National experts comment on 2024 Miami football Class
The Miami football emerged from the first day of the Early National Signing Period with the third-ranked class nationally. Miami made news on Wednesday by flipping four-star linebacker Adarius Hayes from Florida and five-star defensive lineman Armondo Blount from Florida State. Miami also lost four-star running back Kevin Riley to Alabama.
Jesse Simonton of On3 named the 2024 Miami football class one of the "notable winners of the 2024 Early NSD." Steve Wiltfong of 247 Sports examined the "College football recruiting superlatives: Biggest wins, surprising flips and top classes from Signing Day 2023."
Cristobal has sent notice to college football that Miami is going to be a factor in talent acquisition with him as the head coach. The third-ranked 2024 Miami class came after the Hurricanes signed the seventh-best class in 2023. Cristobal and his staff have placed an emphasis on the line of scrimmage.
Miami signed five-star offensive tackles Francisco Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola in the 2023 class. Mauigoa was named honorable mention All-ACC and a freshman All-American. Okunlola played in three games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury. Expect Okunlola to compete for significant playing time in 2024.
"Miami
- Jesse Simonton On3.
The Hurricanes have now stacked back-to-back Top 10 classes, as Mario Cristobal charged late again pulling off multiple flips this week. Miami added 4-star Ohio State tailback commit Jordan Lyle on Monday, and the Canes raided UF’s class for blue-chip linebacker Adarius Hayes.
While Miami lost Riley to Alabama, the biggest news of the day for the Canes was flipping 5-star defensive lineman Armondo Blount back into the fold at the 11th hour. Blount, a Miami Central (Fla.) standout, was a former Miami commit who later reclassified and committed to rival Florida State. But Cristobal and the rest of Miami’s staff never backed off Blount, who committed to The U on Wednesday night.
With Blount in Miami’s class, he joins signees Justin Scott (a 5-star DL from Chicago), edge Marquise Lightfoot, Artavius Jones and others as one of the best defensive line hauls of any program in the 2024 cycle."
Blount was only one of two five-star DL who signed with Miami in the 2024 class. Justin Scott flipped from Ohio State to Miami last month. The DL was an area of focus for Miami in the 2024 class. Miami signed the top class in the ACC for the second straight recruiting cycle. Wiltfong summarized the 2024 Miami class.
"ACC: Miami surpassed Florida State around dinner time, flipping Top247 defensive lineman Armondo Blount from the Seminoles. Mario Cristobal is definitely excited about the defensive line haul in general, a point of emphasis this cycle that also saw the Hurricanes ink five-star Justin Scott (flipped from Ohio State) alongside explosive edge rushers Marquise Lightfoot and Booker Pickett Jr. Other late flips for the Hurricanes included Top247 linebacker Adarius Hayes from Florida and running back Jordan Lyle from Ohio State. Home cooking was good this cycle, including the nation’s No. 3 safety Zaquan Patterson and No. 3 athlete Joshisa Trader out of powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna Prep.
- Steve Wiltfong 247 Sports
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Miami should be elite on the line of scrimmage for the next two to three years. Rueben Bain earned the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023. Several of the 2024 signees for Miami will have a chance to make an impact as freshmen. Blount and Scott should be part of the DL rotation next year.
Next. Miami defying odds as non B1G or SEC with top 5 recruiting class. Miami defying odds as non B1G or SEC with top 5 recruiting class. dark
Four-star wide receivers Ny Carr, Chance Robinson and Joshisa Trader and edge rushers Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett Jr. and Elias Rudolph and safety Zaquan Patterson are among the other 2024 Miami freshman who can make an impact. The 2024 Miami class has the potential to be special.