The Hurricanes’ strong start to the year is helping them in more ways than just the polls. High school recruits are taking notice.
“The momentum is real, and the best part about it is it’s just beginning,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said in September. “We’re just starting to progress. We’re still building. We’re still working our way toward where we want to be. But the fact that they’ve gotten to see us get off to a strong start validates a lot. A lot of the stuff that we’ve talked about to through the processes of guys that are coming out in ’24 or ’25 and ’26. So families get to see that, players get to see that.”
Several key recruits are expected at Miami’s ACC opener against Georgia Tech on Saturday night, which is UM’s first Saturday home game since their win over Texas A&M on Sept. 9.
Five-star Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Jeremiah Smith said on social media that he will attend the game. Two of his teammates, Hurricanes commits Zaquan Patterson and Joshisa “JoJo” Trader will be there with him, a source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“We definitely, me and Joshisa, we always talk about playing with each other on the next level,” Patterson said in September. “I feel like if me, JoJo, (Smith), even Cedrick (Bailey), (running back Davion Gause), everybody on Chaminade go to the Hurricanes, we’ll win the national championship in the next year or the year after that.”
More top wide receivers will be at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend, including 2024 four-star prospect Ny Carr, who recently decommitted from Georgia, 2025 five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson (an Oregon commit), 2025 Cardinal Newman four-star Naeshaun Montgomery and 2026 standouts Jabari Brady (Monarch) and Calvin Russell (Miami Northwestern).
Other major prospects expected on Saturday include five-star 2025 UM commit Armondo Blount, four-star 2025 offensive lineman Max Buchanan and four-star 2025 safety Hylton Stubbs.
Several other Miami commits, like St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Chance Robinson, St. Thomas Aquinas defensive back Romanas “OJ” Frederique, tight end Elija Lofton, linebacker Cameron Pruitt and American Heritage wide receiver Malachi Toney, are expected to go, as well.
Miami has done well on the recruiting trail over the last month. After UM’s win over Texas A&M on Sept. 9, the Hurricanes picked up commitments from Blount and 2025 four-star Palm Beach Central wide receiver Waden Charles.
“They’re building their program and I feel like all in all, they’re taking the steps to become the old Miami,” Patterson said.
