Miami Hurricanes Recruiting: Pre-Signing Day News and Notes
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Photo of current Florida commitment Adarius Hayes; credit to AllHurricanes.
It's five days until National Signing Day for the Miami Hurricanes. The 2024 recruiting class is loaded with talent and there's still a lot of action that's going to take place. With that said, here's where things stand with the Hurricanes based on intel, as well as my take where noted.
Chaminade-Madonna Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith
This young man's recruitment is incredibly complex. A long-time Ohio State commitment, there's pressure for Jeremiah Smith to sign with any one of the in-state programs: Miami, Florida, or Florida State.
The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver is as good a pass catcher as I've seen play live at the prep level, this year or any other. I like to kid Smith that there's only one Randy Moss, but he's also the closest I've seen beyond the now NFL Hall of Fame receiver (Moss is all but undefinable as a pure athlete and his high school film looks like Bo Jackson on Tecmo Bowl).
Miami has hosted Smith for unofficial visits and his one official visit as well. To be honest, if the Canes do not flip Smith from the Buckeyes, it's not from a lack of effort. Just from my perspective, I'm not sure any coaching staff could recruit a prospect harder than what Miami has done with Smith.
Will he flip to Miami in the end? I honestly have no clue. Not sure anyone else does either. Just being honest. We shall all find out on National Signing Day. Now onto several possible flip candidates, good and bad.
'Tis Flip-Season: The Good News
With Miami holding multiple in-home visits with 5-star Miami (Fla.) Central defensive lineman Armondo Blount, there's reason for Canes fans to have optimism. Even better, he's taking an official visit to Miami this weekend. Blount's recruitment is truly between two rivals.
Committed to Miami, Blount flips to Florida State. Do not be surprised if the reverse happens next. There's another good bet for a Miami flip that's next.
Unless he's fooling everyone, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Saint Thomas Aquinas running back Jordan Lyle appears to be heading for Miami. Just reading the tea leaves, he's visiting the University of Miami this weekend despite being an Ohio State commitment.
For the record, it's unusual to take an official visit this late in the recruiting process and not flip one's decision. It's not a lock, but look for the Canes to win out for the all-around running back.
There's also a surprise, at least for me, that Florida commitment Adarius Hayes will take an official visit to Miami this weekend. Here's the backdrop about Hayes as I've gotten to know him well by visiting Largo (Fla.) High School where he goes to school.
I went to see him a few weeks back and he told me then that he wouldn't visit Miami. Since then, however, Florida's recruiting class has gone downhill. Perhaps Hayes is changing his tune because he's unsure of what's up in Gainesville? As a player, there's no question what he can do.
Absolute thumper as a linebacker; he's often left out of practice drills so his high school teammates are not injured [sic]. Hayes loves football and will help his future college team as a 'backer and/or an edge player. He's every bit of 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds right now. Huge upside. Here's another defensive player to discuss.
Miami is doing its best to fend off Florida State, UCF, Colorado, and other programs from landing defensive tackle commitment Artavius Jones. After seeing him at practice earlier this year and during his last home game as a member of the Blountstown (Fla.) High School team, I do no doubt that Jones and his 310-pound frame can be a game-wrecker at the Power 4 level.
2024 Miami Hurricanes Commitment List and Evaluations
As of late, I have not heard anything about him flipping to FSU or any other program. Sometimes recruitments go silent right before National Signing Day, but I lean towards Jones sticking with the Canes and signing his letter of intent to play for The U.
Similarly, look for 5-star safety Zaquan Patterson to sign with Miami. It's not like he still isn't being heavily courted by other schools, but Miami is doing a tremendous job recruiting this young man and he's likely heading for Coral Gables. One more player to consider.
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage safety Xavier Lucas continues to be courted by the Miami coaching staff. If he follows through and takes his official visit to Miami this weekend, will Miami push for a commitment?
He's long and athletic. Lucas might be able to play cornerback. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he's also a recruit who could possibly play nickel at the University of Miami. Of course, he's committed to Wisconsin. Hard to say how this one will turn out, but Lucas is a talented prospect with a lot of upside.
'Tis Flip Season: The Bad News
An Ole Miss source believes that current Miami commitment Kavion Broussard will officially visit and commit to the Rebels this weekend. He's a talented offensive tackle prospect from Zachary (La.) High School. Still raw in some regards, but Broussard's long-term upside is phenomenal. If he picks Ole Miss, good luck to Broussard. There's another SEC-country player that appears to be trending away from Miami.
Running back Kevin Riley is one of the nation's best, but there's a catch. The current Miami commitment hails from a high school that's a stone's throw from Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium. He plays for Northport (Ala.) Tuscaloosa County.
Watch Miami RB Commitment Kevin Riley's Senior Film
With Bama likely missing out on big-time running back Daniel Hill from Meridian (Miss.) High School, as he's expected to sign with Mississippi State, the Crimson Tide are putting on the full-court-press with Riley. He will take an official visit to Alabama this weekend.
As mentioned above, Lyle is probably heading for UM, so that will be one elite running back in the fold and one out of the fold, assuming these two situations finalize as I expect. There's another SEC team battling with Miami, and this one is an uphill battle in my opinion.
Miami is not going to give up on 5-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG cornerback Ellis Robinson but the Georgia commitment seems to be sticking with the Dawgs. I respect Mario Cristobal and the entire UM staff's effort regardless of how this one ends. They get after it on the recruiting trail.
Canes Coaching Staff Did Their Homework
Miami is going to have a tremendous recruiting class. That being the case, be careful about paying attention to the star rankings with the 2024 commitments. There's nothing wrong with the elite recruits by any means, but watch out for players like defensive end Cole McConathy and do-it-all defensive back Dylan Day, among others. They can ball.
Miami's coaching staff went out and found recruits that fit their system and did so without concern from any recruiting service (that's not always the case with other college coaching staffs).
As a final note, there's likely to be even more movement with commitments and decommitments between now and National Signing Day. That's the nature of the beast with 2024 recruiting for Miami and every other FBS team.
Recruiting Pages To Bookmark
2023 Miami Commitments and Evaluations
2024 Miami Commitments and Evaluations
2025 Miami Commitments and Evaluations
2026 Miami Commitments and Evaluations
Engage with AllHurricanes
Fan Nation High school football recruiting analyst covering the state of Florida, as well as across the Southeastern United States and the state of Texas.
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