Colin Simmons Decision, Miami Hurricanes Recruiting Rankings and Notes
Article photo of Zaquan Patterson; credit to Brian Smith
The Miami Hurricanes currently hold the No. 19 recruiting class in the On3 recruiting rankings. There’s still a long way to go so that the Canes can once again sign a top 10 class.
One of the prospects that would push the Canes up the rankings would be Duncanville (Texas) High School edge rusher Colin Simmons. The 6-foot-2 and 225-pound consensus 5-star recruit will make his pledge at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
The three remaining schools would be Texas, LSU, and Miami. Most believe it’s either UT or LSU, but a commitment would be just that – a verbal pledge – and not a signed letter of intent. In short, Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes shall not give up if he does indeed select the Horns or Tigers.
Other key recruits that could bolster Miami’s class? Beyond the obvious recruitment with Jeremiah Smith, here are three that have continued to be on the Miami coaching staff’s mind, and any one of them could sign with the Orange and Green.
Zaquan Patterson, Safety, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna
A 5-star on Rivals, Patterson is one of the top uncommitted prospects for Miami and several other programs.
Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Miami and Auburn will be among the teams to watch. Do not be surprised if Patterson makes a decision fairly soon, too.
If forced to project where Patterson would pick today, Miami would be the most likely selection. Do not discount any of the other four programs either. Patterson will likely pay close attention to each of their 2023 seasons prior to signing in December.
Kamarion Franklin, Defensive Line, Lake Cormorant (Miss.) High School
Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee and Miami all hold reasons to believe Franklin signs with them. It’s been a wild recruitment for the Magnolia State product, one that’s seen him make the trip to Miami five times this year.
He also lives less than an hour from Ole Miss. That’s why he’s been to Oxford several times. Tennessee continues to be a frequent host for Franklin.
Then there’s Auburn, which has multiple unofficial visits from Franklin, plus an official visit for the home game against UMass (Sep. 2). Perhaps the Tigers hold an edge with that last official visit?
Miami continues to be in the thick of the race and there’s a long way to go. It’s anyone’s ballgame to sign the talented Franklin.
Aydin Breland, Defensive Tackle, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
What to believe? It’s unusual that Southern California, the school that long since dominated recruiting at Mater Dei, does not appear to be a primary factor with one of the nation’s top recruits. For the record, 247 has Breland as its No. 6 overall prospect and a 5-star.
Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M, and Georgia are the programs to watch here. That could change, certainly, but those programs already hosted Breland for official visits, as well as continuing to make Breland a priority.
As for the Canes, keep in mind that landing at least one bigger defensive tackle is arguably the top goal for Cristobal and his staff. That’s going to be a selling point for Miami. It needs more size in the middle of the defensive front.
Looking ahead to the final recruiting rankings, several recruits will impact Miami’s final placement. The players above will be a few of the most important. If the Canes land at least two of the above, there’s a high percentage chance that Miami once again finishes inside the national top 10.
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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.