Miami Hurricanes ramping up communication with 4-star CB Ben Hanks Jr. as fall season approaches

Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington 2025 four-star cornerback Ben Hanks Jr., a top-10 corner in his class, says that once Aug. 1 hit Miami instantly amplified its contact with him.

Ranked the No. 114 prospect in the nation, UM took advantage once college programs became allowed to call and text 2025 recruits directly Aug. 1. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound defensive back said he now hears from Miami’s coaching staff every day. It helps Miami having running backs coach Tim Harris Jr. (the son of Booker T. head coach Tim Harris) now established in Coral Gables, and Hanks’ relationship with Miami’s staff is growing quickly.

Hanks holds offers to more than a dozen programs already including Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Florida and Michigan, among others. He has taken four unofficial visits to Coral Gables and snuck in a visit to campus during the final week of July before the August dead period — the only recruiting visit he took last month. He is also the son of former All-SEC linebacker Ben Hanks, who posted more than 300 career tackles and was part of three SEC-championship teams at Florida.

“Coach Tim Harris (Jr.), when he came (to Miami), the relationship with him (is now) growing stronger,” Hanks said. “Right now, everything is going good. I get texts from them every day, so it’s been good.”

Harris Jr. talks to Hanks daily about building the Booker T.-to-Miami pipeline and the importance of keeping local talent in South Florida, emphasizing to Hanks the recruiting strategy that turned Miami into a national power in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Hanks said Harris Jr. tells him the Hurricanes want to keep great local talent home to return to prominence. He’s also had contact with Miami secondary coach Jahmile Addae, although Harris Jr. has been his primary contact.

“It’s the hometown school. Who doesn’t want to play for their hometown school?” Hanks said. “Miami’s a great place. Great location. Great weather. Great place to play football at.”

Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Miami, Pitt, Florida State and Auburn’s respective recruiting efforts have made them stand out to Hanks. He said a few schools are starting to stand out but he wants to remain patient in his recruitment with more than a year before his signing day.

CaneSport’s Take

Miami didn’t have as much contact earlier in the summer, but the Hurricanes aren’t holding back now that they can have direct contact with prospects in next year’s recruiting class. Hanks may be the best cornerback in South Florida in this year’s cycle, and he’s the kind of elite local prospect Miami needs to consistently land if it wants to return to prominence.

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