Miami Recruiting: Expert explains Hurricanes’ biggest remaining needs
Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes brought in the No. 8 class in the nation and top class in the ACC for the upcoming 2023 season. Four top-100 overall prospects, headlined by the five-star offensive tackle duo of Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola, helped provide the program its second top-10 class in the last decade, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.
The Canes’ 2024 class is currently a step behind, however. With kickoff nearing, Miami has 21 commits, equaling the No. 19 class in the country and the No. 3 class in the ACC, behind the conference heavyweights, Florida State and Clemson.
Eight of the 21 pledges are four-stars, including top-100 recruits Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Joshisa Trader, Chicago Kenwood Academy EDGE Marquise Lightfoot and Northport (Ala.) Tuscaloosa County running back Kevin Riley. The class also features balance on both sides of the ball, as the eight four-stars are split in half on offense and defense.
Still, there’s room for improvement in Coral Gables. Recruiting never stops, and CaneSport recruiting insider Izubee Charles joined On3’s Inside Scoop recruiting show to talk which positions Miami needs to address on the recruiting trail in order to bolster the Hurricanes’ 2024 class.
Miami vying for 5-star David Stone, DL help
Blountstown (Fla.) four-star Artavius Jones and Miami Columbus three-star Daylen Russell are the lone defensive linemen committed to the Canes in mid-August. Filling out the DL room is a major priority in the eyes of Charles, especially as Miami is in the hunt for a pair of five-stars at that position: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy DL David Stone and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei DL Aydin Breland.
“Right now, (Miami) has two really good edge-rushers (committed) in Elias Rudolph and Marquise Lightfoot, but in the interior they’re lacking with that,” Charles said. “Right now they have Artavius Jones committed, a guy they really, really like, but they really do want to bring in more guys to solidify the middle of the defense in the trenches up front. Guys like David Stone, Aydin Breland and a bunch of others.”
According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), the Oklahoma Sooners have the best chance to land Stone — an Oklahoma City native playing for IMG Academy — at 79.1%. The No. 8 overall prospect in the cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking, has taken over 10 visits to Norman.
Miami was one of four programs to receive an official visit in June, however. While the Sooners are still the clear favorite, Charles thinks the gap could be getting closed by the Canes with Stone’s decision date being just 10 days away.
“For a long time I was with everyone thinking Oklahoma was running away with this one, but after talking to Stone at IMG’s media day, i’m kind of thinking Miami is creeping up on them and making some noise right now,” Charles said. “With Miami, they’re pulling out all the little things to try and get David Stone to commit to the Hurricanes … Miami’s really letting Stone know he’s wanted and letting his family know they’re wanted in Miami too. I feel like Miami’s making up a lot of ground right now. I think Oklahoma’s still in the lead, but i’m not shooting Miami out of this picture at all.”
Hurricanes seeking additions at safety
In the secondary, adding depth at safety is another necessity. Toronto Clearwater Academy three-star Isaiah Thomas and Baton Rouge (La.) Southern University Lab three-star Dylan Day are currently in the class at the position, but like the defensive line spot, there are big fish still available that the Hurricanes are after.
Top-100 prospect and No. 3 safety Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna four-star Zaquan Patterson is set to commit on Aug. 22 or 23, with Miami leading the RPM at a whopping 91.3%. The Canes are also in a battle with Florida for Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland four-star safety Zay Mincey, the No. 9 safety in the cycle.
One of Miami’s strengths on its 2023 roster is the safety position. Shoring that room up for the future is at the top of Cristobal’s recruiting to-do list, according to Charles.
“Right now, Miami has arguably the best safety duo in the country with Kam Kinchens and James Williams, but after this year those two guys are gone and the depth in that position room is kind of lacking,” Charles said. “I feel like going after guys like Zaquan Patterson, Zay Mincey and they have two guys committed right now in Dylan Day and Isaiah Thomas. Safety is probably one of the biggest position groups that Miami needs to fill this cycle.”
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