Miami football big final weekend of official visits before National Signing Day

The Miami Football program has a big weekend of official visits before National Signing Day next Wednesday. Seven players are taking their official visits to Coral Gables this weekend. Four of the prospects are blue chips. The visitors will be led by five-stars, defensive lineman Shemar Stewart and offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr.

Miami currently has 10 players signed in their Class of 2022 which is currently ranked 38th nationally. When he was hired in December, head coach Mario Cristobal said he eventually expects to sign between 16 and 20 players including transfers. The Miami football program has added four transfers this offseason.

Two four-star players will visit the Miami football program this weekend. Defensive lineman Christen Miller and running back Trevonte Citizen will be in Coral Gables. Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten and Edge rusher R. Mason Thomas, offensive tackle Anez Cooper are the three-star players who are visiting Miami this weekend.

Moten is the brother of former Miami DL Anthony Moten. Miami currently has four-star edge rushers Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss as part of their 2022 Class. The Hurricanes have also added transfer defensive linemen Jacob Lichtenstein from USC and Antonio Moultrie from Alabama-Birmingham.

Canes Sport via Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald reported that Stewart might not consider Miami without the Hurricanes hiring a defensive coordinator. That puts pressure on Mario Cristobal to hire a defensive coordinator by next Wednesday if he wants Stewart as part of the 2022 class.

Conerly who is from Rainier Beach, Washington seems like a longshot. Michigan has the two most recent crystal balls for Conerly from 247, but those were logged in September. Miami has not signed an offensive lineman in the 2022 Class or added one as a transfer. Miami is projected in the best position to sign Cooper.

This is one of the biggest weekends of the 2022 offseason for Miami. The Hurricanes need to add depth on the OL. Signing local five-star players will be critical of Miami is serious about becoming a College Football Playoff contender. Citizen would add depth at RB and potentially be a starter in the future.

Mario Cristobal is recruiting without having filled out his staff. All three coordinator positions, quarterbacks, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, or defensive backs coaches are still open for Miami. All but running backs coach Kevin Smith who was hired from Mississippi followed Cristobal from Oregon.

Cristobal, Smith, defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon will be busy this weekend. Players are allowed to start signing again on Wednesday but can go beyond then to sign. Miami is expected to continue looking to add to the roster throughout the offseason.