Mario Cristobal Before National Signing Day: "It Is Not Done" For Hurricanes Recruiting & Transfer Portal

"It's not done," Mario Cristobal said, when asked about Miami's 2024 recruiting class. Cristobal appeared Monday morning on The Joe Rose Show on WQAM in Miami.

National Signing Day is this Wednesday, December 20th. The Hurricanes currently have 26 verbal commits but there will be more twists and turns along the way.

Miami just hosted four players for official visits over the weekend who are committed elsewhere: 5-Star DT Armondo Blount (FSU), 4-Star RB Jordan Lyle (Ohio State), 4-Star LB Adarius Hayes (UF) and 3-Star DB Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin).

Cristobal cannot comment on specific players until after they sign, due to NCAA rules, but he spoke on his general feelings before national signing day.

"There's always a surprise you don't want to happen and a surprise you do want to happen as you get closer to signing day," Cristobal noted.

A candidate for one of those negative surprises could be 4-Star running back Kevin Riley. The Tuscaloosa County (AL) native has been committed to Miami for several months, but just took a visit to see Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide over the weekend. If Miami loses Riley, flipping Lyle from Ohio State would become extra important.

Joe Rose pointed out that Miami is poised to secure their second consecutive top 10 recruiting class. Miami had the 7th ranked class a year ago and could finish as high as top 3 this year.

“Our first full cycle class were freshmen this year and they did a great, great job," said Cristobal. "Now we have a chance to get our second full class. If you can knock out consecutive and multiple top 10 classes, that is always the goal. It was done at the different places we were at and that was the secret sauce, getting great players, great coaching, great systems and great culture and go play great football We are on our way there and this class is going to be off the charts.”

Miami landed two 5-Star players on the offensive line last year in Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola. This year, the Hurricanes have 5-Star defensive tackle Justin Scott already committed, and they're working to add Blount as another 5-Star on the D-Line.

In the transfer portal, Miami has already landed commitments from NC State graduate transfer defensive tackle CJ Clark and sophomore Vanderbilt safety Savion Riley. The Hurricanes are competing with Florida State for top transfer quarterback Cam Ward from Washington State.

“We are hitting the right spots in the areas where we feel like we need veteran players that have experience,” Cristobal said about the portal. “It is going really, really well. I can’t comment on the (details) and it will continue to go well."

He added, "We are on the hunt relentlessly.”

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