Miami priority prospects the Hurricanes climbed with most during June official visits

Miami hosted more than three dozen recruits for official visits in June, and plenty of prospects’ interest in the Hurricanes climbed substantially.

Here, we’ll break down the prospects whose Miami interest climbed the most during last month’s official visits. For these purposes, we won’t include Hurricane commits like Kevin Riley or Cam Pruitt, whose interest is fairly obvious, or major targets still interested in the Canes but aren’t trending in a dramatically new direction (like five-stars Dylan Stewart, David Stone, Justin Scott or Colin Simmons). We still think Miami is still at least in the picture for those recruits, but there wasn’t a change of interest dramatic enough to end up on this list.

Kamarion Franklin | 4-star DL | Lake Cormorant (Miss). | No. 36 national recruit, No. 7 DL | 6-foot-5, 260 pounds

+++ We were kind of uncertain where Miami stood for Franklin following his official visit the first weekend of June, but his decision to return to Coral Gables for an unofficial visit for a one-on-one workout with Hurricanes co-defensive line coach Jason Taylor later last month made a statement itself. Tennessee, Auburn and Ole Miss are also in the mix for Franklin, but Miami was the only program he visited both officially and unofficially in June. The Hurricanes are definitely a real player in his recruitment. On3’s Chad Simmons recently confirmed it has become a Miami-Tennessee battle.

Caleb Odom | 4-star TE | Carrollton (Ga.) | No. 65 national recruit, No. 4 TE | 6-foot-4, 220 pounds

+++ Odom will choose between the Hurricanes, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Florida when he announces his decision July 15, but Miami landing his final official visit could play a factor in his decision. He acknowledged the importance of the Hurricanes receiving his final official visit with the opportunity to steal some momentum heading into the July dead period, and Miami is definitely a team to monitor.

Marquise Lightfoot | 4-star EDGE | Chicago (Ill.) Kenwood Academy | No. 70 national recruit, No. 5 EDGE | 6-foot-5, 220 pounds

+++ Lightfoot named Miami, USC and Ohio State as his top three schools in no particular order going into his Hurricanes official visit, although Illinois recently snuck onto his radar as well. He took official visits to the three blue-blood programs during June, and – much like Franklin – his relationship with Taylor has played a large role in his interest in the Hurricanes. Miami is definitely a contender, but USC and Ohio State both made strong cases on their official visits as well. Still, Miami has firmly established itself as a contender with a July commitment coming.

Artavius Jones | 4-star DL | Blountstown (Fla.) | No. 165 national recruit, No. 20 DL | 6-foot-4, 285 pounds

+++ Miami has blown Jones away both times he’s come to campus – once officially and once unofficially – and is in tremendous position with the four-star prospect heading into July. Florida State, Mississippi State, UCF, Charlotte and Tennessee are all on his radar as well, but he’s only taken official visits to Miami and UCF. He’s aiming to commit “either July 4 or the end of July,” which means the Hurricanes and Knights will be the only programs to receive a visit from him before he makes his decision. UCF shouldn’t be taken lightly, however, as he’s grown close with the Knights’ staff and has held the program in high regard throughout his recruitment. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine listed UCF as the leader for much of 2023 before the Hurricanes took the lead last month.

Elias Rudolph | 4-star LB | Deerfield Beach (Fla.) | No. 294 national recruit, No. 31 LB | 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

+++ Miami entered the party late for Rudolph after offering him in May, but the Hurricanes have quickly worked their way into his top three after only recruiting the four-star prospect for a month. The Hurricanes convinced Rudolph to take an official visit June 16, and he announced he canceled his Ohio State visit one day after visiting Miami. He’ll choose between Miami, Michigan and Pittsburgh July 3.

Jacory Barney | 3-star WR | Miami (Fla.) Palmetto | No. 412 prospect, No. 69 WR | 6-foot, 160 pounds

+++ Miami has come remarkably far for Barney considering the Hurricanes only intensified their recruitment a few weeks ago, and the Hurricanes are a major threat to land the local three-star receiver. Miami picked up the pace for Barney after the Palmetto receiver showed out at a prospect camp early in the month, and he took an official visit to Miami June 23. He also visited Texas A&M and Nebraska, but all signs are pointing toward Barney becoming a Hurricane.

Moritz Schmoranzer | Unranked OT | Roanoke (Va.) North Cross School | 6-foot-5, 250 pounds

+++ The German-born Schmoranzer is another Miami prospect who came out of nowhere last month. Miami offered him June 12 and brought him to campus for an official visit June 16, and he’s been blown away by the Hurricanes since they started recruiting him. West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh are also major players for Schmoranzer who hopes to commit soon.

The post Miami priority prospects the Hurricanes climbed with most during June official visits appeared first on On3.