![New Florida secondary coach Will Harris directs his defensive backs during the Florida Gators as they held their final open Spring football practice before the Orange and Blue Game at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_570,y_0,w_2290,h_1288/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/200/01jm9ztzw95hekd74mey.jpg "New Florida secondary coach Will Harris directs his defensive backs during the Florida Gators as they held their final open Spring football practice before the Orange and Blue Game at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Talk about making an immediate impact. When news broke last week that the Miami Hurricanes had poached defensive backs coach Will Harris from Billy Napier and Florida, people all over Coral Gables were pretty fired up. This is an impressive hire for Mario Cristobal.
Harris will be coaching up safeties, teaming up with Zac Etheridge to overhaul the secondary for new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. As it turns out, Harris is already making a name for himself in Miami, turning heads out on the recruiting trail.
Over the weekend, 4-star Florida cornerback commit Jaelen Waters decided to open up his recruitment, backing off his pledge to the Gators. Shortly after that news dropped, multiple recruiting analysts put in their predictions for Waters to flip to Miami. Did Harris have something to do with that? You better believe it:
With @Waters_Jaelen back on the open market my FutureCast will shift to Miami as we alluded to Friday @Rivals @canes_county 👇🏽 https://t.co/fHFikStlop
— John Garcia, Jr. (@JohnGarcia_Jr) February 15, 2025
4-star CB Jaelen Waters is predicted to commit to Miami and Mario Cristobal
Harris has built a strong relationship with Waters throughout his recruitment, which is why Miami now appears to be in the driver's seat to receive his commitment sooner rather than later. Waters wasted no time setting up his official visit with the Canes too, as he'll be on campus from June 13-15.
Waters is an elite prospect, with 30 programs putting an offer on the table. He was previously committed to Florida State too, but decommitted in late May. He then pledged to Florida about two weeks later, but that decision didn't last long either.
He's ranked four stars, the No. 13 cornerback in the country and No. 20 prospect from Florida per the 247Sports Composite. Waters is also the No. 142 player nationally. The 6-2, 170-pounder may not rush into a decision after he parted ways with Florida, but it also wouldn't be a surprise if he adds his name to Miami's 2026 commits list either. Should that happen, Harris will be getting a major assist for Cristobal and the Canes landing him.