In-state recruiting takes on a different flavor for the Miami Hurricanes. There are a lot of amazing players throughout the state of Florida, and every section of this large state has a ton of prospects that have turned into stars. But to win at Miami, you have to recruit Miami. From the days of Howard Schellenberger's "State of Miami" recruiting focus, the coaches that have had the most success with the Hurricanes win the recruiting battles in the backyard.
Mario Cristobal was one of those "State of Miami" recruits, so it makes sense that the lifelong Miami-Dade County resident and Columbus High School product would place an emphasis on bringing the top talent in from the city. His focus on local recruiting has paid off and should continue to do so in the future.
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Mario Cristobal has re-taken the state. pic.twitter.com/XSeVoNXUY7
— CanesInSight (@CanesInSight) October 27, 2024
Here are five local recruits that Cristobal hit the jackpot on (in alphabetical order) and a few more that just missed the cut:
4-star EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., (2023, Miami Central)
What can we say about Bain that hasn't already been said? He was a Consensus All-American in 2025, a two-time All-ACC performer and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, and a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bain can put his name among the best Miami Hurricanes of the 21st century.
READ MORE: Rueben Bain Jr. is already making the Bucs look like geniuses for drafting him
4-star LB Wesley Bissainthe, (2022, Miami Central)
Bissainthe's name probably doesn't come up as often as it should, but he was the first local guy to really buy into what Cristobal was trying to build. He had over 200 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions in his four seasons with Miami and is now preparing to get his NFL career going with the Kansas City Chiefs.
4-star RB Mark Fletcher Jr. (2023, American Heritage)
Fletcher is another gem from the 2023 recruiting class. He rushed for 1,192 yards last season and has over 2,300 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first three years at Miami. Fletcher is looking to join Edgerrin James as Hurricane running backs with multiple 1,000-yard seasons, and the school's all-time rushing record, currently held by Duke Johnson, another local recruit, is very much in play.
4-star DB Bryce Fitzgerald (2025, Miami Columbus)
Fitzgerald had a historic freshman season for the Hurricanes, recording six interceptions, including the game-sealing pick against Texas A&M to kickstart Miami's run to the CFP Championship game. The sophomore will slide into a starting safety role in 2026.
3-star WR Malachi Toney (2025, American Heritage)
Toney's ranking is going to catch your eye, but it dropped because he decided to reclassify to the 2025 class. That being said, if the websites could go back in time, they would have made him a five-star. Toney was a Freshman All-American and set Miami single-season receiving records in his first year. Now he's a Heisman contender and considered one of the best playmakers in the country.
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4 players that missed the cut for now, but could be included in the future:
4-star DL Armondo Blount (2024, Miami Central)
Another Miami Central recruit that has his star rising heading into his junior season. Last year, Blount had 2.5 sacks, backing up Bain and Mesidor. This year, he's expected to step into those big shoes.
3-star DB OJ Frederique Jr., (2024, St. Thomas Aquinas)
After two seasons as a major contributor off the bench, Frederique is projected to be one of Miami's top players in the secondary. The junior is both a jackpot local recruit and one of the sleepers that Cristobal hit on.
3-star DL Ahmad Moten (2022, Cardinal Gibbons)
Moten emerged as a great complementary piece on the defensive line, providing a huge body in the middle that allowed Bain and Akheem Mesidor the freedom to terrorize quarterbacks. Moten occasionally got in on the fun himself with 4.5 sacks last year. This season he'll be leaned on as a top guy.
4-star WR Joshua Moore (2025, West Broward)
Moore is a big candidate for a breakout season and could be named the Week 1 starter at one of the outside receiver spots. With Toney and Cooper Barkate drawing a lot of attention, Moore should be able to take advantage of single coverage with his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame.
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