A look at key recruits planning to visit UM in June, including son of a Hurricanes great
Part 2 of a 2-part series
When the Miami Hurricanes next week get players on campus for official visits for the first time in more than a year, they hope to impress them with upgraded facilities, a rich tradition, a history of putting players in the NFL and in many cases, an opportunity for immediate playing time.
But there’s no pretense or delusions inside UM about what it will take to lure more of the elite South Florida recruits who have often picked Alabama, Clemson or Ohio State in recent years.
“It’s going to be tough,” UM recruiting director David Cooney said on WQAM’s Hurricane Hotline last week. “Those guys have had continued success. We’ve got to win games.
“We’ve got to continue to get the right kids into our program, the guys that fit us and that are scheme fits for us. Our coaching staff has done an amazing job with guys we have been able to pull in these last two classes. The key to me is keeping guys in your program with the transfer portal being so hot right now. You want to make sure you’re keeping your kids in your program. And it’s tough, but I think that’s the key.”
UM is looking well beyond South Florida for players. Most of those coming for official visits in June live elsewhere.
“We’ve come to know that football is not only being played in Florida anymore,” Cooney said. “Everyone is playing 7 on 7, playing football year round. So it’s not hard for you to go out and see that there’s kids in California, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, all over the country that love the game.
“Heck, there are even kids in the Bahamas, all over the place that love this game. So we’re going to make sure we’re covering the globe and finding our type of kid and get those kids in our program, continue the trajectory we’re on. We feel we’ll be turning the corner soon and this will be a huge season for us.”
In part 1 here on Monday, we examined the Class of 2022 players scheduled to take official visits during the first two weekends of June.
Here are those 2022 prospects scheduled for UM visits the final two weekends of June before another dead period, according to recruiting-oriented web sites: (These lists are obviously fluid).
WEEKEND OF JUNE 18
▪ Wesley Bissainthe: The four-star Miami Central standout, rated by Rivals as the No. 10 outside linebacker and 88th best overall player in the 2022 class, is a top UM priority, but the competition is stiff.
He also plans to visit West Virginia and Penn State in June. And he granted FSU’s request to move his Tallahassee visit from June to during the season so the Seminoles can try to make a final, lasting impression on him.
He has said he has no favorite. UM has at least a decent chance for a player at a position that must be upgraded.
▪ Markeith Williams: The three-star prospect from Orlando is rated the 24th-best safety by Rivals and has spoken highly of new UM assistants Travaris Robinson and Ishmael Aristide. But UM has ground to make up; on Twitter, he has listed a top three of Ohio State, Florida and Alabama.
▪ Khamauri Rogers: The four-star prospect from Lexington, Miss., is rated by Rivals as the No. 6 cornerback and the 47th best player overall in the 2022 class. The former LSU commit in April announced a top six of Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Mississippi, Mississippi State and Notre Dame.
All six of those schools have a legitimate shot; Mississippi has the home-state advantage and Rogers has developed a good relationship with former Dolphins cornerback Terrell Buckley, who is the Rebels’ cornerbacks coach.
▪ DJ Wesolak: The four-star prospect from Boonville, Missouri — rated the 14th best weakside defensive end — has official visits scheduled to UM and Southern California and plans to take unofficial visits to Georgia, Clemson, North Carolina and Missouri.
Alabama, Florida and Arizona State are others in the mix and reportedly are in line to get official visits.
Wesolak told Canesport’s Matt Shodell that he likes how UM developed Jaelan Phillips into a first-round pick.
“I watch tape and study him, watched his growth,” Wesolak said. “He’s shown a lot with what Miami can do for a recruit at that position.
“They said they see a lot of similarities in me to him, our body, physique, how we play on the field. When he got there he was 255 and right now I’m at 240. They said they see a lot of me in him.”
▪ Landon Ibieta: The three-star receiver from Mandeville, Louisiana is one of the more under-the-radar prospects visiting, and UM’s level of interest is somewhat unclear.
The 6-foot receiver is smart, shifty and a skilled route runner but doesn’t have many major offers; Virginia, UM and Wake Forest were his only Power 5 offers as of early May.
According to Rivals, Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State have reached out, though that hasn’t advanced to the offer stage.
He also plans to visit Tulane, Wake Forest, Louisiana Tech.
WEEKEND OF JUNE 25, WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE CANES’ PARADISE CAMP
▪ Devon Jackson: The four-star prospect from Omaha, Nebraska — rated by Rivals as the No. 24 outside linebacker in the 2022 class — told Canesport last week that his top three is UM, Oklahoma and Arizona State, but the Canes are running third because he has had longer relationships (in terms of regular communication) with the Sooners and Sun Devils.
“They say I’m one of the pieces they need to get back to where they want to be. Miami’s just one of those programs everyone knows about,” Jackson told Canesport. “You say you got the U, everyone knows what you’re talking about. So that’s cool.”
▪ DeMario Tolan: The four-star prospect from Dr. Phillips High in Orlando is rated by Rivals as the No. 17 outside linebacker and No. 154 prospect overall in 2022.
He has June visits — in this order — to Tennessee, Auburn, LSU and Miami. Rivals national recruiting coordinator Adam Gorney said those four are the front-runners, with Clemson, FSU and UF still in the mix.
Tolan told Gorney that UM’s appeal is that he could potentially play early in his career and that the Canes have developed NFL players.
One thing that helps LSU is Tolan’s relationship with linebacker coach Blake Baker, who was UM’s defensive defensive coordinator the past two years.
▪ RJ Maryland: The four-star prospect from Southlake Texas High is rated the nation’s No. 16 tight end prospect by Rivals. He’s the son of former Hurricanes great Russell Maryland, and UM appears to be the team to beat.
Maryland, who caught 30 passes for 736 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, told Rivals that “my dad went there [to UM] and both my sisters went there, so I know more about Miami than I know about other schools right now. I’ve been seeing some of the facilities since I was a little kid so I’ve been able to get to know a good amount of how things go there.”
Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Houston are among others that have shown strong interest.
The Canes like his film. The 6-3, 196-pounder has good hands and the ability to generate yards after the catch.
▪ Jacob Hood: The four-star prospect from Nashville - rated the No. 35 offensive tackle - will visit Auburn, Georgia and UM in June.
He has a top nine of Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Baylor, UM Georgia Tech, Mississippi, Tennessee and Mississippi State — in no particular order.
Hood, who can play left and right tackle, told Canesport that UM, as a private school, is a “great learning environment” and he thinks highly of UM offensive line coach Garin Justice.
The competition is formidable, but the Canes are at least in the mix.
UM so far has two class of 2022 commitments: four-star Georgia-based quarterback Jacurri Brown and three-star Gainesville-based wide receiver Quan Lee.
NEWS NOTE
Appalachian State’s football game at UM was set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 on ESPN2 or ESPNU. The Michigan State at UM game will be noon on Sept. 18 on ABC or ESPN.
UM will open at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 4 against Alabama in Atlanta. That game will be on ABC.
Here’s part 1 of this series with details on players scheduled to visit UM’s campus during the first two weekends of June.
This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 2:29 PM.
