Miami skyrockets on radar of top-60 prospect Marquise Lightfoot, who will take Hurricanes official visit

Two months ago, Chicago (Ill.) Kenwood Academy 2024 4-star EDGE Marquise Lightfoot didn’t have a Miami offer. Now, off his first trip to Coral Gables, one of the fastest-rising recruits in this year’s recruiting cycle knows the Hurricanes will be among his top schools.

Lightfoot, the No. 52 overall prospect in the On300, No. 6 EDGE and No. 3 recruit in Illinois, will take an official visit to Miami this summer following a massive recruiting push by the Hurricanes and his first visit to Coral Gables this week. A date has not been set for the visit, which Lightfoot said he wants to bring his mother to, but Miami has solidified its place among the leaders for the 6-foot-4, 220-pound EDGE.

“Everything was perfect,” Lightfoot said. “I definitely know Miami will be one of my top schools when I do decide to make my decision.”

In addition to months of contact and hearing recruiting pitches from co-defensive line coach Jason Taylor, whose NFL stardom Lightfoot holds tremendous respect for, the Canes gave Lightfoot the VIP treatment on his visit. He met with most of the defensive staff in addition to taking campus tours, had a one-on-one personal film session with Taylor and discussed how the staff sees him fitting into the Hurricanes’ defensive scheme (Miami’s coaches want Lightfoot at the JACK position, which is traditionally a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position with great pass-rushing skills).

Miami is in his group of top schools along with Michigan, Alabama, USC, Georgia and Ohio State. He does not have any official visit dates set but plans to take all five of his OVs.

“The coaches are willing to develop me for who I am as a player,” Lightfoot said. “They have my goals as their No. 1 interest, so I know that if I go there and I put in the work, I’ll end up as a first-round draft pick.”

Taylor has played a substantial role in attracting Lightfoot to Miami, and he’s pitched that Lightfoot would play the same position Taylor played during his time in the NFL. Taylor impressed Lightfoot when the two broke down his individual film and showed him where he can continue to grow. Head coach Mario Cristobal has also emphasized how bad Miami wants him in Coral Gables and continued to make Lightfoot feel like a priority.

He wants his mother to accompany him on his next visit down after making this trip with several of his high school coaches.

He’ll visit Florida Thursday before heading to Georgia, flying out to USC and then returning home to Chicago.

CaneSport’s Take

Lightfoot went from being a moderately-rated three-star at the start of the year to one of the most coveted EDGEs in this year’s class in a matter of months. He’s landed well over three dozen offers and has been pursued by just about every notable program in the country. If you’re unfamiliar with him, think of him as another Elijah Rushing-type prospect with a similar skillset and potential (Rushing is actually the No. 4 EDGE in the On300; Lightfoot is No. 6).

His recruitment marks a substantial step forward in Miami’s fight to land defensive linemen and EDGEs in this year’s class, and the Canes are now in better-than-average shape with both Lightfoot and Rushing, not to mention five-star defensive tackle David Stone on the interior. (Of course, landing all three would be difficult. But landing two or even one would be a massive win.)

With Lightfoot’s interest, Miami’s 2024 defensive line class has a very encouraging feel.

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