Miami will get final official visit from five-star safety Kamari Wilson. That’s good for UM
Kamari Wilson is going to let the Miami Hurricanes make the final impression in his recruitment and the five-star safety has effectively pushed Miami into the top five — maybe even the top four — of his decision-making process as his senior year begins at Bradenton IMG Academy.
Wilson, who took a pair of official visits to Southeastern Conference schools in June, is eyeing a December trip to Coral Gables and said the Hurricanes are one of two more teams he knows he’ll officially visit in the fall.
“I’ll definitely be taking an official visit to Miami,” Wilson said Friday after helping IMG Academy to a 35-15 preseason win against Plantation American Heritage in Plantation. “Probably, that’s going to be my last.”
Wilson said he also plans to visit the Georgia Bulldogs the first weekend of October, and his final official visit is still to be determined, with the Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators among the top contenders for the fifth visit.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back took official visits with the Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers in June, and he plans to return to Texas A&M for its game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in October.
Why the final visit matters
The Hurricanes have deviated from their past official-visit strategy, but, since the advent of the early signing period for the Class of 2018, Miami has typically liked to host top targets at the last possible moment.
In 2017, the Hurricanes hosted 19 official visitors the weekend before the early signing period and landed all 19. In 2018, Miami hosted 20 and landed 13. The Hurricanes bounced back in 2019, and hosted 14 and landed 13.
Last year, Miami didn’t host any official visits because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its strategy has been slightly different this year because of how hectic June was after the NCAA lifted visit restrictions. So far, eight of the Hurricanes’ nine commits have already taken their official visits, as have about a dozen other major targets, but Wilson’s planned trip the second weekend in December would leave Miami fresh in Wilson’s mind and potentially let the Hurricanes capitalize on the typical post-visit high.
Traditionally, Miami has also liked to make the final official visit weekend into sort of a celebration of the recruiting class, so the Hurricanes could try to surround Wilson with a bunch of commits, who can aid the coaches’ recruiting efforts.
The Travaris Robinson effect
Either way, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke have already proven they can lure elite defensive backs to Miami. Wilson, who’s the No. 19 overall prospect in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the Class of 2022, would be the third top-100 defensive back in the class.
Robinson’s hire, Wilson said, is actually what helped the Hurricanes vault into the senior’s top group.
“I built a relationship with him when he was at South Carolina, and I felt like him going to Miami was a great move by a program on the rise,” Wilson said. “That really boosted Miami for me.”
Wilson took an unofficial visit with the Hurricanes in June and also started to bonding with Van Dyke. The Miami native is one of the youngest position coaches in a Power 5 Conference and it has helped him connect with recruits from all across the Southeastern United States.
Wilson, who’s originally from St. Lucie County and is cousins with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson, liked the dynamics of the coaching staff, with its blend of veterans and up-and-comers.
“All of them together, it’s like crazy. That’s a good coaching staff. I like how they vibe together. They have a really crazy defense that’s coming up,” Wilson said. “I really got to feel the family vibe and how the atmosphere there is crazy.”
Wilson has lofty expectations for the Hurricanes and they have to prove they’re in the same class as Wilson’s SEC suitors, all of whom have been top-five teams at some point in the last two seasons.
Miami will get a chance to prove itself quickly in 2021 and Wilson will be watching the opener against Alabama closely.
“If they beat Bama,” he said, then trailed off and opened his eyes wide. It has a chance to change everything for the Hurricanes.
