Miami football 2025 Class moves to 16th with 4-star LB Elijah Melendez commitment

The 2025 Miami football class moved up to 16th nationally after a commitment from four-star linebacker Elijah Melendez on Saturday night. Melendez chose Miami primarily over Ohio State. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 68.9 percent chance of signing Melendez and Ohio State is at 25.9.

Melendez is the 146th-ranked prospect, 17th LB and 23rd player in Florida out of Kissimmee Osceola. Twelve programs have received unofficial visits from Melendez. Melendez has taken three visits to Florida and two each to Miami and Penn State. The other programs listed by On3 each received one visit from Melendez.

Melendez is the third 2025 Miami commit after three-star quarterback Luke Nickel and four-star wide receiver Waden Charles. Miami has the second-highest-ranked 2025 class with three commits. Michigan has the 13th-ranked 2025 class. Only five classes in the top 20 have only three players committed for 2025.

With a grade of 94.07, Melendez would be the seventh-ranked player in the 2024 Miami class. Charles has a 90.6573 grade and Nickel is at 88.3333. Miami will need to add LBs to the 2025 class after Corey Flagg transferred and Francisco Mauigoa will be in his final season in 2025. Miami signed four LBs in the 2023 class.

Four-star prospect Cameron Pruitt is the only LB committed to the 2024 Miami class. Miami signed Raul Aguirre, Malik Bryant, Marcellius Pulliam and Bobby Washington at LB in the 2023 class. Wesley Bissainthe, K.J. Cloyd and Chase Smith project to return at LB for Miami in 2024. Miami needs the 2023 signees to develop in 2024.

At 6-1.5 and 210 pounds, Melendez will have to continue developing physically. With 21 months before he will play a game for Miami, Melendez has time to grow into his body. Since Mario Cristobal was hired in December 2021, Miami has added more length at LB. The 6'3 Mauigoa was named 2023 second-team All-ACC.