The commitment of five-star wide receiver Joshisa Trader to the Miami football program on Thursday elevated Hurricanes’ WR coach Kevin Beard to the fifth-best recruiter in the ACC. Miami earlier added four-star WR Chance Robinson in the 2024 class in April to set the foundation for Beard’s high ranking.
The only ACC coaches ranked ahead of Beard are Florida State (and former Miami) WRs coach Ron Dugans, North Carolina secondary coach Charlton Warren, Virginia Tech WRs coach Fontel Mines and Clemson WRs coach Tyler Grisham. Dugans is credited with five commits, Warren and Mines have four and Beard and Grisham two.
Beard was also the main recruiter for junior college transfer WR Shemar Kirk who committed to the Miami football program in May but is in the Class of 2023. Beard has the second-highest average rating in the ACC among coaches with multiple signees only behind Grisham at 96.18.
Beard has led the Miami effort to gain commitments from two of the top five 2024 WRs in Florida and the second and third-best WRs in South Florida. Keeping the best players home is critical for Miami, especially at the skill positions. Too often the top WRs have left South Florida for blue blood programs out of state.
Awesome work by Kevin Beard in this recruiting cycle. The #CanesFootball WR coach has been instrumental in landing verbal commitments from Chance Robinson and now JoJo Trader. Relationship building is so important. #GoCanes
— Locked On Canes (@LockedOnCanes) July 13, 2023
Miami might not be finished gaining commitments from WRs in the 2024 Class. Five-star WRs Jeremiah Smith who is Trader’s teammate at Chaminade-Madonna and St. Louis prospect Ryan Wingo are strongly being recruited by Miami. Smith has been committed to Ohio State since December and Wingo is uncommitted.
How Miami plays during the 2023 season will have a strong influence if Miami is to have any chance to sign either Smith or Wingo. Gaining commitments from Robinson and Trader following a 5-7 season was impressive by Beard. Under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson Miami is expected to be more wide-open in 2023.