The Bank (6/16)

DMoney

Jun 16, 2025 4 min read

The Bank is back open. Here's the latest as Miami heads into its final official visit weekend:

- The Canes have made progress with several key targets. I like Miami for Top 10 DT James Johnson (Northwestern). War daddy DTs are the most valuable commodity in college football and Johnson would be a hugely impactful addition.

- I also like Miami for Top 10 TE Israel Briggs (Visalia, CA). While LSU's mods questioned whether he would play WR or TE, I'm told the staff is comfortable with his frame as a detached TE in our offense. He announces next Tuesday.

- I don't have the same optimism on WR Calvin Russell (Northwestern). This is my editorial, but he's never seemed to have a lot of enthusiasm for Miami. LSU would be my pick at this stage of the process.

- DT Lamar Brown (Baton Rouge) made some waves for canceling and then un-canceling his LSU visit this weekend. The feeling is that Texas A&M might his first commitment, but this will go down to the end. WR Tristan Keys (Hattiesburg, MS) is even more up in the air and feels like it will have some twists and turns. Miami is right in the thick of it.

- There's still a lot of optimism on RB Derrek Cooper (Chaminade) and he remains an extreme priority. RB Jae Lamar (Colquitt County, GA) had a great Miami visit this past weekend and the interest is real. There's a bit of a balancing act with two top RBs showing heavy interest and commitment Javian Mallory (West Boca) visiting Alabama. Hard to predict how it plays out, but my bet is they take two and that one of those two is Cooper.

- Georgia commit WR Vance Spafford (Orange County, CA) visits Coral Gables this weekend and remains on flip watch. He's a major priority. Miami also loves WR Jasen Lopez (Chaminade). If they both wanted to commit to Miami this weekend, they'd each get a spot. The Canes also love Tennessee commit WR Tyran Evans (Charlotte, NC) as a legit 6'3, 200-pounder with twitch. They have a solid chance even with Tennessee pushing hard to keep him.

- OL Breck Kolojay is visiting USC midweek and finishing up at Tennessee. Him and his family are going through a professional process, but I continue to like Miami for him.

- Miami liked what they saw from Rutgers commit LB JJ Edwards (Orlando) on his visit. They want him and will have a great shot. Another LB to keep an eye on is Tamarion Watkins (Rock Hill, S.C.). South Carolina is the Crystal Ball favorite and he visits Columbia this weekend, but the Canes are still in it and communicating well. The visit will tell the story.

- Clemson made a big move on DT Keyshawn Stancil (Raleigh, NC) but the Canes are still very much alive. That will be a battle over the next couple weeks. Miami is also battling Clemson for S Blake Stewart (Atlanta). He's a top of the board type target and the Canes will have a very good shot.

- I don't see us moving forward with CB Kosci Barnes (Greensboro, NC) or WR Zion Robinson (Dallas, TX). S Cortez Redding (Atlanta) is more of a possibility but I think Stewart is likelier of the two Atlanta safeties.

- Three big-time DEs are visiting this next weekend with Jaquez Wilkes (Wadley, AL), Nolan Wilson (Picayune, MS) and Asharri Charles (Venice, FL). The Canes love all three, and all three have legitimate interest in the Canes. Even though the room is loaded, all three guys are takes. Miami continues to battle for Bryce Perry-Wright (Buford, GA) and Anthony Jones (Mobile, AL) and are legitimate contenders for both.

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Comments (278)

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N
NCCanefan

Jun 17, 2025

PUNCICANE said:
I’d imagine his future is more dictated by how Jojo and the current roster performs this year….

I can't imagine that position coaches don't have two major objectives that determine salary, status, promotability, etc.---recruiting and development

JHallCanes

Jun 17, 2025

All jokes aside Beard has been solid imo. WRs have done a good job here and he’s held his own for some local talent being recruited elsewhere

Been 20 years of not landing much at WR especially OOS guys so it’s not really a Beard thing

Need someone grimier though WR recruiting is nasty business

N
NCCanefan

Jun 17, 2025

C A N S said:
People keep saying this but the most elite schools like Oregon, Georgia, Ohio State, and Bama keep signing 5 star freshman QBs along with taking elite portal QBs.

Small sample size given NIL (above board compensation) has only really popped for a couple years. No real evidence that the biggest $ HS qb's have been a good investment.

