Miami football has big weekend full of visits

With the dead period over, the Miami football program has a big weekend of visits. Several key prospects are in Coral Gables this weekend. Miami is focusing on linemen on both sides of the ball this weekend. Defensive lineman Gracen Halton from San Diego, an Oregon commit is in Coral Gables this weekend.

Interior offensive lineman Dave Iuli who the Ducks led for when Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was their head coach is taking his visit with his family to see the Hurricanes this weekend. Iuli is from Puyallup, Washington, a suburb of Tacoma. Rivals.Com reported that Iuli could commit to Miami sometime by February 2.

Offensive tackle Matthew McCoy from St. Augustine is also in Coral Gables this weekend. McCoy took an official visit with the Miami football program on December 3. That was three days before Cristobal replaced Manny Diaz as head coach. NCAA rules allow players to revisit a school when a coaching change is made.

McCoy has also taken official visits to Florida, Maryland and Mississippi. The official visit for McCoy to Florida came after Billy Napier was hired. McCoy is the 1,460th ranked player, 142nd OT and 198th in Florida in the Class of 2022. Miami does not currently have an OL committed or signed for 2022.

Iuli is the 191st ranked player, 13th ranked interior OL and third in Washington in the Class of 2022 according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. A commitment from Iuli would improve the 2022 Miami class from 36th currently to 25th nationally. Mario Cristobal has made a significant impact since he was hired last month.

Halton is a 6’3, 270-pound four-star edge rusher. In the 247 Sports composite rankings, Halton is the 259th ranked player, 32nd defensive linemen and 23rd in California. Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports reported earlier this week if Cristobal was still at Oregon that Halton would have already signed with the Ducks.

Halton is making his first visit to Miami this weekend and is also reportedly considering USC. The Trojans have their own new era after hiring Lincoln Riley away from USC. Miami has edge rushers Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss as a part of their 2022 class. Miami beat out USC for a commitment from Moss.

Halton projects as a player who will contribute against the pass and the run. The Miami football team needs more contribution from their edge rushers than they had in 2021. The Hurricanes have had elite pass rushers in the few seasons prior to 2021. Cristobal and his staff have quickly made that a priority.

There are 18 days until National Signing Day. Cristobal stated in his introductory press conference last month that the line of scrimmage will be a priority. The former Miami offensive tackle is quickly showing with the players Miami is adding to its roster and prospects being brought in that his comments are not hyperbole.