Jacksonville Mandarin safety Hylton Stubbs, committed to the 2025 Miami football class, received a fifth star from rivals on Monday. Stubbs is the 27th prospect, third safety and eighth-ranked player in Florida in the 2025 Rivals rankings. Stubbs is the only five-star player committed to Miami for 2025.
Miami has signed multiple five-star prospects in each of Mario Cristobal's first two classes with Miami. Five-star offensive tackles Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola signed with Miami in the 2023 class. Miami signed three five-star prospects in the 2024 class.
Versatile defensive lineman Armondo Blount, edge rusher Marquis Lightfoot and defensive tackle Justin Scott were the three five-star prospects who signed with Miami in the 2024 class. Mauigoa was a 2023 freshman All-American after starting in all 13 games last season.
Stubbs told Adam Gorney of Rivals that receiving the fifth star means a lot. Gorney and Stubbs also discussed the timeline of his de-committing from USC and his eventual decision to choose Miami over Florida. Miami is building an elite secondary in the 2025 class.
Miami also has commitments from four-star safety Amari Wallace and four-star cornerbacks Jaboree Antoine, Chris Ewald and Timothy Merrit in the secondary in the 2025 class. Miami has a mostly young secondary with CB Darryl Porter Jr. and safety Mishael Powell the only defensive backs in their final season of eligiblity.
Andrew Ivins, the 247Sports Director of Scouting, praised Stubbs for being equally adept at stopping the pass and the run. At 6'1 and 190 pounds, Stubbs already has ideal size for a safety. Entering his senior high school season, Stubbs could continue growing. Stubbs has contributed throughout his high school career.
In three seasons on varsity, Stubbs has 232 tackles. 14.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, seven pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Four-star 2024 signee Zaquan Patterson and Stubbs could be the next great Miami safety tandem.