In-state LB on Paradise Camp visit: ‘They have, I think, the best alumni in the country’
When Kobe McCloud was planning out his visits for June after a 15-month dead period ended, the Miami Hurricanes were one of the few schools he was certain he wanted to see.
Coaches from Miami had been talking to him ever since they offered him a scholarship in December, and the arrival of Travaris Robinson in January piqued his interest even more. Before any of that, the Hurricanes’ history, though, was the allure for the three-star linebacker who idolizes Ray Lewis and got to meet Ed Reed at a Bradenton IMG Academy camp in 2019. It made Paradise Camp the perfect opportunity for him to finally get down to Coral Gables for the first time as a recruit.
“I loved it. I just love the environment,” McCloud said Saturday after working out at Greentree Practice Fields. “They have, I think, the best alumni in the country. They come back, and that’s big if the alumni come back and speak on it heavy to set them up for the next level, and that’s what I’m looking for is a school that can set me up for the next level.”
McCloud, who was dealing with a groin injury and said he was about “70 percent” for the camp, made the decision to come down last Thursday at the behest of Robinson, who’s close with the McCloud family. McCloud originally wasn’t sure whether he wanted to push through the injury and participate at the camp, but he looked at it as a good opportunity to see Miami for the first time in about six years, and actually get to talk to coaches in person after months of FaceTimes and phone calls.
When the camp wrapped up, McCloud spent about 15 minutes with his family chatting with Robinson in the middle of the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.
Robinson has known the McClouds since 2014, when he was the Florida Gators’ defensive backs coach and helped lead Florida’s recruitment of wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, the linebacker’s older brother. Although Ray-Ray McCloud wound up orally committing to the Clemson Tigers, Robinson stayed close with McCloud’s father, Ray-Ray McCloud Jr., and Robinson has been an active part of Kobe McCloud’s recruitment since he joined the Hurricanes earlier this year.
“That’s my dad’s close friend,” McCloud said. “I just have a lot of relationships with the coaches.”
McCloud said he has also gotten close with linebackers coach Jonathan Patke, and he talks with Patke and Robinson regularly. He’s also starting to build a relationship with outside linebackers coach Ishmael Aristide. Miami is mostly recruiting McCloud as a linebacker, but the 6-foot-1, 208-pound senior said he’s open to playing anywhere schools might want to try him. As a junior at Tampa Gaither, McCloud primarily played safety and also occasionally lined up at quarterback. In nine games, McCloud logged 44 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery, and went 6 of 10 for 70 yards and a touchdown as a passer.
Miami still has a heavy need at linebacker in its Class of 2022, with none orally committed and hopes to add at least three. McCloud, the No. 875 overall prospect in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the 2022 recruiting class, is an interesting option because of his versatility, and some of the coverage skills he displayed in 7-on-7 tournaments in the winter and spring.
He lists Miami as part of an unofficial top four, which also includes the Maryland Terrapins, Arizona Wildcats and Toledo Rockets. While he hasn’t visited any of the other three, McCloud has unofficial visits planned with all three in August and wants to make a commitment before his senior season begins. While they try to put together their class, the Hurricanes can keep monitoring McCloud, who has clear affection for Miami.
Said McCloud: “Nothing beats South Florida.”
