Marley family connection could help Miami win with 2024 target Chris Cole, who has Hurricanes visit date set
Rohan Marley, the son of reggae superstar Bob Marley, was a fan favorite for the Miami Hurricanes in the early 1990s, racking up 193 tackles in 27 games for The U, including a team-high 95 tackles during the 1993 season.
Three decades later, the Hurricanes are in the running for another Marley family linebacker after offering Marley’s nephew Salem (Va.) three-star linebacker Chris Cole.
“I was super excited about (getting an offer from Miami) since my uncle played there too,” Cole told CaneSport. “It’s super special because he played there and he did well there too. I would say he was one of the best linebackers to ever play there. It would be great to follow in his footsteps.”
Cole, who is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, is much larger than his uncle Rohan, who during his time at Miami played at 5-foot-8, 205 pounds. Despite the size difference, Cole has incorporated a lot of suggestions from the former Hurricane great into his own game.
“He always tells me to have quick feet,” Cole said. “I remember the first thing he told me when I was in eighth grade was to buy a rope, and do ropes all the time. He also told me to go to the beach and run.”
Despite hailing from a long line of brilliant musicians, Cole, who is the No. 901 overall prospect and No. 98 linebacker in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking, did not inherit the musician’s touch and prefers to spend his free time playing video games and hanging out with his friends.
“No, I can’t do any of that,” Cole said when asked if he had any musical talents. “I like to play the game a lot, whether it’s Madden or NBA 2K. Sometimes me and my friends go out and just have fun. We usually got out to the launching pad sometimes.”
Cole’s recruitment is starting to take shape
Since the start of the spring, Cole’s stock has begun to rise as programs across the country, such as Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and USC, have begun to take notice of his talents, with one of his latest offers coming from Alabama.
Thus far, Cole has scheduled official visits with Miami (June 23) Penn State (June 2), Notre Dame (June 9), and Georgia (June 16).
When previously asked what he would be looking for in a school, Cole mentioned to On3’s Chad Simmons that education, development, and the environment around the school would be the biggest factors in his decision.
“First is the education part,” Cole said of what he’s looking for. “I want to go somewhere that they have a great education program. The second one is the people there, where they’re all great all-around people, the coaches, the players, and where I could fit. Three is the development part. I want to be developed on and off the field as a man and as a player, too, so I can make it to the next level.”
CaneSport’s Take
The family connection to Miami is a neat aspect to Cole’s recruitment, and his June visit will go a long way toward figuring out just where the Hurricanes fit in here. UM has a spot in his heart for sure, and he’s one to monitor closely.
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