The Miami Hurricanes are dominating in-state recruiting, surpassing rivals like Florida and Florida State as well as UCF. With an undefeated in-state record for the 2024 regular season, the Hurricanes have also built significant momentum on the recruiting trail. Their success on the field is translating into recruiting gains, with Miami holding 22 commitments for the 2025 class, ranking them 11th nationally on 247Sports. In contrast, no other Florida program ranks above 47th.
The Hurricanes’ current class includes a number of highly-rated Florida players, such as safety Hylton Stubbs, running back Girard Pringle Jr., linebacker Gavin Nix, and offensive lineman Max Buchanan. With a focus on recruiting top local talent, Miami boasts 14 in-state commitments, seven of whom come from the South Florida area—more than their state rivals combined. Eight of Miami’s commits rank in the top 50 players in Florida, while Florida State, Florida, and UCF together account for just 10 of the top 50.
Under Head Coach Mario Cristobal, the Hurricanes have successfully flipped several recruits from other programs. Four-star safety Hylton Stubbs, previously committed to USC, and wide receiver Joshua Moore, who was committed to Florida, are among those who switched to Miami.
The team also flipped defensive lineman Donta Simpson from Maryland, and edge rusher Mykah Newton from North Carolina State. Even when a player decommits, Miami has been able to stay in contention, as shown by wide receiver Malachi Toney, who returned to his commitment after initially stepping away.
As signing day approaches, Miami is still in pursuit of two of Florida’s top prospects, even though both are currently committed elsewhere. Zephyrhills’ DJ Pickett, the state’s No. 1 recruit and a top safety, remains a priority target for Miami despite his commitment to LSU. The Hurricanes are leveraging connections, including Pickett’s cousin on the team, to sway him. Miami is also pursuing Dallas Wilson, a top wide receiver committed to Oregon, who has visited Miami multiple times.
Miami isn’t immune to decommitments, however. Notable departures include linebacker Elijah Melendez, who flipped to Auburn, and receiver Waden Charles, who committed to UCF. Despite these losses, the Hurricanes’ in-state recruiting efforts have them well-positioned to secure a strong 2025 class and keep local talent close to home.
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