Miami would love to land an elite quarterback in the Class of 2027, and few are rated higher than Chicago's Israel "Izzy" Abrams. I caught up with him this week on his unofficial visit to Miami. A transcript of the interview is below:
DMoney: First time in Miami—what are your impressions?
Izzy Abrams: As you can see, it’s beautiful. This is my first time ever being in Miami, so it’s an awesome experience off the jump. Getting to the facilities, getting to the fields, being able to see everything, spending time with coaches—that was a good time. I just met with Coach Cristobal, so that was good. Just catching up with the coaches, because this is obviously my first time being down here in the recruiting process with Miami recruiting me. It’s exciting. Everybody says bad things about Miami, but getting down here to see it for myself—this place is beautiful.
DMoney: Was that part of the message—that Coral Gables is different than what people think of as “Miami”?
Izzy Abrams: Yeah. I expected it to be much more rowdy, like party Miami, like what you see on TV. It’s not like that at all. This is a real cool place.
DMoney: You’ve seen guys like Cam Ward and Carson Beck come through here—elite quarterbacks. What’s the message from the staff about you fitting into that lineage?
Izzy Abrams: Having somebody like Cam Ward, who was the number one pick, and then a guy like Carson Beck—two elite quarterbacks at Miami—that’s a big part of my decision. Coming behind something like that would be cool. Those are good mentors. I know I’d be connected with them at some point during my time here. Having those guys in your corner would be great.
DMoney: What do the coaches say about what you bring to the table?
Izzy Abrams: I feel like I bring energy to a place that maybe hasn’t tapped into that yet. I’m just trying to make everybody around me better, and I want them to make me better. That’s the type of people I want to be around. That’s the vibe I got here—people trying to make me better. Talking with Coach in the quarterback room, him challenging my brain on the position—I like stuff like that. I feel like I could bring an energy to the place that would be unmatched. I’m pumped to be here.
DMoney: You saw the offense out there—guys like Malachi Toney making plays. How do you see yourself fitting?
Izzy Abrams: Toney came in and did his thing last year as a true freshman. Seeing a guy of that caliber, I don’t think I’m that far off in terms of a player coming out of high school. He came here and balled. I don’t see why I couldn’t.
DMoney: You’re one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in the country. What are the categories you’re evaluating in a school?
Izzy Abrams: I want a place where I know I can not be happy and still be okay for four years. That’s the place I want to be. On my worst days, I still want to be cool there. I don’t want to transfer—that’s garbage. Who wants to start all over again after everything you put in—classes, recruiting, all of that? Even transferring in high school was tough. I can only imagine doing that in college. If I’m going somewhere, it’s going to be a place where I can lay my legacy out and do everything I can to make the program better.
DMoney: First time in Miami—what are your impressions?
Izzy Abrams: As you can see, it’s beautiful. This is my first time ever being in Miami, so it’s an awesome experience off the jump. Getting to the facilities, getting to the fields, being able to see everything, spending time with coaches—that was a good time. I just met with Coach Cristobal, so that was good. Just catching up with the coaches, because this is obviously my first time being down here in the recruiting process with Miami recruiting me. It’s exciting. Everybody says bad things about Miami, but getting down here to see it for myself—this place is beautiful.
DMoney: Was that part of the message—that Coral Gables is different than what people think of as “Miami”?
Izzy Abrams: Yeah. I expected it to be much more rowdy, like party Miami, like what you see on TV. It’s not like that at all. This is a real cool place.
DMoney: You’ve seen guys like Cam Ward and Carson Beck come through here—elite quarterbacks. What’s the message from the staff about you fitting into that lineage?
Izzy Abrams: Having somebody like Cam Ward, who was the number one pick, and then a guy like Carson Beck—two elite quarterbacks at Miami—that’s a big part of my decision. Coming behind something like that would be cool. Those are good mentors. I know I’d be connected with them at some point during my time here. Having those guys in your corner would be great.
DMoney: What do the coaches say about what you bring to the table?
Izzy Abrams: I feel like I bring energy to a place that maybe hasn’t tapped into that yet. I’m just trying to make everybody around me better, and I want them to make me better. That’s the type of people I want to be around. That’s the vibe I got here—people trying to make me better. Talking with Coach in the quarterback room, him challenging my brain on the position—I like stuff like that. I feel like I could bring an energy to the place that would be unmatched. I’m pumped to be here.
DMoney: You saw the offense out there—guys like Malachi Toney making plays. How do you see yourself fitting?
Izzy Abrams: Toney came in and did his thing last year as a true freshman. Seeing a guy of that caliber, I don’t think I’m that far off in terms of a player coming out of high school. He came here and balled. I don’t see why I couldn’t.
DMoney: You’re one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in the country. What are the categories you’re evaluating in a school?
Izzy Abrams: I want a place where I know I can not be happy and still be okay for four years. That’s the place I want to be. On my worst days, I still want to be cool there. I don’t want to transfer—that’s garbage. Who wants to start all over again after everything you put in—classes, recruiting, all of that? Even transferring in high school was tough. I can only imagine doing that in college. If I’m going somewhere, it’s going to be a place where I can lay my legacy out and do everything I can to make the program better.
