Miami is big-game hunting this spring. Almost 50 of the Top 200 players in the nation will have come through Coral Gables before the summer recruiting period. Here is the latest on the team and recruiting:
- The Canes are in a strong position with Indiana TE
Brock Schott. Like Elija Lofton, who is currently standing out on Greentree, Schott (6’3, 215) is one of the best overall football players in the nation. He caught 35 passes for 743 yards and six TDs while making 67 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. He also plays basketball. Ohio State is in the competition, but Miami is quietly confident in this one after prioritizing Schott as a major priority talent.
- After the
Girard Pringle commit, I expected Miami to go on a run of commits in some of their lower-profile recruitments. That may still happen, but the message I get from the Hecht is they are being very patient due to their traction with so many top-of-the-board targets.
- Miami continues to chip away with elite TE
Elyiss Williams (Georgia commit). He is visiting again very soon.
- One name that Miami loves: Frankfort (KY) EDGE
Javeon Campbell. He’s a 6’5, 250 converted basketball player that had 14.5 sacks in his first year of football and is blowing up. He has OVs set up to Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, but the Canes will be getting him on campus soon.
- I mentioned DT
Justus Terry (previously a Georgia commit, just flipped to USC) as a flip target for the Canes. They are still working that recruitment and will get an official visit in June.
- At WR, Miami continues to work hard on what they believe is a special crop of Florida receivers. WR
Vernell Brown (Orlando) and WR
Josh Moore (West Broward) are priority targets who will be on campus soon. Miami remains strongly involved with WR
Dallas Wilson (Tampa), WR
Jaime Ffrench (Jacksonville), WR
Cortez Mills (Homestead) and WR
Tyler Williams (Riverview).
- Contact has died down a bit with OL
Seuseu Alofaituli (Las Vegas). Miami still likes him a lot but is working other interior OL on the board.
- This weekend went very well with Miami’s corner visitors:
DJ Pickett (Zephyrhills),
Adonys Currie (Los Angeles, CA),
Aidan Anding (Ruston, LA) and
Mark Manfred (Marietta, GA). The staff expects a big-time corner class, and continues to push for elite target
Ben Hanks (Booker T).
- DE
Iose Epenesa (Chicago) is another top-of–the-board talent that had an outstanding visit.
- After securing a commitment from Pringle, Miami is being patient at RB due to some uncertainty around injuries and the incoming Portal. There are a lot of targets with interest and the staff isn’t going to be hasty in with the second RB.
- On the team side, one of the most improved players this spring is EDGE
Malik Bryant. He was up and down as a freshman, but is really coming on in the JACK (standup DE) position he played in high school. He’s had the opportunity for increased reps and really responded. The two newcomer EDGEs (
Marquise Lightfoot and
Cole McConathy) both appear as advertised and, according to sources, were thrown in with the first team yesterday. They will take some time and development to break into the full healthy rotation, but they are talented.
- LB
Adarius Hayes isn’t in his element running around in helmets and shorts, but he has showcased his blue-chip game since the pads came on. He’s a natural thumper with elite size and solid instincts.
- Some other players who have made strides throughout spring: CB
Robert Stafford, C
Zach Carpenter, OT
Markel Bell and OT
Tommy Kinsler.
- As previously reported, Miami likes its three top corners and some young talent like Stafford. They’re not desperate for a starting corner, but if an elite talent comes along, they will pursue (despite the price tag) just because of the importance of man coverage to this scheme.
