On a weekend filled with linebacker targets, the nation’s No.1 linebacker in the 2027 class made his way down to Coral Gables for an official visit with Miami. Tampa native Kaden Henderson has made his interest in the Hurricanes clear over the past year, visiting unofficially on multiple occasions.
But the Hurricanes are not alone in this recruitment, battling against top schools such as Texas A&M, Notre Dame and LSU for the 6-foot-2, 220 pound linebacker. Henderson has already spoken with CanesInSight on multiple occasions this year on where Miami stands in his recruitment, and caught up with us again to break down his official visit.
Overall thoughts from his visit:
I just had a great time with my guys, my host was DeAnthony Lafayette who’s like a brother to me. Being around everybody on the staff, it was a different feeling this week.
“Being with the guys on the team, asking them super specific questions, picking their brain, I'm seeing how they think, how the staff is regardless of recruiting.”
“A lot of recruiting is like a used car salesman, the guys trying to give you this pitch. But I feel the thing with Miami that's been different than any other school is that they’re real with me and that’s what I love, ultimately. “
On defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman:
“We talk so much, we’re even going to talk when I get back home on zoom to watch some things about Mo Toure. He understands the process, I’m still going to take my OV’s and he wants the best for me.”
“A lot of coaches just plug and play but I think coach Hetherman knows your strengths and will use them.”
On Mario Cristobal:
“He blows my phone up 24/7, that’s my guy man.”
“Seeing him this week and really just seeing the bigger picture, things bigger than football. He’s a leader of young men — I feel that's what you want as a head coach, be there for you regardless of football.”
On where this visit moved Miami:
“I think it definitely boosts them up just being here knowing how I can make an impact for my home state — I don’t have to leave the state to play on a National Championship side.”
“So many guys from central Florida here I could team back up with. And just knowing I can stay in the crib and make a huge impact, it means a lot.”
On his recruitment process:
“I’m not going to make an emotional decision, I want to be 100% sure. That's why I'm taking these visits, and that's why I'm not just committed to a school. I'm not going to be a commit and decommit type of guy.”
(Referring to Miami v. Texas A&M discourse) “Everybody keeps forgetting about Notre Dame.”
“I’m going through it day by day, praying about it and I will make my decision pretty soon — probably this month.”
On how the staff plans to utilize him:
“A guy they can utilize off the edge and in pass coverage, a regular off-ball backer. This is a program I know they’re going to utilize me in the most ways to get my draft stock up”
“I'm going to be with coach [Taylor] I'm not just going to be with coach Hetherman. I'm going to be a guy that's used off the edge as well.”
On the effort from Miami commits to get him on board:
“Donte was on me, everyone really. They’re like-minded individuals who just want to go win a natty.”
On where Miami stands in his recruitment:
“I'd definitely say very high. I had a great time, I see myself being back here.”
On what’s going into his final decision:
“It's about the people I'm going to be around the building with 24//7 — like-minded teammates. Life after football, education, all those things definitely take part.”
This article was a mix of my group interview and my one-on-one with Henderson which you can check out below:
But the Hurricanes are not alone in this recruitment, battling against top schools such as Texas A&M, Notre Dame and LSU for the 6-foot-2, 220 pound linebacker. Henderson has already spoken with CanesInSight on multiple occasions this year on where Miami stands in his recruitment, and caught up with us again to break down his official visit.
Overall thoughts from his visit:
I just had a great time with my guys, my host was DeAnthony Lafayette who’s like a brother to me. Being around everybody on the staff, it was a different feeling this week.
“Being with the guys on the team, asking them super specific questions, picking their brain, I'm seeing how they think, how the staff is regardless of recruiting.”
“A lot of recruiting is like a used car salesman, the guys trying to give you this pitch. But I feel the thing with Miami that's been different than any other school is that they’re real with me and that’s what I love, ultimately. “
On defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman:
“We talk so much, we’re even going to talk when I get back home on zoom to watch some things about Mo Toure. He understands the process, I’m still going to take my OV’s and he wants the best for me.”
“A lot of coaches just plug and play but I think coach Hetherman knows your strengths and will use them.”
On Mario Cristobal:
“He blows my phone up 24/7, that’s my guy man.”
“Seeing him this week and really just seeing the bigger picture, things bigger than football. He’s a leader of young men — I feel that's what you want as a head coach, be there for you regardless of football.”
On where this visit moved Miami:
“I think it definitely boosts them up just being here knowing how I can make an impact for my home state — I don’t have to leave the state to play on a National Championship side.”
“So many guys from central Florida here I could team back up with. And just knowing I can stay in the crib and make a huge impact, it means a lot.”
On his recruitment process:
“I’m not going to make an emotional decision, I want to be 100% sure. That's why I'm taking these visits, and that's why I'm not just committed to a school. I'm not going to be a commit and decommit type of guy.”
(Referring to Miami v. Texas A&M discourse) “Everybody keeps forgetting about Notre Dame.”
“I’m going through it day by day, praying about it and I will make my decision pretty soon — probably this month.”
On how the staff plans to utilize him:
“A guy they can utilize off the edge and in pass coverage, a regular off-ball backer. This is a program I know they’re going to utilize me in the most ways to get my draft stock up”
“I'm going to be with coach [Taylor] I'm not just going to be with coach Hetherman. I'm going to be a guy that's used off the edge as well.”
On the effort from Miami commits to get him on board:
“Donte was on me, everyone really. They’re like-minded individuals who just want to go win a natty.”
On where Miami stands in his recruitment:
“I'd definitely say very high. I had a great time, I see myself being back here.”
On what’s going into his final decision:
“It's about the people I'm going to be around the building with 24//7 — like-minded teammates. Life after football, education, all those things definitely take part.”
This article was a mix of my group interview and my one-on-one with Henderson which you can check out below:
