There has been a lot made of the updated rankings for the major recruiting websites. The Miami Hurricanes now have four five-star players on 247Sports site with a national ranking that's been boosted to No. 2.
But the stars aren't everything and this isn't an exact science. That's why coaches rely heavily on their own evaluations and how they believe a prospect will project two or three years down the road. Here are a few players in the 2027 class that should prove to be better than what the rankings project.
AJ Randle (4-star LB)
Randle jumped up 92 spots on 247Sports' rankings and is on the fringe of being a top-50 player in the country. One of the things that jumps out about Randle is the size. He's pushing 6-foot-3 and around 200 pounds. The athletic profile is evident too, with Randle playing on both sides of the ball in high school. For the current game, Randle possesses the sort of traits you want to see from an off-ball linebacker. He can go sideline-to-sideline and make the open-field tackles without getting broken down. Randle also has the fluidity to drop in coverage or take on a running back in the flats. As he grows into his frame, Randle will also offer the ability to get after the quarterback as an edge rusher. Randle's ceiling and four-star linebacker commit Noah Glover tackling ability are a big reason why Mario Cristobal decided to move away from five-star linebacker Kaden Henderson.
READ MORE: 4-star Miami LB commit just gave Canes fans exactly what they wanted to see
Al'King Hall (4-star CB)
Hall's flip from Oregon to Miami has been overshadowed by Donte Wright making a similar move to pivot from his Georgia commitment and pass rusher Jaiden Bryant's flip from LSU. But Hall can do a lot in the secondary. He has the potential to develop into the primary nickel corner or play on the outside. Hall is still pretty raw in some areas, especially with tackling out in open space, but those are fundamental adjustments that many young players have to make early in their college careers. He is an explosive player that brings a lot of attitude and is eager to take on the challenges of guarding a top receiver.
Jayvon Dawson (3-star EDGE/LB)
I am buying all kinds of stock in Dawson, a local recruit that has slid a little under the radar, but brings some serious tools to the game. He's another player that can fit into a few positions. Listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, the natural fit for Dawson will be to develop into an edge rusher and defensive ends coach Jason Taylor has to be excited about working with a talented piece of clay like Dawson. He could also be an off-ball linebacker. Would it surprise me to see him put on some considerable weight and put his hand in the ground? Not really. Dawson is one of those players that is a likely redshirt in 2027 and the coaching staff will let him fill out in the weight room before figuring out the best fit.
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