Local Five-star WR Calvin Russell talks being a 'hometown hero' and recaps official visit

Sebastian Font

Jun 15, 2025 3 min read

The Miami Hurricanes are looking to end the misery of losing elite skill position talents from South Florida, and one of their main targets is five-star WR Calvin Russell. A Miami Northwestern product, the 6-foot-5 pass catcher also picked up an offer on the court from Jai Lucas as Miami looks to pull all the strings to keep him home. This will be a battle all the way until his July 5th commitment date and beyond, and I was able to catch up with him following his official visit. Here’s what Russell had to say:

Overall Recap from his visit:

“It was a nice visit. I got to know Miami a bit better, had a decent amount of fun, a decent bit of information. It was a great visit.”

“I really got to see the more versatile part of the program, like its fun and business at the same time.”

“I definitely feel better about Miami.”

On the staffs pitch to stay in Miami & his relationship with Malachi Toney:

“That this is home, like this is where I gotta be.”

“Mali’s my brother, so it's like, he wants me to be in the best place for myself. He definitely let me know, like if we together, we’re gonna push each other a lot.  We're gonna push each other till we can't push each other no more.”

On the basketball side of his recruitment:

“[Basketball] is important in my decision, so we definitely talked about it. We got things right, and that's how it's going.”

(Mentioned wherever he’s going he will be playing basketball as well)

“I talked to coach Lucas. We sat down, and we had a talk. It was like everything went hand in hand, so it wasn't really a problem.”

On his recruiting process and timeline:

“Just going through the process and when I get done with my OV’s I’ll think about it more.”

“Oregon definitely made a great impression,  Miami, LSU as well. I’m looking for who’s genuine and got a great plan for me and it's gonna help me push myself and take care of my family.

“After I commit, everything is all about ball.”

On what it would mean to stay in Miami to play for the U:

“Oh, it would mean a lot, 'cause I know I could be a neighborhood hero. I know the whole of Miami would love me, Miami got my back, so I feel that would mean a lot.”

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TouchMoney26

Jun 16, 2025

ohhh he with baby Jesus

we got ourselves a Cane

we got some Canes over here

pacusmc

Jun 16, 2025

I’ll have a story about Tennessee and Keys when recruiting season ends. Let’s see if what I heard up there ends up being true or just more random guessing and clout chasing.

TheOriginalCane

Jun 16, 2025

TouchMoney26 said:
ohhh he with baby Jesus

we got ourselves a Cane

we got some Canes over here

I hope you are more accurate with this post than with your jersey-number posts...

And if you can't figure out I'm just messing with you, relax...

TheOriginalCane

Jun 16, 2025

pacusmc said:
I’ll have a story about Tennessee and Keys when recruiting season ends. Let’s see if what I heard up there ends up being true or just more random guessing and clout chasing.

"WAAAAH, you're as vague as Gaby is..."

---cway313

D
DemCanes10

Jun 16, 2025

TheOriginalCane said:
You can always tell when someone doesn't understand the situation, as with this post.

As just one example, #2 is part of the problem.

I'm not going to say anything further, because those who know already know, and the know-nothings are going to continue to yap about irrelevant **** like "feeder school".

I hope that things end up going in Miami's favor, but this is more complicated than screaming out "No excuses!".

I know more than you think....U can always tell when people try to bully their point and without asking questions.

U don't know me or my relationship with Calvin or his mother, so until you do stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine.

U may be an original Cane but U aint no Original Bull.

cway313

Jun 16, 2025

DemCanes10 said:
I know more than you think....U can always tell when people try to bully their point and without asking questions.

U don't know me or my relationship with Calvin or his mother, so until you do stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine.

U may be an original Cane but U aint no Original Bull.

C
Caneofcanes

Jun 16, 2025

DemCanes10 said:
I know more than you think....U can always tell when people try to bully their point and without asking questions.

