Miami football program next moves after Early National Signing Day

The Miami football program is far from finished finalizing its 2022 signing class after adding eight players on Early National Signing Day on Wednesday. Head coach Mario Cristobal spoke to reporters during a Wednesday afternoon news conference to discuss the 2022 Miami signing class.

Miami is eighth in average ranking per signee in the 247 Sports composite rankings. The Hurricanes signed six players who were previously committed prior to Early National Signing Day and added four-star defensive end Nyjalik Kelly and three-star cornerback Jaden Harris who were uncommitted prior to Wednesday.

Cristobal expects Miami to expand their 2022 Class to between 16 and 20 signees via high school players and the transfer portal. Miami will not put a cap on their goal which Cristobal said is always to reach the maximum number of signees. Miami is projected to eventually add Alabama transfer cornerback Marcus Banks.

The other six signees during the Early Signing Period in addition to Harris and Kelly are all four-star prospects. Quarterback Jacurri Brown, CBs Chris Graves and Khamauri Rogers, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, safety Markeith Williams and wide receiver Isaiah Horton were the commits who signed with Miami on Wednesday.

Cristobal wants to add at least one more edge rusher. About half and possibly more of the players the Miami football program is targeting are expected to enroll early. Miami will host official visits to some prospects after school starts in January who they hope to get enrolled in classes shortly after that.

Miami could have between four and 10 players enroll early. Unsigned players to watch include five-star DE Shemar Stewart and WR Kevin Coleman. Stewart was at one time favored to sign with Miami but is now projected to ink with Texas A&M. Miami is the reported front runner for Coleman.

A National Letter of Intent from Coleman would vault Miami to 48th ranked 2022 Class. If Miami could add Coleman and Stewart the Hurricanes would have the 32nd ranked Class. The potential transfers Miami could add would greatly improve the talent on the Hurricanes roster.

If Tyrique Stevenson returns in 2022, Miami would have a deep and talented group of CBs. Cristobal is quickly making a recruiting impact. Harris and Kelly would have signed elsewhere if Miami had not hired Cristobal as their new head coach. Miami has a lot of work to do before the February 2 Traditional National Signing Day.