ANALYSIS: Miami readies for big first official visit weekend of 2024 recruiting cycle

Miami will begin official visit season Friday when the Hurricanes welcome six official visitors in the 2024 recruiting class and one immediately-eligible junior college defensive back to campus for the first OV weekend of the summer.

The Hurricanes will host four On3 Industry Ranking four-star recruits and a pair of three-star prospects the staff has marked as priority targets, in addition to San Leandro (Calif.) College of San Mateo cornerback Demetrius Freeney, who landed his offer from the Hurricanes just last week.

Here’s a breakdown of the six 2024 prospects visiting Miami this weekend plus Freeney.

Kamarion Franklin | 4-star DL | Lake Cormorant (Miss). | No. 36 national recruit, No. 7 DL | 6-foot-5, 260 pounds

Franklin will visit Miami for the third time this spring after visiting the Hurricanes once in January and again in late March. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine lists Tennessee as the frontrunner with a 75.2% chance to land the four-star prospect, although Franklin has been adamant he does not have a favorite. Miami has steadily hung around the picture for Franklin but still has work to do. This weekend could be an opportunity for the Hurricanes to take a serious step forward.

Dre’lon Miller | 4-star WR | Silsbee (Tx.) | No. 76 national recruit, No. 14 WR | 6-foot, 189 pounds

The RPM lists USC the frontrunner, but Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has played a major role in getting Miller to campus for an official visit. Miller told CaneSport he planned to include Houston in his top schools before Dawson left for Miami, and the Canes seem to have gained real momentum. He has set his commitment date for June 29 but only has official visits set with Miami and USC.

Jerrae Hawkins | 4-star WR | Wheeling (W.V.), IMG Academy | No. 238 national recruit, No. 30 WR | 5-foot-9, 160 pounds

Hawkins makes up for with speed what he lacks in size and has become a priority target for Miami, Penn State and Florida this recruiting cycle. The four-star receiver, who recorded times of 10.44 and 21.4 in the 100M and 200M, respectively, has spoken highly of all three schools, but the Nittany Lions have consistently impressed Hawkins. Miami needs to use this visit weekend to close the gap.

James Nesta | 4-star LB | Cornelius (N.C.) William Amos Hough | No. 342 national recruit, No. 33 LB | 6-foot-5, 205 pounds

Miami has come on quickly for Nesta this spring after offering him less than a month ago. Linebackers coach Derek Nicholson has already built a steady relationship with the four-star linebacker, and the Hurricanes have moved from the back burner to a serious contender. Oklahoma, North Carolina, USC and Tennessee are also high on his list.

Kewan Lacy | 3-star RB | Lancaster (Tx.) | No. 534 national recruit, No. 42 RB | 6-foot, 190 pounds

Lacy is “very interested” in the Hurricanes and listed Miami among his top six schools earlier this month along with TCU, Ole Miss, Baylor, Arizona State, and Nebraska. The Hurricanes will host Lacy this week before getting No. 1 2024 RB Jerrick Gibson to Coral Gables next weekend. Lacy plans to take official visits to all six programs in his top six and hopes to announce his commitment before his school starts district play in September.

Wyatt Gilmore | 3-star EDGE | Rogers (Minn.) | No. 634 national recruit, No. 41 EDGE | 6-foot-4, 245 pounds

The Hurricanes have steadily liked Gilmore more and more as the spring has gone on, and the three-star prospect has been impressed by co-defensive line coach Jason Taylor. He plans to take official visits to his top five schools of Oklahoma, Oregon, Minnesota and Kansas State (in addition to Miami) and said his official visits will play a massive role in his decision. He plans to commit in July.

Demetrius Freeney | JUCO transfer | San Leandro (Calif.) College of San Mateo | 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Miami will be Freeney’s last official visit before he announces his commitment next week; he has already taken official visits to Colorado, Oklahoma and Houston. Hurricanes secondary coach Jahmile Addae has played a big role in getting Freeney to campus as Miami looks to add depth to its secondary.

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