Miami football leads top 3 for 3-star LB James Nesta

The Miami football program leads North Carolina and Oklahoma after the three schools were named in the top three for three-star linebacker James Nesta on Friday. Miami is listed with a 34.4 percent chance for a commitment from Nesta per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. There are no 247 Sports crystal balls for Nesta.

The On3 projections for Nesta get confounding after Miami is favored for a commitment. Duke with a 10.7 percent chance for a commitment from Nesta is listed as the second favorite and  Virginia Tech is third at 9.2 percent. On3 likely did not update its projections after Nesta named his top three.

North Carolina is listed by On3 with less than a one percent chance for a Nesta commitment and Oklahoma is not mentioned. Nesta is the 324th-ranked prospect, 33rd linebacker and ninth-ranked player in North Carolina in the Class of 2024. Nesta is listed as the 377th prospect, 31st LB and 12 in N.C. by 247 Sports.

Multiple recruiting sites reported that Nesta is taking an official visit with the Miami football program this weekend. No other programs are currently scheduled for official visits from Nesta per either 247 Sports or On3. Nesta has taken unofficial visits with seven other schools per his On3 profile.

Nesta had 41 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a junior for Cornelius, North Carolina William Amos Hough High School. On3 reported that Nesta plans to play baseball and football in college. At 6’4 and 210 pounds Nesta would provide Miami with more length at LB, Length was a theme for Miami in the 2023 class.

Miami signed five LBs in its 2023 class who are all 6’2 or taller. The Hurricanes also added 6’3 Washington transfer Francisco Mauigoa who is projected to be the starting middle LB for Miami in 2023. Three-star Miami Central prospect is the only LB committed to Miami in the 2024 class.