While some coaches like to rest during their bye week, Mario Cristobal is out there recruiting and trying to get more blue-chip players on the roster.
Cristobal didn't have to go far Friday night to see one of the top targets for the Hurricanes staff. The head coach took the 30-minute ride from Coral Gables to Hollywood to watch running back Derrek Cooper and the rest of the Chaminade-Madonna Lions put a 56-0 beat down on Western.
Live from The Crib: Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is in attendance tonight at Chaminade for Cooper’s game. Texas running backs coach Chad Scott is also in attendance keeping an eye on Cristobal and Cooper. Texas knows Miami will be a factor til signing day pic.twitter.com/N8bhTF0egI
— CaneSport Miami Hurricanes (@CaneSport) September 27, 2025
Cooper is one of the top offensive skill players in the state and a legitimate top 50 national prospect. He is currently committed to Texas, but Miami is hot on him and will pull out all the stops to make that a recruiting battle as the Early Signing Period approaches.
If Cooper goes to Tallahassee, who is he there to see?
Current visitors list has Cooper as an expected attendant for the FSU-Miami game this Saturday. Cooper has taken official visits to both programs and continues to be recruited by FSU as well. If he ends up going, he'll be doing it as a recruiting visitor for the Seminoles, but who is he really there to check out?
Don't be surprised if Cooper is sizing up both teams and seeing how they handle the atmosphere. He is going to be very respectful of the FSU staff and coaches, because that's who he is. But is he really there to see the Seminoles or is it a chance to see the 'Canes on the road?
There's much more to see at Chaminade
When a Hurricanes coach is watching Chaminade play on a Friday night, there are a lot of prospects to check out. Cristobal was certainly there to see Cooper, but don't be surprised if he also had his eye on wide receiver Jasen Lopez, an FSU commit, and 2027 wide receiver Ah'Mari Stevens, who is already committed to the 'Canes.
Programs like Chaminade have prospects up and down the roster over several classes and Cristobal is getting more aggressive in trying to lock down the prospects in south Florida. Right now, all five commits in the 2027 class are from Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County.