhill runner, just a downhill, attacking running back. He’s one that we’ll continue to learn more about. I’m looking forward to tracking him as a senior.”

Riley’s skillset was something Alabama noticed early and hoped to keep home in Tuscaloosa. Riley is generally the type of powerful runner the Crimson Tide have liked to recruit over the last several years.

Power said Riley is the type of player he could see playing behind a big, powerful offensive line — like the one Miami is trying to build after adding five offensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class including two five stars — and his quick burst serves as a nice compliment to his already impressive skillset.

Riley had been one of Miami’s top running back targets for some time, and 6-foot, 192-pound back said before his Miami official visit last weekend that the Hurricanes were talking to him more than any other program. The Canes threw the kitchen sink at Riley this weekend to impress him and are the only program to receive an official visit thus far.

Riley currently does not have any additional official visits planned.

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