Hurricanes 2024 Recruiting Tracker: Canes Making STA WR a Priority
Canes #Canes
Updating information about top 2024 Miami Hurricanes recruiting targets.
The Miami Hurricanes are actively pursuing numerous class of 2024 prospects within the great state of Florida, as well as across the nation.
The goal is to back up the tremendous 2023 recruiting haul with another impressive list of players that provides The U with the resources to once again compete for national championships.
To make that happen, part of the continued efforts will be towards landing more and more of the top South Florida recruits. The prior recruiting class is an example of how things can change quickly. Miami’s ability to bring in top local talent is a prime reason why the last class is so well respected.
Check back often as this 2024 recruiting tracker will include breaking news, highlight commitments, scholarship offers, unofficial and official visits.
FEBRUARY 16
One of the top wide receiver prospects in America would be Chance Robinson from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Saint Thomas Aquinas and South Florida Express 7v7. He was at the SUP7R 7v7 event in Naples this past weekend and gave the latest on his recruitment.
The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound receiver has been bombarded by college coaches from across the United States. Robinson couldn’t even name all of the schools that he’s hearing from right now.
That stated, the Miami Hurricanes have been recruiting Robinson hard as a staff despite just hiring an offensive coordinator. Here’s what Robinson stated about the Canes:
“(Coach David) Cooney, coach Cooney has been talking to me a lot. He’s like the (wide) receivers coach right now because coach (Josh) Gattis is gone. Coach Cooney texted me this morning, actually.
“(Head) coach (Mario) Cristobal, he texts me and my dad all the time. He’s talking to us right now until they figure out who they’ve got (as the wide receivers coach).”
“Florida, Florida State, Miami…Penn State. All the schools stand out to me right now. I couldn’t really narrow it down.
“Soon enough I’ll have to make a decision, so as of right now I’m just taking it slow and keeping my options open.”
FEBRUARY 15
One of the nation’s best flex-tight ends has placed the Miami Hurricanes in his top eight schools.
Max LeBlanc plays for Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School, and he’s been a priority recruit for numerous programs. Miami, Tennessee, Kentucky, Stanford, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State made his most recent list of schools.
There’s a good reason why LeBlanc has earned the recruiting attention he has. Seeing his junior film, he’s more like a big wide receiver as opposed to a tight end. Quick feet for a player that’s 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds make him difficult to handle in tight spaces, and once in the open-field his long strides allow him to get over the top of the defense as well.
Most importantly, LeBlanc showed outstanding hands and a big catch radius. He was a threat to make a play anytime he ran a route.
Miami would love to add a player like LeBlanc to the roster and continue its tremendous tight end tradition. The Canes recently offered LeBlanc on Jan. 27, so there’s obvious traction to the point that LeBlanc’s interested by way of already having placed Miami in the top eight schools.
Miami’s tight end depth chart will definitely need at least one, if not two, tight ends from the class of 2024. Keep an eye on this young man from Tennessee.
FEBRUARY 13
Miami is looking for plenty in the class of 2024, and it got good news on that front Sunday when Kylan Fox announced his top schools.
The blue-chip tight end and defensive end prospect from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson High School, announced his top programs via Instagram. Miami made the cut along with several regional programs like Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Alabama and others.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Fox, who is down to a top 15 despite nearly 60 scholarship offers, is ranked as an athlete and top 100 overall recruit in the class of 2024 by 247Sports.
The four-star was offered by Mario Cristobal’s staff in mid January, so among the programs after him the Miami option is among the newest on Fox’s long list.
FEBRUARY 8
The greater Dallas area has long since been a hotbed of football talent, and the area’s growing population has only extended that talent-base as suburbs add more high schools.
One of the growing cities and football programs would be Melissa (Texas) High School, located on the north-northeast side of Dallas. It’s home to one of the top 2024 recruits in the country, Nigel Smith.
The 6-foot-5 and 260-pound edge defender has been ranked by 247 Sports as the No. 36 player in their composite rankings, and the On3 consensus has him ranked at No. 50 overall.
One of the reasons he’s been ranked so highly stemmed from Smith’s versatility. He played nose guard in a three-man defensive front, as well as defensive end, for Melissa.
With his natural athleticism – including making spin moves to separate from blockers – Smith has been coveted by college programs across the country. He’s now down to 16 of those programs, the Miami Hurricanes included.
