Mario Cristobal’s first recruiting class at Miami was ranked No. 7 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He’s got some work to do if the Hurricanes are going to put back-to-back top-10 classes together.
After the first recruiting weekend in June, Miami stands at No. 27 in the Class of 2024 with an average player rating of 86.91 for its nine commitments — a significant dip from the 91.95 average last cycle.
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Four-star receiver Chance Robinson is the only commitment who ranks among the top 500 recruits in the country.
The Hurricanes, though, will be hosting one of their biggest recruiting weekends in school history, with six top-35 ranked players expected to be on campus starting Friday among the dozen-plus official visitors. The following two weeks will be jam-packed with talent as well.
Expectations, though, should remain in check. Last year, the Hurricanes eventually signed only 12 of the 32 summer visitors they hosted (38 percent). They did better in the fall, signing eight of their nine official visitors who stopped by in November and December.
Coming off a 5-7 season with a new offensive and defensive coordinator, it might take seeing better results before recruits totally buy in.
Here’s a closer look at where Miami stands with commitments and targets with six months to go before the early signing period.
Quarterback
Commitment: Judd Anderson, No. 63 QB in the 247Sports Composite
Breakdown: Anderson, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound passer and basketball standout from Gray (Ga.) Jones County, was handpicked by new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and committed to the Hurricanes over an offer from Georgia Tech in April. He’s scheduled to take an official visit to Coral Gables on June 23 and is recruiting for his future team.
YOU KNOW WHERE ITS AT 🟧🟩🙌🏼 @Tankk_1k https://t.co/JyEZL42CMJ
— Judd Anderson (@JuddAnderson22) June 4, 2023
But the Hurricanes might not be done pursuing QBs, with LSU commitment and Elite 11 finalist Colin Hurley of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian reportedly a target. Hurley hasn’t announced plans to visit anywhere but Baton Rouge so far.
Running back
Commitment: Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, No. 55 RB
Breakdown: The explosive 6-foot, 175-pound Wheatley-Humphrey from South Broward High in Fort Lauderdale pledged to the Hurricanes in mid-April over interest from Florida State, UCF, Louisville, Ole Miss, Maryland and others. He hasn’t announced plans to take visits elsewhere. He’s not the only back the Hurricanes are trying to sign. Miami is pushing to add four-star Gainesville native Jerrick Gibson of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, who is scheduled to visit Coral Gables this weekend. Texas is heavily favored to land Gibson.
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Four-star Kevin Riley of Northport (Ala.) Tuscaloosa County visited Coral Gables unofficially in April for the spring game and will be back on campus on June 16 according to On3. Four-star Ca’lil Valentine of Chandler (Ariz.) High, told 247Sports that he wanted to get back to Miami for an official visit after visiting unofficially in late March. He’s set a commitment date of July 8. Four-star Chauncey Bowens, a Florida commitment since last September and a Palm Beach County resident, is another target the Hurricanes have pursued.
Receiver
Commitment: Chance Robinson, No. 22 WR
Breakdown: Robinson, a standout at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, committed to the Hurricanes following their spring game and has been trying to help recruit his South Florida Express teammates — Jeremiah Smith and Joshisa Trader — to stay home. But Robinson is also working on his backup plan; he visited Penn State last weekend and has a scheduled trip to Gainesville this weekend.
I just wanna thank PSU family for all the love! @coachjfranklin @coachseider @coachmhagans @Coach_Yurcich @chrismahon_ @shadrich80 pic.twitter.com/F7vFPtxbnH
— Chance J Robinson (@ChanceJRobinso1) June 5, 2023
Aside from trying to flip the five-star Smith from his pledge to Ohio State and convince the five-star Trader to pick Miami over Florida State, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State, the Hurricanes have a visit lined up with four-star Braylon Staley of Aiken, S.C., this weekend. Miami had top-100 recruit Drelon Miller of Silsbee, Texas, on campus last weekend along with four-star speedy slot receiver Jerrae Hawkins of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. Miller told On3 he’ll choose between Miami and USC and announce his choice June 29. Hawkins has Miami in his top three with Florida and Penn State and will announce his choice June 26.
Tight end
Breakdown: The Hurricanes don’t have a commitment yet but remain in the fight for top-100 recruits Caleb Odom and Amir Jackson out of Georgia and four-star Elija Lofton of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. Lofton is scheduled to visit this weekend, Odom on June 23 and Jackson in September.
