Florida surging for 5-star Brysen Wright doesn't change a thing for Mario Cristobal

The Miami Hurricanes have some company at the top for five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright, and it's about five hours north on I-75.

Wright, one of the top players in the 2028 class, was in Gainesville this past weekend to watch the Florida Gators take down Ole Miss in what turned out to be a head-turning performance for the new No. 8 team in the country. The elite pass-catcher from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville was impressed with what he saw from Jon Sumrall's team and the reports coming out of his visit are that Florida and Miami are neck and neck.

Has Brysen Wright's recruitment become a Miami vs. Florida race? Maybe, maybe not

I tend not to put too much stock in recruiting updates that come right after a game where the home team got a big win. The atmosphere was wild in Gainesville because the Gators look like they might be good and they at least have a competent coach. We'll see how much of this is real as they roll through the October portion of their schedule.

But Wright was excited and caught up in the moment, so his reaction should be expected. What teenager wouldn't be excited coming out of a game like that? But how sustainable is it a few days later? A week later? Two weeks later? We'll see as the season continues to progress.

Wright is likely going to be at Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 17 to watch Miami host Florida State. Unless something drastic happens between now and then, the Hurricanes are going to put a total beat down on the Seminoles and send Mike Norvell to the unemployment line. And Wright is going to see Darian Mensah probably throw for 350 yards and Malachi Toney catch eight passes for 160 yards. It will all make him think about how great he would fit in Shannon Dawson's offense as well.

That's what recruiting is about and, truthfully, no one knows what Wright is going to do or what he's thinking. A couple of weeks ago, Steve Wiltfong at Rivals/On3 claimed that Texas was supposedly the team to beat right after Wright visited Austin for the Ohio State game, which had plenty of people talking.

"It's hard to bet against Texas for Brysen Wright," Wiltfong said at the time. "One of the things he highlighted was the fanbase, the support, the atmosphere and that nobody left their seats at halftime."

Hmm, do you see a trend there? These recruits are just kids, and they get caught up in the moment. I have no doubt that Florida is going to be a player for Wright. He's in Jacksonville, which has traditionally been a Gators stronghold.  But one game isn't likely to sway his recruitment. 

The real work for Wright will be done after the season. That's when the crowds are gone and the coaches have to sell their vision and plans, and no one does that better than Mario Cristobal. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow