With the 20187 recruiting classes mostly finalized where did the Miami Hurricanes rank with other teams expected to be in the preseason top 25.
For the second straight season, the Miami Hurricanes improved their recruiting class over the season before during the Mark Richt era. Several of the National Media Outlets examined the 2018 recruiting classes by breaking down how the expected preseason Top 25 teams did during the latest recruiting cycle.
With the talent they have coming back and the class they are bringing in the Miami Hurricanes are expected to be a top 25 team in 2018. The Miami coaching staff will have to rebuild the defensive line and replace some key offensive starters, but they bring back one of the most talented rosters in the country.
Mark Richt and his staff have made more strides than the previous two coaching staffs and the end of the Larry Coker era were able to accomplish. If he can lead Miami to a National Championship he will rank with Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson as one of the great coaches in program history.
The Bleacher Report gave the Miami Hurricanes class an A+ and claims the U is back.
"13. Miami Hurricanes: A+ The U is back, baby! Miami’s recruiting class ranked 27th in 2015, 22nd in 2016 and 12th last year before ascending to No. 7 this year. It’s the first time the Hurricanes have ranked in the top nine since claiming the No. 1 spot back in 2008."
"Lorenzo Lingard, a 5-star running back, is their crown jewel, but this group is loaded with 4-star talent that will help Miami remain within shouting distance of Clemson atop the ACC standings."
Both 247Sports and USA Today compile top 25 rankings for the recruiting classes. It’s more of a general ranking than specifically which teams will be top 25 in the 2018 preseason. The Hurricanes finished eighth in the 247 composite and tied for eighth with Oklahoma in the USA Today composite.
Just as important as the overall ranking of the Miami Hurricanes recruiting class is the star power. Running back Lorenzo Lingard is Miami’s first five-star recruit since recently graduated defensive end in 2014. He is the first five-star recruit on the offensive side of the ball since currently Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson committed to the U in 2012.
Lingard is the Miami Hurricanes only five-star recruit in the class of 2018. The Hurricanes also added 14 four-star players in the class of 2018.
The position breakdown by four stars is one quarterback, one running back, three wide receivers, two tight ends, two offensive guards, one defensive tackle, three corner backs, one athlete likely headed to defense, and one safety.
Next: Several Miami move on Hurricanes composite recruiting list
The Hurricanes are already off to a good start in the Surge ’19 class. The Hurricanes are currently second in the 2019 class behind Richt’s former program Georgia. With the way he and his staff are recruiting Miami will continue to challenge for the College Football Playoff in the years to come.