Feedback on the Miami Hurricanes’ 11 recent 2025 commitments. What UM is getting
A binge of nonbinding pledges in June (and two more in July) have left the Hurricanes with 17 commitments and a Class of 2025 recruiting class that has risen to ninth nationally in 247 Sports’ evaluations this week.
Some feedback from South Florida-based recruiting analyst Larry Blustein on the 11 Class of 2025 players who have committed to UM since the start of June:
▪ Four-star Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna cornerback Chris Ewald:
The 5-11 cornerback decommitted from Michigan on Jan. 15.
247 Sports rates Ewald the 21st-best cornerback and 169th best player overall in the 2025 class.
“Big-time kid,” Blustein said. “He’s grown three to four inches since committing to Michigan. Physical cover guy who’s not afraid to stick his nose in it. He will be a five-year varsity starter [in high school]. Very talented young man; he’s one of those guys you need to get” if Miami wants to be a contender.
▪ Miami Central three-star cornerback Amari Wallace:
The 5-11 defensive back is expected to be a nickel cornerback for UM.
“High-IQ kid,” Blustein said. “Quick. Will lay you out; physical player. Everybody loved him. I had him on the radio show last week; he wanted to stay close to home. This should silence people who say Miami doesn’t recruit home.”
Whether Wallace and Ewald are a boundary corner or nickel “will be based on how he’s evaluated when he gets to campus,” Blustein said. “Both have tremendous hips.”
▪ Alabama-based three-star cornerback Timothy Merritt:
The 6-2 cornerback chose UM over Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas. UM is expected to give him reps as a boundary cornerback, but he also can play nickel cornerback and safety.
“They see me doing everything in this defense,” he told 247 Sports. “They tell me I can play some safety, corner and nickel. I am going to start off at corner and then work my way to other positions.”
Cornerback was as big as need as anything on the roster for 2025 and beyond, and Merritt, Wallace and Ewald should have UM feeling much better about the position moving forward.
▪ Sanford-based four-star offensive lineman Max Buchanan:
Listed as 6-4 and 275 pounds, Buchanan picked UM after visiting FSU, Clemson, UM and Penn State, among others. He was a tackle in high school but could play guard in college.
“He can play every position on the line,” Blustein said. “Good interior guard/center guy. I wouldn’t rule out him playing tackle, but he’s more of an interior guy. A leader. He’s pretty special; he’s strong and quick and that’s a need inside. If you have the package, Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal will get more out of you. He does.”
▪ Savannah, Georgia-based four start edge player Herbert Scroggins:
The 6-3, 215-pounder chose UM over Auburn, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Last season, Scroggins had 84 tackles, 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He told On3.com that he was leaning toward Auburn before his UM visit; the idea of being coached by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor appealed to him.
“I’ve seen him on tape,” Blustein said. “Really quick off the ball and really good first step. If he’s [matched up with] an offensive tackle trying to move out on him, he will beat them every time to the outside. Long arms. A couple of Columbus coaches told me they couldn’t block him. He’s going to gain more weight and get stronger. You can’t teach that quickness.”
▪ Miami Central three-star linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin:
He took visits to UM and Pittsburgh and chose the Canes over the Panthers, Penn State, Stanford and Louisville.
Marcelin, who’s 5-11 and 210 pounds, had 109 tackles and 12 sacks last season.
“Whole different level kid,” Blustein said. “They had never gotten a kid [in the last couple years] who can cover like he can. He can drop back in pass coverage, like Zach Thomas used to do. But he can he a run stopper too. Has a great nose to the ball.
“He started on a state championship team as a ninth-grader. He’s a dude. He reminds me of Sean Spence because of his size. Sean was a great cover guy. He’s got that type of potential.”
▪ Orlando-based three star offensive tackle Demetrius Campbell:
The 300-pounder chose UM over Georgia Tech, Arkansas and Mississippi.
“I watched him at a bunch of line camps,” Blustein said. “Big, quick, strong. A lot of these guys, the only thing they lack is technique. He’ll start emerging in two or three years. Buchanan may get more of those early reps than these other guys.”
▪ Orlando-based three star offensive tackle Jaden Wilkerson:
Rutgers, UCF and Syracuse also pursued Wilkerson, who’s listed at 6-5 and 330 pounds.
“Me knowing my abilities and knowing how hard I work at things, I am going to get after it no matter where I go,” he told 247 Sports. “But Miami, coach Mirabal is going to be able to teach me the techniques and the things I don’t have quite yet.
“I am a big athlete. I move well for how big I am. That is going to help me in the long run.”
Blustein said Wilkerson “comes from a program that passes a lot. So he learned pass protection. At [Orlando] Edgewater [where he transferred to this year], he’s going to learn run blocking. He has to. That’s what Edgewater does. Great size, tremendous feet. He made a wise move going to Edgewater.”
▪ Bradenton IMG Academy linebacker Gavin Nix: The four-star prospect is considered a top 20 linebacker in this class. He picked UM over Oregon and FSU, with Alabama and UF and Notre Dame among his other offers.
Blustein’s take: “A big-time talent who has been playing at a very high level for several years. Very high football IQ. Someone who combines athleticism and physical play. He is indeed someone you need to take the program to the next level. One of the very few IMG players who is from the state of Florida.”
▪ Jacksonville four-year safety Hylton Stubbs: Here’s our full story on him.
“One of the top kids in this class,” Blustein said. “Great size, great hips for covered. The type of kid that defines a class.”
▪ Las Vegas-based four-star interior offensive lineman Seuseu “SJ” Alofaituli
Here’s our full story on him.
