Miami Football Early National Signing Day 2023: NLI tracker and live blog

With a late push since December 11 the 2023 Miami football signing class has moved up to third nationally behind Alabama and Georgia. Mario Cristobal has lived up to his reputation as an elite recruiter. Miami is projected to have three five-star signees with cornerback Cormani McClain and two offensive tackles.

Five-star OTs Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola provide the Miami football program with a pair of anchors on the OL for at least the next three seasons. The biggest recent surprise was a commitment from four-star American Heritage running Mark Fletcher who committed to Miami with projections to Florida.

Fletcher ended a productive week for Miami with his commitment on Sunday. The week began on December 11 with a commitment of speedy RB Chris Johnson. Fletcher and Johnson have already picked up the consensus nickname thunder and lightning. Fletcher is 6’1 225 pounds and will hopefully provide an inside threat.

The Miami football program is still pursuing several players who are uncommitted and will announce their college destinations on Wednesday and other prospects who are committed elsewhere that Miami is hoping to flip during the early national signing period from Wednesday through Friday.

Miami football Early Signing Day Tracker and Live Updates

One of the biggest names to watch during the opening day of the Early National Signing period is four-star CB Damari Brown. Miami received a commitment on Monday from Brown’s old brother Davonte who is transferring from Central Florida. Damari Brown is announcing his commitment on Wednesday at 5 PM.

Miami football first 2023 signee WR Nathaniel “Ray Ray” Joseph

The first Miami football signee of the day is four-star wide receiver Nathaniel “Ray Ray” Joseph of Miami Edison. Joseph is the 129th-ranked player, 21st WR and 31st-ranked player in Florida in the class of 2023 per the 247 Sports composite rankings. Miami signs Joseph after he was originally committed to Clemson.

Cornerback Robert Stafford

Four-star cornerback Robert Stafford is the first official defensive signee for the Miami football program in the class of 2023. Stafford is the 122nd-ranked player, 13th CB and 31st in Florida for 2023. Stafford became a CB late in his high school career after exclusively playing WR earlier.

Offensive lineman Tommy Kinsler

Three-star guard Tommy Kinsler committed to the Miami football program in June nine days after he pledged to Florida. Kinsler is the 553rd player, 43rd interior OL and 96th in Florida in the 2023 class. Kinsler is one of five OL Miami is expected to sign on Wednesday. Kinsler is 6’6, 330 pounds.

Edge rusher Jayden Wayne

Four-star edge rusher Jayden Wayne provides the Miami football program with an elite athlete who also played WR in high school in Tacoma, Washington and for IMG Academy in Bradenton this season. Wayne is the 72nd-ranked player, 11th edge rusher and 15th prospect in Florida in the class of 2023.

Running back Mark Fletcher

Four-star RB Mark Fletcher is the newest player to the 2023 Miami recruiting class after committing to the Hurricanes on Sunday. Fletcher ran for 4,443 yards, had 23 100-yard games and scored 53 TDs in his American Heritage career. Fletcher is the 243rd player, 15th RB and 48th in Florida for 2023.

Linebacker Malik Bryant

Four-star LB Malik Bryant will compete for snaps as a true freshman at a position Miami needs depth. Bryant is the 103rd-ranked player, ninth LB and 24th in Florida in the class of 2023. Returning to his local high school Orlando Jones in 2022 from IMG, Bryant had 72 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Defensive lineman Rueben Bain

Four-star Miami legacy DL Rueben Bain was trending to the Hurricanes throughout his recruitment, but did not commit until last week. Bain is one of the most productive players in the class of 2023 with 145 tackles, 92 TFLs and 57 TDs during his Miami Central career. Bain is 70th nationally and ninth DL in 2023.

Offensive tackle Frankie Tinilau

Three-star OT Frankie Tinilau signs with the Hurricanes from Miami LaSalle via Australia. Tinilau is the 1054th ranked player, 86th OT and 147th prospect in Florida in the class of 2023. Miami had five OL committed for 2023 entering Wednesday. At 6’5, 315 pounds, Tinililau has excellent size but expected to be a project.

WR Robby Washington

Four-star prospect Robby Washington teams with Joseph as the two WRs in the 2023 Miami class. Washington is the 187th ranked player, 27th WR and 17th in Florida for 2023. Washington had 72 receptions for 1,230 yards and 17 touchdowns with 810 rushing yards and another two scores in his Palmetto career.

LB Bobby Washington

Miami also signed Washington’s twin, three-star LB Bobby. As a senior in 2023, Washington had 52 tackles, 15 TFLs and eight sacks. Washington is the 413th prospect, 33 LB and 78th in Florida for 2023. Washington is one of five LBs committed to Miami for 2023. Washington committed to Miami in March.