Smith has taken some unofficial visits in the past, including 2021 treks to Ohio State and Notre Dame, plus 2022 seeing him head to College Station to visit Texas A&M. For Miami, a goal this spring will be to get him to make the trip to South Florida for an unofficial visit.
It’s long since been proven that out-of-state prospects that take an unofficial visit and eventually also take an official visit will be far more likely to sign on the dotted line.
With Smith’s overall skill set and long-term potential (he’s still filling out his frame), this young man’s recruitment will likely continue to be competitive until he signs his national letter of intent this next December. Miami has kept itself in the hunt.
JANUARY 29
After being at Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High School, Romanas OJ Frederique, Jr. moved his talents to Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Saint Thomas Aquinas. He’s also moved up within the recruiting world.
The 6-foot-1 and 175-pound all-around talent also received an offer from Florida State earlier today. Quite a fast start for a player that’s suddenly bursted onto the recruiting scene.
Then again, Broward County, and South Florida overall, has been famous for prospects seemingly coming out of the blue and becoming big-time recruits. Perhaps Frederique should have been considered a Power 5 prospect before now?
Regardless, congratulations to him and he has earned a chance to go play big-time college football and get a degree. Here are the highlights for Frederique.
JANUARY 28
One of the state of Florida’s hottest junior recruits now has the Miami Hurricanes on his growing offer list.
Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, the 6-foot, 180-pound Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin star, announced his newest scholarship offer via social media on Friday. He says the news came via Mario Cristobal himself.
“It’s a blessing,” he told All Hurricanes. “It’s very exciting, he (Cristobal) really likes my film and would love to get me down to the school. I’ve only been in the indoor field and the volleyball court when I went. It was a little visit for 7v7.
“I will be back there soon.”
Belgrave-Shorter turned a lot of heads while playing for Burch Sports Performance’s 7-on-7 team at the Battle Miami event last weekend. Since the showing, Wisconsin, Iowa State and Pitt have also offered in addition to The U.
JANUARY 27
One of the best prospects in the country also hails from one of the best high school football programs in the country, Buford (Ga.) High School, a perennial power in the Peach State.
Eddrick Houston is a player that can take on an offensive lineman that is 50-75 pounds bigger than him, shed his block, and then run down a running back that’s also 50-75 pounds lighter than him.
At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Houston’s ability to hold the edge in the run game and still be a twitchy athlete is a rare combination of skills. That’s why programs from across America are offering him, Miami included.
Houston’s recruitment is truly becoming a who’s who of college football heavyweights. Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, LSU, Southern California, Notre Dame, and Oregon among others.
Now that Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes extended an offer, it will be interesting to see if they can get Houston down for an unofficial visit this spring, and then later an official visit.
According to the On3 recruiting consensus, Houston is the No. 13 player in the country and the No. 2 edge defender overall.
Jan. 24 – Morning Update
On Monday night, one of the top defensive recruits in the class of 2024 announced future visit plans on social media and Miami is involved.
David Stone, who visited for a game last season after earning his UM offer, will be back in Coral Gables in the month of March.
The IMG Academy defensive lineman, who of course played with Miami signee Jayden Wayne up front and worked against two more class of 2023 signees in Francis Mauigoa and Antonio Tripp in practice, will see some of them work during spring practice.
Oklahoma and Michigan State, among others, are also in line for return trips from the five-star recruit. Stone picked up his UM extension back in August and he previously admitted Miami was hard to ignore at IMG with all of the moves the Canes have made with prospects at the school of late.
“I feel like they’re gonna be great,” Stone told All Hurricanes at IMG Academy’s 2022 media day. “That ’23 class they’re building right now is special.”
Jan. 23 – Noon Update
The Miami Hurricanes want to add another top group of cornerback recruits to the roster after a great 2023 recruiting haul.
It will not be long before head coach Mario Cristobal and the Canes find out where one of their top targets, Ellis Robinson IV, has decided to take his talents.
Robinson released a top five school list on Dec. 31, with the finalists being Miami, Alabama, Colorado, LSU, and Georgia.
He lives in New Haven, Conn., but has been a part of the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy football program. That’s where Robinson has honed his skills around top-notch coaching.
With one of the most fluid backpedals at the college level, Robinson has shown to consistently be able to explode forward and attack the football before it reaches its intended wide receiver target.
Also patient, Robinson does not panic like many other cornerbacks during fade balls and deep shots. He has trusted his instincts and cornerback skills to do the job to break up a pass.
