Miami football in top 6 with most five-star signees since 2021

The Miami football program and Clemson are tied for sixth with seven five-star signees since 2021, per Keegan Pope of On3. Alabama signed the most five-star prospect since 2021 with 20, followed by Georgia with 16 and Ohio State and Texas A&M with 12. Miami will have five five-star players on its 2024 roster.

Three of the seven Miami five-star signees were in the 2023 class. Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safety James Williams signed with Miami in the 2021 class are left for the NFL following the 2023 season. Williams was a seventh-round pick by the Tennessee Titans. Taylor was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets.

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa lived up to his five-star status as a 2023 signee. Mauigoa was named a freshman All-American last season. Samson Okunlola, Miami's other five-star signee in 2023, Okunlola played in three games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury.

Miami signed five-star defensive lineman Armondo Blount, edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot and defensive tackle Justin Scott in the 2024 class. Mario Cristobal went into Chicago to sign Lightfoot and Scott. Blount and Lightfoot were early enrollees. Scott will enroll with Miami in the next few weeks.

"Notable Miami 5-star signees: DL Leonard Taylor, SAF James Williams, OT Francis Mauigoa, OT Samson Okunlola, EDGE Marquise Lightfoot, DL Armondo Blount

The ‘Canes have had major success recruiting high-level prospects in the trenches since Mario Cristobal took over, signing two five-star offensive linemen in the 2023 class and two more five-star defenders in 2024."

- Keegan Pope, On3

Some combination of Blount, Lightfoot and Scott could have an impact as a true freshman in 2024. Rueben Bain who many thought should have been a five-star signee in the 2023 class, made a big impact for Miami as a freshman in 2023. Bain earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and freshman All-American.

Miami has a potentially dominant defensive line with Bain, Blount, Lightfoot and Scott in the future. Development will be critical for the five five-star players on the Miami roster. Taylor and Williams developed significantly below their recruiting rankings.

Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal did and exceptional job working with Mauigoa and Okunlola as freshmen. Defensive line coaches Joe Salave'a and Jason Taylor helped Bain exceed expectations as a true freshman. Expect Taylor to continue developing young DL with Blount, Lightfoot and Scott in 2024.