Miami not shying away from 4-star DL despite Auburn commitment: ‘They know they were definitely a top-three team’

IMG Academy four-star defensive lineman TJ Lindsey may have committed to Auburn over programs like Miami, Texas, Arkansas and Texas A&M last month, but the Hurricanes’ staff hasn’t shied away from pursuing the 6-foot-3, 270-pound recruit.

Lindsey official visited Miami June 9, one week after visiting Auburn and just ahead of his official visits to Texas and Texas A&M, and the Hurricanes have remained in the picture, although he’s not actively looking to decommit from the Tigers.

“They know they were definitely a top-three team (before the Aug. 12 commitment),” Lindsey said. “It was a three-way split between them, Texas and Auburn. There’s conversations (with Miami), they keep in contact, they still talk to me, but they don’t really pressure on me or anything like that.”

Lindsey said it was not easy to say no to the Hurricanes after the relationship he’d developed with co-defensive line coaches Joe Salave’a and Jason Taylor — the two Miami coaches he continues to hear from the most — and head coach Mario Cristobal. He says his comfort at Auburn and different opportunities led him to commit to the Tigers, so that’s something the Canes need to overcome. And he’s not shutting the door on Miami.

“It’s definitely coach Taylor, the experience and getting coached by him (that made Miami a finalist),” Lindsey said. “But it was also Miami in general. I think they’re going to become a really good team there, and that comes with a lot of opportunities on and off the field.”

Lindsey would like to visit Miami for a game this fall after transferring to IMG in Bradenton, Fla. from Arkansas earlier this year – he can now make the three-hour drive across South Florida for a game day trip if his schedule lines up.

CaneSport’s Take

Miami has mostly worked to keep in touch and maintain communication with Lindsey as opposed to actively fighting to flip him from Auburn, and he still feels a welcome relationship with the staff. “They’ve been recruiting me how they’ve always recruited me, but they know I’m a lot closer to (Auburn) now,” Lindsey said. “I feel like they’re just taking a normal approach, saying the opportunity is still there if I want it. I guess (if they were to recruit me away from Auburn) it would have to be over time.” Lindsey plans to attend Auburn’s Sept. 30 game against Georgia but does not have any other game day visits scheduled.

Miami currently has one interior defensive lineman committed in the 2024 class, so it’s no surprise the Hurricanes are keeping their lines open with already committed prospects like Lindsey, Kamarion Franklin and David Stone, and we expect Miami to keep things open as they attempt to add much-needed interior depth.

The post Miami not shying away from 4-star DL despite Auburn commitment: ‘They know they were definitely a top-three team’ appeared first on On3.