Miami offers local 2025 American Heritage CB Gregory Thomas, who is eyeing visit this month: “Miami is extra special”

Miami (Fla.) American Heritage 2025 cornerback Gregory “Zae” Thomas was well aware of his high school’s history and the program’s pipeline to Miami, so when the Hurricanes offered him in late June, his mind started racing.

Miami became the first Power Five program to offer the 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back after extending the offer following the Hurricanes’ 7-on-7 competition in late June where Thomas held his own against Miami (Fla.) Central 2024 four-star receiver Lawayne McCoy. He’d had very limited contact with the Hurricanes’ staff before his summer trip to Coral Gables, but after receiving the offer, the unranked prospect was immediately invited back to campus for Miami’s end-of-July recruiting barbecue.

“For me, I would love to attend any Florida school,” Thomas said. “There are a few schools I have a connection to, but I feel like Miami is extra special as it is in my backyard. People that I played against and I have played with now go there. People like Damari Brown and Mark Fletcher are my old teammates and now go to Miami, so to me it would be special to go there and be a part of the culture they are building. Not only that, but my connection there is my cousin from a few generations back, Ryan Mcneil, who also went there and played cornerback. That being said, I would say my interest in the Canes is high.”

Thomas received the offer from Miami secondary coach Jahmile Addae, who he was introduced to shortly after his 7-on-7 competition. Head coach Mario Cristobal also expressed interest, telling him multiple assistants informed him of his performance and that he was impressed by his size and length. He said he also briefly spoke with Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry.

“Coach Addae, he was telling me how he was also watching me and loved the way I moved and carried myself,” Thomas said. “When coach Cristobal left, coach Addae talked to me about how he wants to get me on a visit soon and on campus so I can get a sense of what they are building there, which is something very special.”

Thomas has been in contact with Western Kentucky, Florida State, Pitt, UCF, USF and Duke in addition to the Hurricanes.

CaneSport’s Take

We’re seeing Miami become the first program to offer plenty of South Florida prospects, including recently a 2029 prospect, which has been part of Cristobal’s effort to improve Miami’s brand as the go-to school for recruits in the South Florida area.

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