IMG Academy stars flock to South Florida for Miami’s ACC opener vs. North Carolina
The foundation of the Miami Hurricanes’ top-10 recruiting class is on Florida’s other coast, at Bradenton IMG Academy, where Francis Mauigoa and Jayden Wayne give Miami exactly the sort of 1-2 punch coach Mario Cristobal will want in the trenches in every single recruiting cycle.
Finally, those two elite linemen will make their way down to Hard Rock Stadium this weekend to watch Cristobal’s Hurricanes in person for the first time.
IMG Academy has a rare weekend off and Mauigoa, Wayne, tight end Riley Williams and interior lineman Antonio Tripp — all of whom are orally committed to Miami — are using it as a chance to watch the Hurricanes host the North Carolina Tar Heels in Miami Gardens.
So far, none of the four have wavered from their pledges, and Cristobal and Co. will get some important face time with the in-state stars to make sure they’re all staying solid in their commitments.
The Hurricanes will also once again have all their South Florida commits in attendance this weekend and get to keep working on several local blue-chip prospects, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Even as Cristobal’s debut season has gotten off to a rocky start, the first-year coach continues to recruit aggressively and at a high level. This week brings one of his biggest game-day opportunities yet at Miami.
Miami expected visitors for UNC
- Francis Maugioa, 5-star OT, Bradenton IMG Academy (Miami commit)
- Jayden Wayne, 4-star EDGE, Bradenton IMG Academy (Miami commit)
- Riley Williams, 4-star TE, Bradenton IMG Academy (Miami commit)
- Rueben Bain, 4-star DL, Miami Central
- Nathaniel Joseph, 4-star WR, Edison (Miami commit)
- Robert Stafford, 4-star ATH, Melbourne Eau Gallie (Miami commit)
- Robby Washington, 4-star ATH, Palmetto (Miami commit)
- Stanquan Clark, 4-star LB, Miami Central (Louisville commit)
- Antonio Tripp, 3-star IOL, Bradenton IMG Academy (Miami commit)
- Bobby Washington, 3-star LB, Palmetto (Miami commit)
- Frankie Tinilau, 3-star OT, LaSalle (Miami commit)
This story was originally published October 7, 2022 at 12:53 PM.
