Where Miami football stands with key Florida offensive recuiting battles

Jeremy Crabtree of On3.Com broke down the “10 key Florida recruiting battles to watch this spring.” The Miami football program is involved in most of those. This will be the first of two articles breaking down where Miami stands with several key recruits in Florida including analysis from On3.Com.

Mario Cristobal and his staff are expected to make the Miami football program a bigger player nationally competing for the highest level prospects. Recruiting well for Miami starts at home. Wide receiver is the position Miami has lost the greatest prospects from South Florida to the elite programs nationally.

Jalen Brown, Brandon Inniss and Hykeem Williams are the three highest-rated WRs in South Florida in the Class of 2023. Miami is in a good position for Brown and Williams. Running back Cedric Baxter from Orlando Edgewater is another prospect to watch from Florida. Miami linebacker Deshawn Troutman went to Edgewater.

The Miami football program currently has commits from three-star interior offensive lineman Antonio Tripp and wide receiver Lamar Seymore. Three-star WR Andy Jean recently decommitted from Miami but still has the Hurricanes among the top schools he is considering. Brown is likely the top 2023 target for Miami.

"4-star WR Jalen Brown Miami Gulliver PrepOn3 Consensus Ranking: No. 23NIL Valuation: $21KOn3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Miami 49.2%, Florida State 26.5%, Florida 10.7%, Michigan 5.5%, Auburn 1.9%, Auburn 1.9%, Notre Dame 1.9%The Skinny: “A dark horse in this race is Florida State. He has visited Tallahassee numerous times and was back over the weekend. Of course, Florida and Miami are in this, but he is looking abroad. Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas A&M are some of the schools to keep an eye on.” — (Chad) Simmons on Jalen Brown"

In three high school seasons, Brown has 89 receptions for 1,995 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. Last season Brown had 56 receptions for 1,033 yards and 11 TDs. Brown was named a second-team MaxPreps Junior All-American in 2021. Josh Gattis is leading the recruitment for Brown per 247 Sports.

"4-star WR Brandon Inniss, Miami Gardens (Fla.) American HeritageOn3 Consensus Ranking: No. 28NIL Valuation: $47KOn3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: USC 69.8%, Ohio State 10.4%, Miami 9.4%, Florida 3.4%, Alabama 2.4%The Skinny: “USC and Ohio State are the two to watch right now. Alabama, Georgia, Miami and others are still under consideration, but the Trojans and Buckeyes are 1A and 1B in the middle of March.” — Simmons on Brandon Inniss"

Miami is a long shot to sign Inniss. Inniss has taken multiple unofficial visits to Miami with the more recent being in January. The most recent visit for Inniss was to USC on March 11. Inniss is listed as the 72nd player nationally, 12th WR and 19th in Florida in 2023. Inniss has 51 receptions for 1,125 yards and 17 career TDs.

"4-star RB Cedric Baxter Jr., Orlando (Fla.) EdgewaterOn3 Consensus Ranking: No. 57NIL Valuation: $27KOn3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Florida 43.4%, Texas 14.6%, USC 10.1%, Alabama 6.9%, Georgia Tech 5.6%, Florida State 2.9%, Miami 2.9%The Skinny: “Keep an eye on the Gators for On3’s No. 1 running back. He previously told Gerry Hamilton that January’s trip to Gainesville was his best visit yet. Furthermore, the Gators rolled out the red carpet once again this past weekend. A flurry of high-profile schools are in the mix here.But UF is starting to trend in Baxter’s recruitment.” — Bender on Cedric Baxter Jr."

Baxter visited Miami the weekend of March 10. Florida will be difficult to beat out for Baxter. At 6’1, 215 pounds Baxter is a bigger back who could eventually get up to 230 pounds per his 247 Sports scouting report. Baxter has 2,384 yards and 29 TDs in his high school career. In 2021, Baxter ran for 1,651 yards and 22 TDs.

"4-star WR Hykeem Williams Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) StranahanOn3 Consensus Ranking: No. 33NIL Valuation: $18.4KOn3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Miami 46.9%, Florida State 19%, Rutgers 9.6%, Alabama 3.4%The Skinny: “Miami is the local school. After the coaching change, the Hurricanes have become the favorite. He was at Pittsburgh recently and he is going to look at schools like Florida State, Georgia and USC among others, but Mario Cristobal’s program is in a good spot.” — Simmons on Hykeem Williams"

Miami is the significant favorite to receive a commitment from Williams. If the Hurricanes can gain commitments from Brown and Williams that will give them a pair of two of the best WRs in the 2023 Class. Cristobal and his staff have quickly made an impact with the Miami football program on recruiting.

After signing the 15th ranked Class in 2022, expect Cristobal and his staff to challenge for a top 10 class in 2023. Florida is the most difficult states to recruit in. With Cristobal as the head coach, Miami should improve recruiting against the other elite programs nationally. Miami is early recruiting 2023 compared to other programs.