Miami ramps up recruitment of Louisville commit Stanquan Clark. Another visit is coming
Stanquan Clark has been orally committed to the Louisville Cardinals since August, but it’s not stopping the Miami Hurricanes from trying to make a late run at the four-star linebacker.
Clark made the trip to Miami Gardens last month to watch the Hurricanes play at Hard Rock Stadium, and he plans to be back again Saturday when they open Atlantic Coast Conference play against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
“Miami has picked up on recruiting me,” said Clark, who’s Miami-Dade County’s top-rated linebacker in the 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2023. “They’re trying to build a relationship with me.”
After watching Clark orally commit to Louisville in the summer, the Hurricanes are finally making the Miami Central star a priority.
In four games so far this season, Clark is up to three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and he’s leading Central, the No. 4 team in MaxPreps’ national rankings, with 27 tackles. Last Friday, Charlie Strong made his way out to Traz Powell Stadium to watch the Rockets face North Miami Beach, and Clark was the main focus for the linebackers coach.
Coach Mario Cristobal, however, is just as involved in Clark’s recruitment as Strong — an indication of how high a priority he is for the Hurricanes.
“They said I can be a special player on their team,” Clark said, “and I can contribute to the team early and try to help them win.”
It’s similar to what sold him on the Cardinals. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior committed to Louisville in the middle of an impressive recruiting run for the Cardinals and saw a chance to potentially chip in early for a program in need of immediate reinforcements.
At Miami, the Hurricanes are selling him on the same thing, plus the potential to stay home and try to help set the tone as part of Cristobal’s first recruiting class.
Miami’s recent loss to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders doesn’t affecting its standing too much, either. Clark said one result isn’t going to determine which school he picks, especially because he expected growing pains from a first-year coach.
Still, he’s staying committed to Louisville, even if he’s keeping his options open. He knows he has a few more months until he needs to make up his mind for good, and a lot can change between now and December.
“They’re trying to get back involved,” Clark said, “but right now I’m 100 percent locked into Louisville.”
