Miami and Mario Cristobal offer scholarship to Miami legacy in Class of 2031

Miami extended a legacy olive branch to one of its most famous families. Drayton Hester, the son of Hurricanes legend Devin Hester, received a verbal scholarship offer from Miami during a FaceTime call with head coach Mario Cristobal. Drayton is in the class of 2031 (a seventh grader) so the recruitment is years from the finish line, but Cristobal’s message was direct.

"No. 1, congratulations on busting your butt and doing all the things that you’ve been doing at such a young age. I know you guys have got a big game coming up but I wanted to call you myself and let you know, face to face, man to man, that we’re offering you a scholarship to Miami and we would love you to be a Miami Hurricane... You are that guy. I’m going to recruit you like an absolute madman and I want you to lead the class when it’s your time."

Mario Cristobal

The offer is non-binding, as all verbal scholarship offers are during this stage. Either side can walk away until paperwork is signed late in high school. Regardless of whether Hester chooses to play ball at Miami, it is still nice sight to see when a young player has the chance to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Drayton took home the 11U Heisman last season and plays for the Anytime Jags (Orlando, FL).

For Miami fans, the name needs no introduction. Devin Hester remains one of the most electric players in program history. At Miami, Hester earned first-team All-ACC honors twice (2004, 2005) and was a consensus All-American in 2004. He amassed over 3,300 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Hester has been enshrined in the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams for both the 2000s and 2010s.