Who Are The "Must Get" 2025 Recruits For The Miami Hurricanes? | Donno Mailbag
The Miami Hurricanes will look to hit big again next year after signing a top three class of 2024.
Q: Who are your must get recruits for Miami in the 2025 class - RVM
A: I will answer this question with players I feel Miami has a decent chance at landing and who present tremendous importance both on and off the field. In many cases, you need to land top local players in order to keep them “home” to serve as ambassadors and pipeline builders.
Rueben Bain was a must-get in the class of 2023. Joshisa Trader and Zaquan Patterson were must-gets in 2024. We could say the same thing about Jeremiah Smith, who Miami didn’t land.
Here are two players I consider musts for Miami in the class of 2025:
5-Star DB DJ Pickett. I put him at the top of my list even though he’s not from the area. However, the Zephyrhills, (Tampa area) FL prospect has numerous family ties to The U. His uncle Booker Pickett played for Miami in the 90’s. His cousin, Booker Jr, is a 2024 Miami signee. His younger cousin, Canon, is a top Miami target for the class of 2026. Pickett is a consensus 5-star player and considered by many as the top prospect in the state of Florida. He’s been on Miami’s campus before, most recently after the Battle Miami 7v7 tournament last weekend.
4-Star CB Chris Ewald. Ewald is a star cornerback at Chaminade-Madonna. The Hurricanes have had mixed results recruiting top cornerbacks in recent classes. Ewald is a must-get not only as a stellar player but a local ambassador. Having former teammates of his like Trader and Patterson already at The U should help Miami’s cause.
I'll also throw in quarterback Luke Nickel. He's already committed to Miami, so I will call him a "must keep" rather than a "must get." He's ascending up the rankings and he's popular among un-committed 2025 players.
Q: Can we talk about weak points of our team? -De Camino
A: The weak points are shrinking thanks to excellent recruiting classes and strategic additions in the transfer portal. I'd look at some question areas which may or may not be weaknesses.
-Safety: Miami lost their two starters to the NFL. I expect Washington transfer Mishael Powell to fill one starting spot and players like Vanderbilt transfer Savion Riley, returning players like Markeith Williams and Jaden Harris, and freshman Zaquan Patterson to compete for a spot.
-Tight end: There are talented players in this room but I need to bring up tight end since there wasn't much production in the passing game last season. Veterans Cam McCormick and Elijah Arroyo are back. Riley Williams can take a big step up as a sophomore, Jackson Carver can earn more PT in his second year, and I think Miami has a great one for the future in freshman Elijah Lofton. But I would love to see these guys get more involved as receivers.
-Cornerback: Beyond proven commodity Daryl Porter Jr, Miami will have to rely on others with limited experience. Miami will need players like Jadais Richard, Damari Brown, Demetrius Freeney and Robert Stafford to step up and play bigger roles this year.
More on Miami's roster competitions: What Freshmen Are Positioned To Compete For Starting Roles At Miami?
