'I think [Cristobal] is one of the best coaches in the nation': No.1 Safety JayQuan Snell recaps unofficial visit
4 min read
The number one safety in the 2027 class, JayQuan Snell, made an unofficial visit this past weekend during Miami’s first weekend of spring practice. A Texas A&M commit and Texas native, Snell made his first out-of-state visit by heading down south to Coral Gables. I caught up with Snell after his visit and here’s everything the top safety had to say:
Recapping what he saw from Miami’s practice:
“I liked it. I liked the tempo, fast tempo. All the coaches were engaged with the players, and the energy they practice with, the juice they bring to it—I really liked that.”
On potentially making an early impact:
“Obviously, you’ve got to come in, work hard, and prove yourself. But seeing [Bryce Fitzgerald] go out there as a freshman, making plays, getting interceptions, having a great season—it inspires me. It makes me feel like I can do the same thing. Just watching him and talking to him, seeing how hard he works, learning from him—it means a lot.”
On his overall visit:
“It was great, man. I love it out here. They don’t have palm trees in Texas, so I love that.”
“I loved being around the players and the coaches, and just walking around campus—it’s beautiful. Honestly, I think it might be the best-looking campus in America.”
On fitting into Miami’s defensive scheme:
“My physicality and the way I approach the game. I feel like they approach it the same way—playing violent on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. I bring that same intensity, so I think it’d be a great fit.”
On his overall recruitment process:
“I’m done with unofficial visits. I’ve got an official visit with A&M on June 12th through the 14th, and I’m setting one up with Miami right now.”
"Miami is pretty high for me. Obviously, I’m committed to A&M, but I love Miami and I’m looking forward to getting back out here soon.”
On safeties coach Will Harris:
“Coach Harris is a great guy. He came to see me in the fall, and we really chopped it up. He was telling me how good of a football player I am.”
“I trust him. I trust what he was doing out there today — the way he coaches, the passion he coaches with.”
“He talks to me about more than just football, too. He teaches me how to be a great man, husband, father—things like that. You can learn a lot from him. He’s someone I’m really willing to learn from and someone I will be able to learn from.”
On his relationship with coach Cristobal:
“It’s been great. He’s a funny guy — I like him.”
“Like I said, all the coaches here love football, and Coach Cristobal definitely does. It was a blessing just being in the same room with him. I think he’s one of the best coaches in all of college football.
“Just sitting in a room with him and talking to him about certain things I can fix in my game just inspires me to keep pushing.”
What stood out about Miami to take this visit:
“I’d say obviously them making it to the national championship.”
“But also, when they came to my school, the way they treated me and my family, I felt like I needed to open things back up and see what they had to offer.”
“This was my first time taking a visit out of state, so I wanted to come check it out — and I like it out here.”
On Miami’s tradition of safety play:
“For sure, Sean Taylor, Ed Reed — those are great players.”
“When you walk into the building and see all those hall of fame players on the walls, it inspires you. It makes you want to play for a school like Miami.”
Recapping what he saw from Miami’s practice:
“I liked it. I liked the tempo, fast tempo. All the coaches were engaged with the players, and the energy they practice with, the juice they bring to it—I really liked that.”
On potentially making an early impact:
“Obviously, you’ve got to come in, work hard, and prove yourself. But seeing [Bryce Fitzgerald] go out there as a freshman, making plays, getting interceptions, having a great season—it inspires me. It makes me feel like I can do the same thing. Just watching him and talking to him, seeing how hard he works, learning from him—it means a lot.”
On his overall visit:
“It was great, man. I love it out here. They don’t have palm trees in Texas, so I love that.”
“I loved being around the players and the coaches, and just walking around campus—it’s beautiful. Honestly, I think it might be the best-looking campus in America.”
On fitting into Miami’s defensive scheme:
“My physicality and the way I approach the game. I feel like they approach it the same way—playing violent on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. I bring that same intensity, so I think it’d be a great fit.”
On his overall recruitment process:
“I’m done with unofficial visits. I’ve got an official visit with A&M on June 12th through the 14th, and I’m setting one up with Miami right now.”
"Miami is pretty high for me. Obviously, I’m committed to A&M, but I love Miami and I’m looking forward to getting back out here soon.”
On safeties coach Will Harris:
“Coach Harris is a great guy. He came to see me in the fall, and we really chopped it up. He was telling me how good of a football player I am.”
“I trust him. I trust what he was doing out there today — the way he coaches, the passion he coaches with.”
“He talks to me about more than just football, too. He teaches me how to be a great man, husband, father—things like that. You can learn a lot from him. He’s someone I’m really willing to learn from and someone I will be able to learn from.”
On his relationship with coach Cristobal:
“It’s been great. He’s a funny guy — I like him.”
“Like I said, all the coaches here love football, and Coach Cristobal definitely does. It was a blessing just being in the same room with him. I think he’s one of the best coaches in all of college football.
“Just sitting in a room with him and talking to him about certain things I can fix in my game just inspires me to keep pushing.”
What stood out about Miami to take this visit:
“I’d say obviously them making it to the national championship.”
“But also, when they came to my school, the way they treated me and my family, I felt like I needed to open things back up and see what they had to offer.”
“This was my first time taking a visit out of state, so I wanted to come check it out — and I like it out here.”
On Miami’s tradition of safety play:
“For sure, Sean Taylor, Ed Reed — those are great players.”
“When you walk into the building and see all those hall of fame players on the walls, it inspires you. It makes you want to play for a school like Miami.”
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