Indeed, there have been many reasons that elite college football programs went after Robinson to date. The Canes would do very well to land his services. He’s ranked the No. 7 overall player from the On3 recruiting consensus, as well as the No. 1 overall cornerback for the class of 2024.
AllHurricanes.com is your home for all things Miami Hurricanes football, recruiting, basketball and other athletics, all the time. Follow along on social media at @AllHurricanes on Twitter and All Hurricanes on Facebook for round-the-clock news and analysis.
JANUARY 23
The Miami Hurricanes have a long history of top tight ends like Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Bubba Franks, and David Njoku. They just offered a local prospect that has tremendous upside as well and Miami would like to add him it 2024 recruiting class.
Colton Heinrich has been a prospect the good people around the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons program have been very high on for a good while. After seeing him play live last season, they had reason to be.
He created separation against smaller defenders, was a threat to make a play any place on the gridiron, and played physical in the run game. Speaking of physical, how about courageous?
The all-around skills for Heinrich also helped him to start gaining offers. Beyond Miami, he’s earned full rides to Alabama, UCF, Illinois, Wake Forest, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, USF, Pittsburgh and even Ivy League institution Brown.
With his natural talents and mentality, plus laying at a great program like Cardinal Gibbons, Heinrich will undoubtedly receive quite a few more offers moving forward. He’s one to watch.
JANUARY 20, 2:15 PM
One of the nation’s top overall defensive lineman, and recruits overall, will be at The U this weekend. Considering he’s not a local prospect, this should be considered big news.
At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Kamarion Franklin has been a prime recruit for the Hurricanes and many other programs quite some time. He was one of the most impressive performers at the Dallas Under Armour event in March of 2022, and he’s been racking up offers.
Besides an offer from Miami, he’s been extended an opportunity to play at Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi State, Michigan, and Florida State among others.
At the college level, Franklin could end up at strong side defensive end or defensive tackle. Most importantly, he’s one of the rare big-bodied defensive lineman that can defeat blocks with athleticism, as well as natural strength, and get to the quarterback. That type of unusual combination will be a priority just about any college football program.
It’s a great sign that the Hurricanes will be getting him on campus for an unofficial visit. That should help head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff gain a better shot at landing an official visit from Franklin at a later date.
JANUARY 20
Amid the slew of top prospects expected to visit The U this weekend, in what the program is calling ‘Elite Prospect Day’ Saturday, will be a local state champion quarterback.
Alberto Mendoza, who led Miami Columbus to a state championship in 2022 and caught the game-winning trick play in the process, will be making a quick recruiting trip to Coral Gables.
The class of 2024 standout, whose school hosted fellow Columbus products Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal this week while the coaches hit the road, does not yet boast a Miami offer to his name though he has worked out for the staff as recently as the summer of 2022.
FIU, among others, has offered while in addition to Miami, Duke has shown early interest in the 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect. As a junior in 2022, Mendoza scored 39 total touchdowns while completing 73 percent of his pass attempts in leading the Explorers to their historical 14-1 season.
JANUARY 17
The Hurricanes were the latest to offer Oralndo (Fla.) Edgewater wide receiver/defensive back Cai Bates. He’s the proverbial long and lean athlete that programs from across the country come to Florida to recruit.
The question becomes, what position does this young man play at the college level?
Bates has seen action in the secondary, and if he does not out grow the position, cornerback could be ideal. He’s fluid enough to do it right now, but he may not be done growing. He’s already 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds.
The class of 2024 prospect can bend well at the knees, pivots from a backpedal well, and he’s capable of running by offensive and defensive players alike.
Some of the offers Bates already earned beyond Miami include Rutgers, Louisville, Liberty, South Carolina, Iowa State, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Based on how well Bates progressed thus far during his career, it’s a good bet that he’s going to see quite a few more offers, and probably several by the end of Florida’s high school football spring practices.
As an added bonus for programs recruiting in Florida, Bates lists his GPA at 3.8 on his Twitter profile page.
JANUARY 16
One of the most versatile 2024 defensive lineman in the country would be Champ Thompson from just outside of Atlanta.
He has played for Norcross (Ga.) Meadowcreek. This past season, Thompson made noise at multiple spots along the defensive front, as well as making plays at fullback and tight end on offense.
There were several plays where Thompson played defensive end and came off the edge and created plays in the backfield, and he also worked off of blocks as a nose guard and did the same thing.
That’s led to a plethora of offers for the 6-foot-2-and-a-half 275-pound prospect, Miami included.
