Comprehensive recap: More than 30 recruits share thoughts on annual Miami recruiting cookout
CaneSport caught up with more than 30 Miami recruits in attendance for the Hurricanes’ annual end-of-summer recruiting cookout Saturday which came between the July and August dead periods. Many of Miami’s 2025 commits and dozens of the Hurricanes’ top 2026 targets were in attendance.
Here’s what some of Miami’s top recruits had to say about Saturday’s cookout.
Top Miami 2025 prospects
5-star WR Jaime Ffrench
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1 CB, No. 3 overall prospect
“Coach KB (Kevin Beard) is a good coach and he knows what he’s doing on and off the field. He’s also a good man who’s going to give you everything you need to get to the next level.”
4-star S Hylton “Drake” Stubbs | Miami commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 4 S, No. 55 overall prospect
“I felt great. I felt great about everything. I’m happy to be back at my room.”
4-star CB Ben Hanks Jr.
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11 CB, No. 99 overall prospect
“I just wanted to come here and have a good time, talk to the coaches more and then communicate with the guys out here.”
4-star S Bryce Fitzgerald
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 13 S, No. 123 overall prospect
“It was cool talking to the coaching staff for the last time before my commitment. Getting to talk to them before, I think it was a plus for me.”
4-star TE Brock Schott | Miami commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 10 TE, No. 184 overall prospect
“It was super energetic and exciting.”
4-star QB Luke Nickel | Miami commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 17 QB, No. 232 overall prospect
“It was super cool. I mean, we’ve already been talking a good bit, but just being able to come out here and see these guys in person one last time before the season starts, it was super cool.”
4-star TE Luka Gilbert | Miami commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 14 TE, No. 275 overall prospect
“I really enjoyed being back on campus. It was a great opportunity to build bonds with my future teammates.”
4-star 2025 WR Daylyn Upshaw | Miami commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 61 WR, No. 378 overall prospect
“I’ve known since day one that Miami was one of my top options and when I came on my official visit it just put the icing on the cake.”
4-star EDGE Herbert Scroggins | Miami commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 34 EDGE, No. 380 overall prospect
“I felt like it was Home Sweet Home. That’s all I have to say.”
Top 2026 recruits
4-star WR Calvin Russell
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 2 WR, No. 14 overall prospect
”It’s just home. It’s definitely the most convenient (to visit), so why not. It’s always good to get (around) coach (Kevin Beard). He’s given me some constructive criticism before and I got to use it the next week, and I loved it.”
4-star TE Kaiden Prothro
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 2 TE, No. 34 overall prospect
“I just really enjoyed talking to coach Woodiel. He has a great personality. Just being around here and being around the coaches is great. Coach Woodiel has a good personality.”
4-star S Justice Fitzpatrick
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 5 S, No. 49 overall prospect
“I think it was just definitely important to get over here. I haven’t been over here enough, really. I’ve been to Alabama. I know Bama. It was definitely important for me to (see Miami’s staff) today.”
4-star DL McHale Blade
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 9 DL, No. 88 overall prospect
“They were the first school to offer me, and I feel like that really separated them. That really meant a lot. They were the first school to ever offer me, so of course I had to come back and show love.”
4-star WR Brandon Bennett
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12 WR, No. 94 overall prospect
“It was good getting to meet all of the coaches again. They always do a good job making Miami feel like home. Every time I come here the hospitality doesn’t change. That’s one thing I love about Miami: it’s genuine. They keep it real with me.”
4-star DL Deuce Geralds
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11 DL, No. 107 overall prospect
“Being able to be coached up by legends like coach Joe (Salave’a) and coach (Jason) Taylor is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There’s no better place for me to get developed than here.”
4-star 2026 WR Travis Johnson
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 20 WR, No. 133 overall prospect
“I love it here, it’s Miami. Me and coach Beard have a great strong relationship and I love how he coaches and all of that.”
4-star WR Jayden Petit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 24 WR, No. 152 overall prospect
“I like being over here. I really enjoy being over here. It’s like family.”
4-star ATH Heze Kent
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11 ATH, No. 155 overall prospect
“I love the coaching staff, and this is my first time being back since going into my sophomore year so I wanted to see how different it was. I feel like they’re really trying to build this program back up.”
4-star EDGE Trenton Henderson
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 17 EDGE, No. 199 overall prospect
“I like Miami’s coaching staff. They’re very welcoming, make me feel like this is home. I like their coaching staff.”
4-star 2026 WR Somourian Wingo
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 34 WR, No. 204 overall prospect
“I’m really impressed with everything and the way that coach Beard handled everything. How he’s in control, how he breaks everything down to make it easier which interests me in Miami a lot.”
4-star WR DJ Williams (being recruited at CB)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 45 WR, No. 302 overall prospect
“I really really loved it. I’m not gonna lie. It’s definitely a lot of what I’ve heard from other people, and it’s definitely just a great environment.”
3-star RB Javari Barnett
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 38 RB, No. 421 overall prospect
“Me and coach Merritt already had a good relationship, so me coming here and meeting new and different people and new coaches, it was more of a family relationship. They were treating me like I was already there.”
3-star 2026 CB Rodarion Jones
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 33 CB, No. 436 overall prospect
“Everything was good. Just the atmosphere and everything was great really.”
3-star 2025 DL Donta Simpson | Maryland commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 110 DL, No. 1249 overall prospect
“Getting an offer from the Hurricanes felt great because I’ve been a Miami fan my whole life. It really felt amazing.”
The post Comprehensive recap: More than 30 recruits share thoughts on annual Miami recruiting cookout appeared first on On3.