Great day at Bishop Gorman Pro Day 👊
Shoutout to ESPN Jr. 300 prospect Elija Lofton on earning an invite to the @UANextFootball All-America game‼️ pic.twitter.com/Mr42PyE4bP
— The Underclassman Report (@TheUCReport) March 30, 2023
Offensive line
Commitment: Juan Minaya, No. 88 OT
Breakdown: The Hurricanes loaded up on offensive linemen in the 2023 cycle with five-star offensive tackles Francis Mauigoa, Samson Okunlola and top transfers Matt Lee and Javion Cohen. So it’s not surprising they’re not tearing it up again. Minaya, a 6-6, 335-pound interior lineman of Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, picked Miami over Duke and Maryland and is scheduled to take his official visit on June 23.
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Cristobal, of course, isn’t going to just sign one lineman this cycle. Top-100 interior lineman Isendre Ahfua of Seattle O’Dea is scheduled to visit June 16, and three-star offensive tackle Zuri Madison of Lexington (Ky.) Douglass will be in town for an OV on June 23. Two-way lineman Eddie Tuerk of La Grange (Ill.) Lyons Township is also scheduled to visit June 16.
Defensive line
Commitment: Daylen Russell, No. 98 DL
Breakdown: This is the area Cristobal is looking to hit a grand slam in terms of upgrading Miami’s talent through the high school ranks — and the Hurricanes have plenty of heavy hitters scheduled to drop by on official visits. Among them this coming weekend: five-star edge rushers Colin Simmons of Duncanville (Texas) High and Dylan Stewart of Washington, D.C. Friendship Collegiate Academy, as well as five-star defensive lineman David Stone of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and top-100 defensive lineman Aydin Breland of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei.
Four-star edge rusher LJ McCray of Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland is also scheduled to be on campus.
The Hurricanes hosted top-100 defensive lineman Kamarion Franklin of Lake Cormorant (Miss.) High this past weekend, and Miami and Tennessee are the favorites, according to On3. Five-star defensive lineman Justin Scott of Chicago St. Ignatius is another one to track. He’s already been down to Miami on a long unofficial visit and is scheduled to take his official visit on June 16. On3 lists UM as its leader, but Scott just came off an official to Georgia and was raving about the Bulldogs. Notre Dame also lurks. Top-100 edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot of Chicago Kenwood is scheduled to visit June 26.
Expect Miami to sign between six to seven defensive linemen.
Linebackers
Commitment: Vincent Shavers, No. 67 LB
Breakdown: Shavers, a standout at four-time defending state champion Miami Central, is the Canes’ most recent pledge, on May 19. Miami signed five linebackers last cycle and is aiming for quality over quantity this time around. Four-star prospect James Nesta of Cornelius (N.C.) Hough visited this past weekend and reportedly has trips lined up to North Carolina and Oklahoma in the coming weeks.
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Other targets visiting this coming weekend include three-stars Cam Pruitt of Theodore (Ala.) High and Keyshawn Flowers of Severn (Md.) Spalding. Four-stars Dylan Williams of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly and Chris Cole of Salem (Va.) are scheduled to visit June 23.
Defensive backs
Commitments: Isaiah Thomas, No. 54 SAF, and Dylan Day, No. 65 SAF
Breakdown: Considering the Hurricanes signed four experienced cornerback transfers this past cycle (Terry Roberts has since re-entered the portal), and safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams are draft-eligible after this coming season, it’s imperative the staff brings in young defensive backs who can contribute. The Canes are competing with two-time defending national champion Georgia for some of the top prospects on their board.
2024 CB Ellis Robinson IV flashes good closing speed in off man coverage. The @GeorgiaFootball commit closed the 4.9 yard throwing window in 1.1 seconds. #ReelAnalytics #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/FNyF8dqhBR
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) May 7, 2023
Five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy has been committed to Georgia since February, but his official visit this coming weekend will be the fourth time he’s been on Miami’s campus this year, InsideTheU reported. The Hurricanes are also pushing to flip four-star Georgia safety commitment Jaylen Heyward of Rockledge (Fla.) High, who will visit June 23. Four-star Zavier Mincey of Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland is supposed to visit the same weekend. The Canes are battling Florida for him.
Three-star cornerback Ricky Knight III of North Palm Beach (Fla.) Benjamin is visiting Penn State, Illinois, Florida State and Miami this month (in that order). Four-star safety Zaquan Patterson of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna isn’t visiting Miami in June but is another big name to know.
(Photo of Aydin Breland: Manny Navarro / The Athletic)
Manny Navarro has been the University of Miami beat writer for The Athletic since September 2018. He's also the host of the "Wide Right" podcast. Manny's career started at The Miami Herald in October 1995 when he was a high school senior. He covered the Hurricanes, Heat, Marlins and high school sports for 23 years at the paper. He makes occasional appearances on WSVN's Sports Xtra on Sunday nights and is on the "Big O Show" with Orlando Alzugaray at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Follow Manny on Twitter @Manny_Navarro