Beyond the Canes, Thompson earned offers from the likes of Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ole Miss, LSU, Florida State, Notre Dame and Oregon. That stated, he’s named his top seven schools:
Thompson would be a welcome addition to the 2024 Miami recruiting class. He’s ranked as the No. 180 player in the country by the On3 recruiting rankings.
JANUARY 13
From the class of 2023, the Miami Hurricanes signed Bobby and Robby Washington from Miami (Fla.) Palmetto. Now, the Canes are back at the program looking for more.
Jacory Barney, Jr. is a wide receiver that’s already earned several Power 5 offers including Miami, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Michigan, Utah, Pittsburgh, and Maryland among others.
The Canes only signed two wide receivers from the prior recruiting class, so signing at least three will likely be a priority for the class of 2024.
Watching Barney’s film, the 6-foot and 165-pound athlete showed the ability to go up and grab passes over the top of defenders much like a 6-foot-5 wide receiver would; Barney’s excellent leaping ability will be an asset within all areas of the football field. Barney’s timing was also superb as it related to when he decided to make his leap.
To help make those tough catches possible, Barney also showed the capability of making fingertip grabs, as well as excellent toughness with the football already within his hands.
Finally, like fellow wide receiver Washington, he’s proven to be elusive after the catch, which allowed him to take short passes and turn them into big gains. Barney would be a quality addition to the Miami football roster.
JANUARY 12
Head coach Mario Cristobal has recruited at Alabama and Oregon, two programs known for a national recruiting base. While Miami has certainly improved local recruiting tremendously, that has not slowed down the offers to elite players outside the Sunshine State.
Miami offered raw, yet talented, defensive lineman Benedict Umeh from Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms. Interestingly enough, Umeh actually hailed from Toronto before recently moving to the United States.
The 6-foot-5 and 260-pound defensive lineman has also picked up offers from Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Stanford, Southern California, North Carolina and Florida.
A player with a tremendous amount of upside much like Collins Acheampong from Miami’s 2023 haul, Umeh would be a tremendous addition to this next Hurricanes recruiting class.
Another talented player far away from Coral Gables that received a Canes offer would be cornerback Zabien Brown from famed Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei. He’s one of few prep cornerbacks that already possessed the prerequisite height and length that’s preferred for today’s college football playing style at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds.
Brown has been offered by the likes of Georgia, UCLA, Southern California, Alabama, Utah, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State in addition to The U.
Recently, Miami has made offers to several players outside the state of Florida, even a player from Iowa with Grant Brix now having the chance to play for The U.
He’s a 6-foot-6 and 270-pound offensive tackle from Logan (Iowa) Logan-Magnolia that’s also seen offers come in from Iowa, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Penn State, Auburn, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Kansas State among others.
While the Canes have placed their eyes on local talent across Florida, finding some out of state help can also bolster the overall roster and depth chart.
JANUARY 10
After the Hurricanes brought in one of the nation’s best 2023 offensive line classes, Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff are not wasting any time attempting to sign more elite players in the trenches.
The Canes have been going after Josiah Thompson from Dillon (S.C.) High School for quite some time. Miami offered him in January of 2022. Now, he’s dropped his top schools with the Canes in Thompson’s top six.
Besides Cristobal and the Hurricanes, Thompson has earned offers from the likes of Clemson, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Georgia, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma among others. Thompson also visited the Hurricanes this past spring.
Thompson, who’s 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds and projects at offensive tackle, has been ranked the No. 58 overall player in the nation by the 247 Sports Composite recruiting rankings.
JANUARY 9
One of the very best defensive tackle recruits in the nation, Justin Scott from Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius, has already begun to narrow his list of college choices. Considering his incredible list of offers as a class of 2024 prospect, Scott has moved quickly in the recruiting process.
From coast to coast, here are some of Scott’s offers to date that are not already on the above list and inside the graphic: Penn State, Texas A&M, Texas, Washington, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Missouri.
This is a space-eating interior defensive lineman. He’s also a player that can be a one-gap defensive lineman that gets up the field to make big plays in the backfield.
The next step for the Hurricanes, like with any top prospect, is to get him on campus as many times as possible via unofficial visits, as well as an official visit. Due to Scott being from Chicago, this will be a challenge for Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff. Then again, Scott already visited this past October, so he’s already familiar with The U.
AllHurricanes.com is your home for all things Miami Hurricanes football, recruiting, basketball and other athletics, all the time. Follow along on social media at @AllHurricanes on Twitter and All Hurricanes on Facebook for round-the-clock news and analysis.
