Will Miami Add Trench Talent on National Signing Day?
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Miami is riding high off of its total class of 2023 haul to date, a top 10 measure by just about every outlet calculating the very best groups new to college football.
Still, UM has a shot at adding even more talent ahead of the traditional National Signing Day, with most eyeballs in Coral Gables on its most recent visitor in Jamel Howard and longtime top target Nyckoles Harbor.
Howard is fresh off of an official visit to Miami, which many consider a win in and of itself. The Illinois native, listed at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, was considering trips to two different UMs -- Miami and Mississippi -- for the final open weekend of the recruiting period in January. It followed a trip to LSU, which followed an official visit to in-state Illinois in the middle of the month.
It's easy to see the need for The U here, which has leveraged potential playing time for wins in the transfer portal like Thomas Gore and Branson Deen. From the prep ranks, though, only Joshua Horton is on board from an interior defensive line standpoint among high school signees. Plus, returns from Howard's trip are at least positive towards the Hurricanes.
Previously, though, he was committed to Wisconsin before backing off because of the coaching change in Madison. Since, Luke Fickell and company have had him back on campus and confidence of a re-commitment has followed. In the meantime, Michigan and LSU have held buzz around Howard following key visits, so this one is trending like a photo finish come Wednesday.
As for Harbor, this is more of a potential flex of Miami's true reach. There has been almost a quiet confidence for the program to stay in the race, even though it's the only finalist Harbor hasn't visited as a recruit just yet. At one point, there was even more hope, as Harbor hinted at trying to get to Coral Gables before all was said and done, but he has since confirmed details for a decision to be finalized on Wednesday.
Harbor spent the weekend at Oregon, which appeals as much as any of his finalists when the dual-sport nature of his recruitment is considered. Track-and-field is among the priority elements to the final call, causing many to speculate on Oregon's late chances. Prior, trips to South Carolina and Michigan have created confidence in those respective camps. Miami, the program Harbor once said was pushing the hardest, will have a hat on the table as the Harbor camp has done its research on the Hurricane angle despite the lack of time on campus together.
Can Miami pull either coup off? Any new addition would play as a surprising win for the Canes on the trail, something Mario Cristobal and company have already pulled off early in their Miami tenure.
All Hurricanes will have complete coverage throughout the kickoff of the signing period Wednesday.
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