With upcoming Miami official visit, IMG 4-star WR Jerrae Hawkins talks Hurricanes, other competitors

IMG Academy 2024 four-star receiver Jerrae “Tank” Hawkins is set to take his first official visit of the summer to Miami this weekend as the Hurricanes push to separate themselves from two other championship-winning programs fighting for the prospect.

Hawkins will visit Miami June 2, Florida June 9 and Penn State June 23 and said his recruitment is between the trio of schools. He plans to announce his commitment June 25 following his official visits and said the Hurricanes have done their part to land firmly on the radar of the No. 230 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.

“It’s mainly been the amount of love they’ve been showing me,” Hawkins said when asked why he chose to schedule an official visit to Miami. “It’s just how much interest they’ve had in me, so I had to give them a chance.”

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound receiver, who is originally from Wheeling, WV, cited his relationship with Miami receivers coach Kevin Beard as a reason for his interest in the Hurricanes as well as his potential fit into Miami’s offensive system. He was encouraged by his May 6 visit to Miami and felt he needed to return to see more.

This weekend, he hopes to get a better feel for things in Coral Gables, and he wants to use his official visits to feel out his top schools.

“What do I want to see? Mainly just who will give me the best opportunity for the future, really,” Hawkins said. “Really that’s what I want for the coaches to show me. It’s a big feel type of thing. I’ve got to feel it.”

Hawkins said he wants to land at a program that emphasizes player development and will give him the opportunity to play early, which he feels like Miami, Florida and Penn State have done. Penn State is the current leader in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine with an estimated 43% chance. Florida sits in second with a 21.7% chance, and Miami comes in third with a 14.1% chance.

Florida head coach Billy Napier’s background as a receivers coach at Alabama and Penn State’s recent receiver production from players like KJ Hammler have helped stoke his interest in the two schools. Hawkins also spoke highly of Florida’s coaching staff and holds Gators receivers coach Billy Gonzales in high regard.

CaneSport’s Take

Hawkins had plenty of positive things to say about Penn State and Florida, so Miami will need to make a big impression on him this weekend for his second time in Coral Gables. He has the chance to add serious speed to the Canes’ receivers room with times of 10.44 and 21.4 in the 100M and 200M, respectively. This upcoming OV will tell a lot about the Canes’ chances here.

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