Fast-rising TE recruit Reid Mikeska closes in on decision after Miami official visit
Reid Mikeska’s weekend in Coral Gables went so well he’s ready to make a decision.
A previously planned official visit with the Florida Gators is off. The three-star tight end has narrowed his choices down to the Miami Hurricanes and Oklahoma Sooners, and now a decision is coming “soon.”
“I don’t have the exact date,” Mikeska said, “but soon.”
It’s entirely possible Miami could fill both tight end slots in its Class of 2023 in the span of just a few days. On Tuesday, three-star tight end Jackson Carver orally committed to the Hurricanes after taking his official visit down in Miami-Dade County, and Mikeska spent most of the weekend with him, discussing the possibility of perhaps playing together.
“Nothing has changed,” Mikeska said.
Mikeska’s official visit with the Hurricanes came on the heels of another one at Oklahoma a week earlier. After both went well, Mikeska has entered final deliberations to figure out where he wants to play in college.
The 6-foot-6, 223-pound receiver “had a really good time” in South Florida, he said, and said “it’s nice” how close Norman is to his Texas home. Both teams have new coaching staffs and are trying to sell him on their visions for the future, and what they can help him become.
Miami impressed him with a presentation by Josh Gattis. The new offensive coordinator came from the Michigan Wolverines and his tight ends combined for 57 catches last year. Gattis’ track record with the position, along with the Hurricanes’ reputation as “Tight end U,” make them appealing to Mikeska, who remains something of a project with just one year of football experience.
“I never played my sophomore year,” Mikeska said, “then I transferred and started playing, and it went really well.”
Mikeska finished his junior season at Cypress’ Ridgeland with 24 catches for 229 yards and four touchdowns to help the Bears reach the state quarterfinals in Class 6A Division II. Before then, Mikeska was always a basketball player, so the last few months have been a whirlwind, as college coaches have started to learn who he is.
Mikeska picked up his first scholarship offer less than eight months ago and now he has more than 40, is up to No. 524 in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the 2023 recruiting class and even spent about a month orally committed to the Clemson Tigers earlier this spring.
“I just kind of felt like football was looking pretty easy, easier than basketball,” Mikeska said. “It’s definitely been exciting, getting a lot of offers really fast, but it’s been a really good process. I just try to stay levelheaded, just take it all in.”
Miami first offered Mikeska back in March and also brought him to campus for an unofficial visit in May. Coach Mario Cristobal and Co. have been recruiting him hard since the day they offered, he said.
His decision, he said, will ultimately come down to where he feels he’ll “fit in the most, where my heart is.”
“I just have to figure that out in the next couple days,” Mikeska said.
No matter what he decides, he sees a bright future ahead for the Hurricanes.
“Coach Cristobal — I feel like he’s going to take it,” he said, “and they’re going to be a national-championship team in a couple years.”
