5 Miami Recruits to Know Before Official Visits Begin
Article photo of Saint Thomas Aquinas running back Stacy Gage; credit to All Hurricanes
The recruiting list for the Miami Hurricanes has become extensive.
That’s okay though. That just means that Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff have been putting in work to build the 2024 commitment list.
Most recently, the Hurricanes landed linebacker Vincent Shavers out of Miami (Fla.) Central. He was commitment No. 8 and the month of June could see a lot of recruiting fireworks for the Canes.
To that end, here are five prospects Canes fans should probably know more about because any number of them could sign with Miami.
No particular order with the list below.
1) Stacy Gage, RB, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Saint Thomas Aquinas
He moved down to South Florida after playing for Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Tampa (Fla.) Wharton. A true downhill running back, Gage has also become quite proficient with catching the football out of the backfield. In terms of style, he’s capable of making defenders miss in tight spaces and/or running over a defender.
He’s also a player that typically got better as the game wore on; once Gage has beaten on a defense for two, perhaps three quarters, he’s more likely to rip off a big gain.
Miami wants a second running back in this recruiting class, so do not forget about Gage among the talented running backs that have been offered. The Canes, along with UCF, Florida and Oklahoma, should get an official visit.
Side note: The Miami staff will not give up on fellow STA running back Jordan Lyle either. He’s committed to Ohio State, but his recruitment should not automatically be considered over.
2) Dylan Stewart, Edge, Washington (D.C.) Friendship Academy
Stewart defined playmaking ability coming around the corner to find the quarterback or running back. The way he can contort his body to move past an offensive tackle should be considered elite, and his physical attributes that allow him to run down the football should be viewed in the same light.
He played outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and edge. Wherever Stewart lined up, the most noticeable attribute was elite speed. He closed the distance between himself and the opposing player with the ball in a way that can only be realized by watching his film. He’s special.
The Canes will get an official visit on June 9, however. It’s going to be a battle for his signature through National Signing Day. Here's Stewart's highlight film:
3) Jerrae Hawkins, WR, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Speed. Lots of it. This electric 5-foot-9 and 170-pound receiver can score whenever he catches a pass, takes a handoff for a reverse, or during a special teams return.
Hawkins will be in Miami on June 2 for an official visit. The competition will be stiff for the talented playmaker, with Penn State a team to watch as he comes from the state of Pennsylvania prior to moving down to play at IMG. Hawkins will visit PSU (June 23) last in what could be a pivotal official.
4) Jericho Johnson, DT, Fairfield (Calif.) Armijo
Few massive defensive tackles wreak havoc like Johnson. His first-step explosiveness was evident throughout watching junior footage. Sometimes he shot the gap and just overwhelmed his opponent with speed. Other times, however, Johnson utilized a speed-to-power move that allowed him to push back an offensive lineman into the quarterback or running back’s face.
While 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Johnson could be a defensive tackle or a nose guard. His natural athleticism will allow him to be used for either position. No matter where Johnson plays in college, he’s a disruptive player.
He will be visiting Miami (June 16) the same weekend that talented defensive tackle Justin Scott visits the Hurricanes.
5) Chris Cole, LB, Salem (Va.) High School
As versatile a defender as one will find for a linebacker. Cole’s speed allowed him to play in coverage against smaller offensive players, while he also attacked the line of scrimmage with his speed when blitzing or playing the run.
Now it’s a matter of where he will primarily line up at the college level. That’s the good news, however. He’s gifted enough to move around and help a defense at weak side linebacker, hybrid linebacker, and even be a middle linebacker during obvious passing downs.
His visit list of Penn State (June 2), Notre Dame (June 9), Georgia (June 16), and Miami (June 23) also displayed how talented he’s considered by several heavy hitters in college football.
Miami Racking Up Impressive Official Visitor List
5 Prospects Miami Fans Should Know
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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.