Defensive tackle Joshua Horton

Three-star DT Joshua Horton’s production at Fairburn, Georgia Langston Hughes exceeded his recruiting ranking. Horton recorded 263 tackles, 15 TFLs, eight sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in two seasons. Horton is the 486th prospect, 55nd DL and  51st in Georgia for 2023.

LB Raul “Popo” Aguirre

Aguirre is the second-highest rated 2023 Miami LB commit behind Bryant. Aguirre has 176 tackles, four TFLs, two sacks and one fumble recovery in the last two seasons. Aguirre is the 181st prospect, 17th LB and 13th in Georgia for 2023. At 6’2, 220 pounds Aguirre has good size with the potential to fill out more.

Tight end Riley Williams

Riley Williams is one of four signees from IMG for Miami in the class of 2023. Williams joins Elijah Arroyo and Jaleel Skinner as four-star TEs on the Miami roster. The 247 sports composite ranks Williams as the 105th ranked player, fourth TE and 26th in Florida. At 6’6, 240 pounds, Williams is an imposing target.

LB Kalen Spencer

Three-star signee Kalen Spencer has the potential to play LB or safety for Miami. Spencer is the 748th prospect, 63rd LB and 17th in Virginia for 2023. Prior to committing to Miami Spencer was committed to Oklahoma. Spencer is another signee that has the potential to exceed his recruiting ranking.

OT Samson Okunlola

Five-star OT Samson Okunlola, AKA the pancake honcho is a prospect that excites the Miami fanbase as much as anyone in the class. Okunlola is the 20th prospect, third-ranked OT and first in Massachusetts in the class of 2023. Tackle Francis Mauigoa, CB Cormani McClain and Okunlola provide Miami with three five-star signees.

LB Marcellius Pulliam

Three-star LB Marcus Pulliam committed to the Miami football program earlier this month. Pulliam is the 736th prospect, 62nd LB and 73rd in Georgia in the class of 2023. Pulliam had 43 tackles, five for a loss, four sacks, one interception and a fumble recovery during the 2022 season.

TE Jackson Carver

Three-star TE Jackson Carver is a multi-sport athlete that has a high upside. Carver is the 652nd player, 30th TE and fifth in Connecticut for 2023. Carver and Williams help Miami add depth at TE for 2023. In addition to Arroyo and Skinner Miami also return Khalil Brantley and Dominic Mammarelli at TE in 2023.

Offensive lineman Antonio Tripp

Three-star interior offensive lineman Antonio Tripp is a versatile prospect with the potential to play center or guard. Tripp is the 683rd-ranked prospect, 53rd IOL and 108th in Florida out of IMG. Tripp was one of the earliest Miami commits pledging to the Hurricanes on March 8. Tripp is 6’3, 300 pounds.

Quarterback Emory Williams

Three-star quarterback Emory Williams participated in the Elite 11 this summer with more highly rated signal callers. In three seasons at Milton, Florida, Williams threw for 4,380 yards, 40 TDs and seven interceptions. Williams posted most of those numbers in 2021 and 2022. Williams is the 613th player, 32nd QB and 98th in Florida.

Edge rusher Collins Acheampong

Four-star defensive lineman Collins Acheampong is a freak athlete who started playing football late after previously playing basketball. Acheampong flipped to Miami from Michigan earlier this month. Acheampong is the 154th player, 19th DL and 11th in California for 2023. At 6’7 254, Acheampong’s length is intruiging.

RB Chris Johnson

Johnson who committed to Miami a week before Mark Fletcher provides the Hurricanes with a speedy threat in the backfield. Johnson is the 294th player, 18th RB and 53rd in Florida out of Fort Lauderdale Dillard. Johnson was clocked earlier this year running a 10.45 100 and 20.78 200 meters earlier this year.

Defensive back Antione Jackson

Miami signed DB Antoine Jackson after he was reportedly considering East Carolina late. Jackson reclassified to the 2022 class from 2023. The 247 Sports composite rankings have Jackson as the 219th prospect, 16th safety and 45th in Florida for 2023. Jackson is 6’0, 175 pounds and has a 76-inch wingspan.

The Miami football program is replacing Hurricanes’ legendary punter Louis Hedley with another Australian Dylan Joyce. David Lake of Inside the U reported that Joyce is 6’3, 213 pounds and that the 23-year-old will have four years of eligibility. Joyce is out of the well-known Prokick Australia.

Four-star CB Damari Brown joined his brother Davonte with the Miami football program when he signed with the Hurricanes on Wednesday. Damari Brown is the 187th-ranked player, 23rd CB and 42nd in Florida in the class of 2023. Brown is from American Heritage which has been a DB factory in recent years.

OT Francis Mauigoa

Five-star offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa is the highest-rated prospect to sign with Miami on Wednesday. Mauigoa is the highest-rated offensive player in the 2023 Miami class and second overall behind McClain. Mauigoa is the eight rated player, top OT and third in Florida in the class of 2023.