Miami football next move with 5-star LB T.J. Alford Ohio State commitment
With a commitment from four-star linebacker Elijah Melendez, the Miami football program hoped to add five-star prospect Tavros "T.J." Alford to the position on Saturday. Alford committed to Ohio State. Expect Mario Cristobal and the Miami staff to continue recruiting Alford hard with the hope of a late flip.
Miami flipped running back Mark Fletcher from Ohio State in the 2023 class. Defensive lineman Justin Scott and running back Jordan Lyle flipped from Ohio State to Miami in the 2024 Class. Alford will be a player to monitor until December 4-6 when the Early National Signing Period for the 2025 class will take place.
Several linebackers high on Miami's 2025 board are strongly considering the Hurricanes. Miami will lose middle LB Francisco Mauigoa after the 2024 season. A good young corps of LBs is behind Wesley Bissainthe who is entering his junior season and Mauigoa. Expect some of the young players to receive signifcant snaps in 2024.
Raul Aguirre has reportedly been impressive at MLB this spring. True freshman Cameron Pruitt has also had a productive spring per multiple reports. Miami should be deeper at LB in 2024. Expect Miami to sign two or three LBs in the 2025 class. Miami is in a good position for several three and four-star 2025 LBs.
. . Linebacker. player. Zayden Walker. 17. 834. Zayden Walker. 6'1.5 and 225 pounds. Zayden Walker
Walker is a five-star prospect in the 2025 class who is the 17th overall player, second LB and fourth recruit from Georgia. Walker is warm with Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Penn State and South Carolina per 247Sports. No 247Sports crystal balls have been logged for Walker. On3 lists Georgia with a 75.5 percent chance for a Walker commitment.
Walker is a two-way player who has accumulated 2,475 all-purpose yards. On defense, Walker has 115 career tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks. 67 quarterback hurries, three interceptions, 16 passes defended and eight forced fumbles. Walker also plays basketball. Walker will take an official visit to Miami the weekend of June 14.
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. 71. player. 834. . . linebacker. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. 6'2 and 210 pounds
Owusu-Boateng is the 71st prospect, ninth LB and ninth player in Florida in the 2025 class out of IMG Academy. Miami is in a tight battle with Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Stanford for a commitment from Owusu-Boateng. Florida currently leads with a 27.9 percent chance for an Owusu-Boateng commitment per On3.
Owusu-Boateng had 45 tackles, six TFLs and one sack for IMG Academy in 2023. Per On3, Owusu-Boateng has official visits scheduled for Georgia, South Carolina and Stanford. The five programs previously mentioned are all projected with at least a 10 percent chance for an Owusu-Boateng commitment.
. 81. 2306. . Linebacker. Eric Winters. Eric Winters. player. Eric Winters. 6'2 and 200 pounds
Winters visited Miami this weekend. Winters is the 81st prospect, 12th LB and ninth player in Georgia in the 2025 class. Georgia is the only program that Winters has an official visited scheduled to. Winters will visit Athens the weekend of June 7. Winters is a versatile player who has played running back and is listed as both a LB and safety.
Gavin Nix. LB. Gavin Nix. . 834. . Gavin Nix. 177. 6'0 and 225 pounds . player
Nix is the 177th prospect, 23rd LB and 25th player in Florida in the 2025 class as a teammate of Owusu-Boateng at IMG Academy. The recruitment for Nix appears to be between the big three in Florida. Florida leads with a 34.0 percent chance for a Nix commitment, Miami is second at 19.9 percent and Florida State is third at 14.3.
Nix does not have any official visits scheduled yet Miami received an unofficial visit from Nix in January. That was one of five visits Nix has taken to Coral Gables. Florida with six is the only program Nix has visited more often than Miami. Nix has visited Florida State five times.
player. . 6'0 and 215 pounds. Mantrez Walker. 487. Mantrez Walker. . Linebacker. Mantrez Walker. 834
Walker is the 487th prospect, 55th LB and 54th player in Georgia in the 2024 class. Walker's recruitment is listed as warm for Colorado, LSU, Miami, Mississippi, Penn State and Stanford. Miami received a visit from Walker in January. Colorado and Stanford are the only schools Walker has an official visit scheduled per On3.
Next. Miami 2025 Class moves to 16th with 4-star LB Elijah Melendez commitment. Miami 2025 Class moves to 16th with 4-star LB Elijah Melendez commitment. dark
Miami has a deep group of LBs who are not eligible for the NFL Draft until 2026. The Hurricanes need to add depth at LB in the 2025 class. Melendez provides Miami with a good foundation at LB in the 2025 class. Signing one or two players from the above group would give Miami a strong set of LBs for 2025.