TomAce

Jun 17, 2025

JHallCanes said:
All jokes aside Beard has been solid imo. WRs have done a good job here and he’s held his own for some local talent being recruited elsewhere

Been 20 years of not landing much at WR especially OOS guys so it’s not really a Beard thing

Need someone grimier though WR recruiting is nasty business

I will be first...Tee Martin or Deymeune Craig....haha

F-MarioCristobal

Jun 17, 2025

Tennessee is way too confident on Keys and upped their offer this weekend.

I think he sticks with LSU if it drags on much longer or flips to Tennessee if anything happens in the near future.

Miami is running 3rd according to those I talk to (that aren't Miami sources like D$) FWIW.

The same people told me they weren't landing Francis when most thought they were going to.

MumbleRap

Jun 17, 2025

JayCane20 said:
Tennessee is way too confident on Keys and upped their offer this weekend.

I think he sticks with LSU if it drags on much longer or flips to Tennessee if anything happens in the near future.

Miami is running 3rd according to those I talk to (that aren't Miami sources like D$) FWIW.

The same people told me they weren't landing Francis when most thought they were going to.

Yeah think most in the know have us running 3rd. Sucks man, really hope we pivot and get a shift regarding Calvin in next few weeks. Lots of time still. Full court press

Handsome Squidbum

Jun 17, 2025

tsimonitis said:
I will be first...Tee Martin or Deymeune Craig....haha

If want to be the best, you hire the best, and you weaken your competition. There is a reason companies like Meta and Google will hire the best people away from smaller companies and pay them to sit on their thumbs. They expect eventually they will get the ROI back, in the meantime they drain the competitor.

Miami should go after Brian Fartline. He gets his name back when he is our WR coach. He should also be the OC in waiting- Dawson will be leaving to be a HC at some point. Yes Fartline is loyal to OSU but everyone has a price. Do we know if Fartline can draw up plays? No. It doesn’t really matter though if you have the best OL in cfb, a top QB, a top RB, and a generational WR like Jeremiah Smith.

I am sure Beard is a nice guy and a good WR coach like most of his predecessors. He gets quality WRs- he’s been better than others but I don’t think he is capable of getting the top WR in the country in any year, even if we have the most $$$ on the table. Takes a little more to get the very best of the best. We haven’t had a monster recruiter at WR in who knows how long and it’s not a position where Cristobal can pick up the slack.

Last edited: Jun 17, 2025

NicKane

Jun 17, 2025

Problem2 said:
Beard ain’t coming back next year if he doesn’t land a Keys or Russell lol

I agree, and he shouldn’t. Recruiting is just as important as development as a position coach. And if Beard can’t land a top guy, then it just isn’t gonna work here under Mario.

9oh4Cane

Jun 17, 2025

Squid Bumciorek said:
If want to be the best, you hire the best, and you weaken your competition. There is a reason companies like Meta and Google will hire the best people away from smaller companies and pay them to sit on their thumbs. They expect eventually they will get the ROI back, in the meantime they drain the competitor.

Miami should go after Brian Fartline. He gets his name back when he is our WR coach. He should also be the OC in waiting- Dawson will be leaving to be a HC at some point. Yes Fartline is loyal to OSU but everyone has a price. Do we know if Fartline can draw up plays? No. It doesn’t really matter though if you have the best OL in cfb, a top QB, a top RB, and a generational WR like Jeremiah Smith.

This is probably Dawson’s last year here if the offense is what we expect. Hartline has no business calling plays here next year. Pay him what it takes to get him as WR coach/some “Co-OC” title, but there’s a reason OSU won’t make him the main player caller.

F-MarioCristobal

Jun 17, 2025

MumbleRap said:
Yeah think most in the know have us running 3rd. Sucks man, really hope we pivot and get a shift regarding Calvin in next few weeks. Lots of time still. Full court press

I'm not high on Russell. I don't really care for the ones that think they can play football and basketball in college.

Means they still need a reality check and aren't fully bought in playing football.

If he came out and openly said he's focused on football only, he'd jump to the top of my board right behind Keys.

Reyrey

Jun 17, 2025

JayCane20 said:
I'm not high on Russell. I don't really care for the ones that think they can play football and basketball in college.