JANUARY 7
Miami Columbus (Fla.) EDGE TJ Capers has announced his commitment to the Louisville Cardinals. Capers committed to “The ‘Ville” over USC, Miami, Georgia and Colorado.
The commitment to Louisville likely stings many on the staff as he’s one of the top targets for Miami in the 2024 class.
However, his commitment is one that Miami head coach Mario Cristobal will be constantly working to flip, especially considering Capers attends Cristobal’s alma mater. Capers had 70 tackles and seven sacks in his junior year.
Cristobal won’t concede to losing a top prospect from his alma mater. Capers’ recruitment is far from over.
JANUARY 5
One of Miami’s top 2024 targets is set to come off the board.
A source confirms to All Hurricanes that TJ Capers will announce his verbal commitment on Saturday. He will decide between Miami, Georgia, USC, Colorado and Louisville, the five finalists he announced before the New Year.
The Miami (Fla.) Columbus star pass-rusher has frequented Coral Gables as a prospect and of course the ties between the school and Miami are plentiful with it being the program that produced Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal.
The Hurricanes have one sole commitment in the class of 2024, from kicker Abram Murray, as Cristobal’s staff looks to follow up a top haul in 2023.
The decision is to be televised by NBC during the All-American Bowl.
DEC 31
With the University of Miami now beginning to push for top 2024 recruits, there will be few that hold as much punch as the following prep standout, assuming he ends up in Coral Gables, Fla.
Ellis Robinson has the quickness needed, the 6-foot and 180-pound frame to go with it, to be a top-notch college cornerback. He’s listing Miami, LSU, Georgia, Colorado and Alabama among his top schools, but those certainly have not been the only programs to have extended an offer to him.
From New Haven, Conn., the Florida transplant has seen offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Kentucky, Oklahoma Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State among others.
DEC 28
One of the top edge defenders in the entire class of 2024 happens to play for the same high school program that head coach Mario Cristobal once also played for. This young man could end up playing for a second team that Cristobal played for and now coaches.
That player is TJ Capers from Miami (Fla.) Columbus. He’s already 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, and looks like a grown man from head to toe. He helped the the Crusaders to a 14-1 record, as they won the 4M state championship.
College teams have taken notice and his offer list is extensive. Miami, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Southern California and Ole Miss have offered among many others.
Capers is one of the primary prospects for Miami from the 305. There’s good reason.
Long term, Capers has the ability in college to come off the edge and be impactful in the passing game. He’s also athletic enough to chase down plays from behind with his natural athleticism.
This young man is a national recruit and definitely one that Cristobal and his staff would love to keep at home.
DEC 26
Miami is still after top offensive lineman. Even after the tremendous 2023 offensive line haul, Mario Cristobal wants to make sure he brings in another select group of players in the trenches to help get the Hurricanes depth chart back to where it needs to be.
The Canes signed five players from the 2023 class. At least three more will be needed for the 2024 class. The latest offer, one of the best from the Lone Star State.
Prior to his Miami offer, Max Anderson has received scholarships from the likes of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Michigan, LSU, Penn State, and Tennessee among others.
He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, and could project at either offensive tackle position. Playing for Frisco (Texas) Reedy, he’s just north of Dallas an used to playing against quality opponents week in and week out.
DEC 23
The Hurricanes were able to sign one high-upside defensive tackle with Joshua Horton from the class of 2023. For the next class, the Canes need at least two, if not three, defensive tackles.
One of the best in the country is David Stone, Jr., a 6-foot-4 and 270-pound interior defensive lineman with the quickness to play strong side end as well. He’s been offered by a plethora of programs, including Miami, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado, Notre Dame, and Oregon among others. Here’s Stone’s release of top schools:
Stone is from Oklahoma City, Okla., but he also plays for Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. That’s the same boarding school that Miami is awaiting on four players from the 2023 class to enroll: Antonio Tripp (interior offensive line), Francis Mauigoa (offensive tackle), Jayden Wayne (defensive end), and Riley Williams (tight end).
With Miami’s connection to IMG Academy, one can be assured that Mario Cristobal and his staff will be looking to get Stone down to Coral Gables for an unofficial visit sooner than later.
AllHurricanes.com is your home for all things Miami Hurricanes football, recruiting, basketball and other athletics, all the time. Follow along on social media at @AllHurricanes on Twitter and All Hurricanes on Facebook for round-the-clock news and analysis.