Key recruiting storylines to watch during Miami’s spring game: Will the Hurricanes impress Justin Scott?

Miami’s spring game Friday night won’t just be an annual intra-squad scrimmage open to the public — it will also be the Hurricanes’ most important recruiting event of the spring.

Miami will host dozens of top-level prospects Friday evening at Drive Pink Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the site of the Canes’ spring game, in the last recruiting weekend of the spring before coaches begin traveling to see prospects next month. Among them will be five-star defensive lineman Justin Scott, four-star defensive lineman Aydin Breland and four-star defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham, all of whom are visiting from out of state.

Here are three recruiting storylines to watch during the final recruiting event of the spring.

Will the Hurricanes impress Justin Scott?

Notre Dame is the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine’s overwhelming favorite to land Scott, the No. 7 defensive lineman in the 2024 class according to the On300, but Miami has remained in the picture throughout his recruitment.

Friday will be the apex of what has effectively been a week-long Miami unofficial visit for Scott, who is in South Florida for spring break but has hung around the program since Tuesday. The Chicago native attended Miami’s practices Tuesday and Thursday, but neither were as substantial of a recruiting event as the spring game will be.

Scott already has an official visit set for Miami in June, a major recruiting victory for the Canes as it is, but Miami has work to do to close the gap. Scott also has official visits set for Ohio State and Georgia in June.

The five-star has already pushed back his commitment after he initially planned on committing Jan. 26. He previously told On3 he wanted to slow things down, take his official visits and get a better feel for his recruiting process. Georgia has made a substantial push over the last few months, and Ohio State’s coaching staff has captured his interest.

More: 5-star DL Justin Scott updates visit schedule

Friday will be a golden opportunity for the Canes to climb on his radar.

Will Aydin Breland schedule an official visit following trip?

Breland, the No. 55 recruit in the On300 and No. 6 defensive lineman in the class, is making his second trip to Miami in two months after visiting Coral Gables March 4 for the Canes’ junior day.

Miami has remained on Breland’s radar and climbed following the Californian’s last trip to South Florida, when he spent extended time around Joe Salave’a, Mario Cristobal and Jason Taylor, whom he called “the defensive triple threat of coaching” in an interview with On3’s Chad Simmons. Breland has said he wants to take his unofficial visits before announcing his official visits, but this weekend will still be vitally important for Miami to ensure it is on his list of schools to take an official to.

Miami currently sits in third for Breland behind USC and Oregon, according to the RPM.

Can Miami pull away from competition for T.A. Cunningham?

Cunningham told On3 earlier this month Miami, Penn State and Texas A&M are standing out to the four-star, currently ranked as the No. 118 overall prospect in the On300 and No. 14 defensive lineman.

Like Breland, Cunningham has received extensive attention from Salave’a, Taylor and Cristobal, who have captured his attention and built a relationship with him. Cunningham also said in the interview that Penn State head coach James Franklin was a reason for his interest in the Nittany Lions, although Miami will close the spring having brought him to South Florida twice. Penn State brought him to campus once in March, and he did not visit Texas A&M.

A wildcard here? Cunningham is transferring to Miami Central right in UM’s backyard. Cunningham attended Miami’s March 4 junior day and was impressed by the Canes. If all goes well this weekend, Miami could be well-positioned by the end of his visit.

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