Chalupa Batman Podcast: Miami Recruiting and Conference Realignment Collide
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Article photo of Miami Central's Armondo Blount; credit to Brian Smith
During the last couple of weeks, the Miami Hurricanes football program has seen a lot of events take place. Chalupa Batman hosted a podcast and invited me to join to discuss this topics. Here's a rundown of the items in a jam-packed episode, point by point, and the actual YouTube podcast follows:
● Breaking down 2025 Miami Central 5-star defensive end Armondo Blount’s six sack performance. Combining him with fellow 2025 Central defensive lineman Randy Adirika, and that’s an incredible combination.
● Quarterback Luke Nickel, another 2025 prospect, recently committed to Miami and played really well during his first game. He’s a prospect to watch and showcased a lot of advanced skills. He should be a player Miami fans go out of their way to watch his film.
● Julian Lewis and Air Noland dual; 39-34 Noland and Langston Hughes win. Just two elite quarterbacks and a lot of fun to discuss.
● Miami’s defensive line recruiting lost Kamarion Franklin, but it’s four months to National Signing Day, and the Canes already have Artavius Jones within the 2024 class. Aydin Breland should be considered the crown jewel. He’s from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, and it’s a really contested recruitment. If not Breland, Miami could try and flip another prospect or find a rising senior.
● Miami’s recruiting philosophy: The Canes getting involved with recruits early to build relationships.
● Zaquan Patterson’s looming decision and what he brings to the gridiron. He’s down to Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Ohio State and Michigan.
● Recruiting discussion impacted by conference realignment? It definitely impacted Miami. In particular, one recruit admitted he did not pick Miami because it’s in the ACC and not the SEC.
● Extended from Miami’s recruiting and conference realignment, how important it will be for the ACC to figure out the Grant of Rights. Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Duke and North Carolina State would be quite attractive for the Big 10 or SEC, but can it be done contractually?
● Final point from the conference realignment stemmed from how ACC teams need to win versus SEC schools this season to provide more leverage with television providers, as well as the Big 10 and SEC long-term. That included, obviously, Miami knocking off Texas A&M on Sep. 9.
● More underclassmen recruiting discussion, including elite safety recruit DJ Pickett from Zephyrhills (Fla.) High School, several players at Miami Central, American Heritage and more. Speaking of American Heritage, watch out for 2026 wide receiver Malachi Toney. He’s already proven to be electric. Several other recruits were listed during this portion of the podcast.
● To conclude the show, discussing NIL and it’s recent impact on recruitments; it’s been huge.
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