U don't know me or my relationship with Calvin or his mother, so until you do stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine.

U may be an original Cane but U aint no Original Bull.

DO WE HAVE A CHANCE? That’s all I wanna know.

D
DemCanes10

Jun 16, 2025

Caneofcanes said:
DO WE HAVE A CHANCE? That’s all I wanna know.

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

T
Trav

Jun 16, 2025

Still feels like there's a disconnect with a lot of the top South FL recruits and UM, even with NIL leveling the playing field. Where up until the early 2000s the community pressure was to stay home, feels like the pressure is still to leave. We've made big progress but it still feels like an uphill battle sometimes.

Calinative

Jun 16, 2025

DemCanes10 said:
IMO…you protect home! You let LSU into MNW you hella long term problems.

****! Syracuse signed 4 MNW players last cycle and you would thought they run the place.

I think indications are we are going to MNW hard. James Johnson, Jordan Campbell, Neimann Lawrence. Hughes OVed. Only one we aren't really on is Desmond Johnson....

C
CT Cane 44

Jun 17, 2025

Reyrey said:
Do kids careers ever pan out well that have recruitments like that? Idk if it’s true and to what extent, but this whole think from the outside looking in is fishy

You all know more than I do when it comes to this recruitment. I was just told he’s asking for some different things beyond a normal recruitment. I know he wants to play Basketball but it’s hard to answer. Most drama filled recruitments don’t work out. I just don’t know enough to call it that

305 MOUNTAIN MAN

Jun 17, 2025

Done here, Papito no quiere ser un Cane, dale. The arrogance here is astounding to me, kid is as raw as, well you know…yet he’s the greatest thing since a croqueta, nah bro, see ya.

bdcane4eva

Jun 17, 2025

Generational elite Cane lock

TouchMoney26

Jun 18, 2025

it really is simple, play baby Jesus, we win, get Coleman on his ***, game over

where as IF we don't play baby Jesus and our best players... then we wont be seeing a top 3 class or 5. things can go opposite pretty fast

play our Best PLayers...

passitback

Jun 18, 2025

No way I'm following this one until he signs a contract. Does anyone know when he actually plans to sign on with a team?

1mg of Epi

Jun 18, 2025

passitback said:
No way I'm following this one until he signs a contract. Does anyone know when he actually plans to sign on with a team?

Signing day

ssvir

Jun 18, 2025

1murhurricane said:
Not popular opinion but KB a liability in recruiting. I've said it a few times... dude is weird AF. He can coach his *** off but his recruiting game is weak sauce. This why I'm cool take Lopez, spafford and the NC kid.

Rumph part deux?

passitback

Jun 18, 2025

1mg of Epi said:
Signing day

LMAO.. I stepped into that one.

Meant to say shut it down.

Jun 18, 2025

Hurracanes said:
In this case, it’s not a “colossal” failure when certain members in his camp are looking for every reason not to come to Miami.

By that logic, none of the 5 star WRs the last decade plus have been failures in recruitng because they or someone in their camp didn't want to come to Miami. See how dumb that sounds.

The whole point of being good at recruiting is being able to convince the kid, his friends, family, coaches, GF/Baby Mama, who ever that the best place for him will be at your university. If you can't get it done, thats a failure.

Hurracanes

Jun 18, 2025

DC3 said:
By that logic, none of the 5 star WRs the last decade plus have been failures in recruitng because they or someone in their camp didn't want to come to Miami. See how dumb that sounds.

The whole point of being good at recruiting is being able to convince the kid, his friends, family, coaches, GF/Baby Mama, who ever that the best place for him will be at your university. If you can't get it done, thats a failure.

I agree it’s a “failure” if we miss on him but it’s not “colossal” or black and white as you’re making it out to be. He’s not even the best WR in his team and his $ demands are completely irrational. This isn’t a JJ or Jojo situation. I hope he stays home but if we get Keys and other WR’s, I’m okay with this whiff.