Means they still need a reality check and aren't fully bought in playing football.

If he came out and openly said he's focused on football only, he'd jump to the top of my board right behind Keys.

I agree here. You close on Lopez, Spafford, and take a flyer on Evans. Spend the season chopping wood on a big fish

3
305407cane

Jun 17, 2025

Golsen82 said:
Losing Russell to LSU is a fail

It is. replacing him with keys would soften that one or stealing brown.

gogeta4

Jun 17, 2025

Gi0logy said:
Interior DL has been a pretty consistent concern minus the 2024 class. Last year's class was extremely underwhelming with Simpson really being the only interior guy we took last year.

We're starting to get a clearer picture of what the class may look like this year and it does not look good in terms of big bodies.

Simpson - 280 lbs (2025 class)
Bacon - 263 lbs (2026 commit)
Lamar Brown - 285 lbs
James Johnson - 285 lbs
Stancil - 270 lbs

You can't go two years in a row without getting a 300+ lb kid on the interior. That just seems like gross mismanagement and will result in needing to spend big money (and/or reach) in the portal to fill a high priority position.

What's the approach here? Is there a big body they're going to go all in?

just to throw this out there....Simpson aint been 280 in a long time. That kid is closer to 310-315....AND THATS WHEN I SAW HIM IN SZN LAST YEAR

J
JG14

Jun 17, 2025

htownkidd said:
Plenty will lie and say otherwise, but it’d be underwhelming for sure.

This just means we'll be portal shopping annually for WRs

C
C A N S

Jun 17, 2025

JG14 said:
This just means we'll be portal shopping annually for WRs

And continue to fail to land impact Portal WRs.

PUNCICANE

Jun 17, 2025

NCCanefan said:
I can't imagine that position coaches don't have two major objectives that determine salary, status, promotability, etc.---recruiting and development

I agree, but in this case talent development has to play a bigger role when your head coach is such a strong recruiter himself. Mario was the lead recruiter for players like Jerry Juedy. And our true freshman WRs might be our most talented ones, so firing him for that is kind of jumping the gun

3
305407cane

Jun 17, 2025

Is Calvin gonna play basketball at lsu?

Also our top receiver just went undrafted. That’s a factor for these kids man.

The portal qb is a factor. Nickel and Coleman do absolutely nothing for these kids. No clout

Evans spafford Lopez is a really solid receiver class in a vacuum. The issue is we didn’t land the local five star……again

252cane

Jun 17, 2025

Gi0logy said:
Interior DL has been a pretty consistent concern minus the 2024 class. Last year's class was extremely underwhelming with Simpson really being the only interior guy we took last year.

We're starting to get a clearer picture of what the class may look like this year and it does not look good in terms of big bodies.

Simpson - 280 lbs (2025 class)
Bacon - 263 lbs (2026 commit)
Lamar Brown - 285 lbs
James Johnson - 285 lbs
Stancil - 270 lbs

You can't go two years in a row without getting a 300+ lb kid on the interior. That just seems like gross mismanagement and will result in needing to spend big money (and/or reach) in the portal to fill a high priority position.

What's the approach here? Is there a big body they're going to go all in?

Simpson is over 300. Johnson is a good size for a 3t coming out of hs at 285. He is already a powerful and athletic guy. I think he will be able to play right away and will easily be 300 by year 2

cway313

Jun 17, 2025

What position does he play?

NicKane

Jun 17, 2025

Gi0logy said:
Interior DL has been a pretty consistent concern minus the 2024 class. Last year's class was extremely underwhelming with Simpson really being the only interior guy we took last year.

We're starting to get a clearer picture of what the class may look like this year and it does not look good in terms of big bodies.

Simpson - 280 lbs (2025 class)
Bacon - 263 lbs (2026 commit)
Lamar Brown - 285 lbs
James Johnson - 285 lbs
Stancil - 270 lbs

You can't go two years in a row without getting a 300+ lb kid on the interior. That just seems like gross mismanagement and will result in needing to spend big money (and/or reach) in the portal to fill a high priority position.

What's the approach here? Is there a big body they're going to go all in?

Simpson is over 300 pounds. Please don’t list their high school weights because the kid is in college now and weighs over 300 pounds and is going to be a big contributor for us this year.