Miami has been a strong recruit under Mario Cristobal, and of course now has the on-field production to match, entering the weekend in the top 10 and with rival Florida State coming in.
The combination creates a list of America’s flashiest visitors for Saturday (complete at CanesCounty.com), from more than 20 Hurricanes commits to those committed elsewhere, top-ranked juniors and more. It includes everything.
The U’s look to solidify their third consecutive top-10 class under Cristobal, with multiple five-star players in the group that will join other programs scheduled for Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium. Aiming for a late flip.
The rivals will beat the top five on their way to South Florida.
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Pickett is as important a target for Miami as any position prospect in the 2025 class. We’re hearing he’s at or near the top of overall recruiting for several programs, including the Hurricanes, and they continue to commit to LSU. Those angles and familiarity are as pronounced as possible, as Pickett’s entire family has ties to the university and is often in town with his cousin, college pass rusher Booker Pickett.
But the winning angle for Pickett could be about Miami’s most vulnerable position, the secondary, where the staff is throwing the 6-foot-4 unique talent an immediate impact role. Miami will likely swing until the final whistle with this addition, and Pickett has acknowledged it’s something that continues to get his attention. Other states like Oregon and Florida are still trying to change his mind.
Although Thomas has had a relatively quiet drop in recruiting, he said he remains solid on FSU even as his commitment approaches one year. At various times, Florida State, LSU and South Carolina have identified themselves as the main candidates to flip, but this season hasn’t been as successful as many expected. Thomas is now on Miami’s visiting list, and Cristobal and Alex Mirabal continue to build reputations as elite recruits and developers on the offensive line.
Of course, Thomas will be watching Seminole games live on the show, but there may be some compromises from a program that hosts an elite recruit and a major opponent in town. Either way, having Miami’s top recruiter take a top-ranked guard prospect for a while can’t hurt the program’s chances of pulling off a surprise win on the trail.
At one point in the offseason, it looked like Miami was in control of Carter’s verbal commitment. However, he postponed that to July, but his official visit to Ohio State put the Buckeyes over the top and he never looked back. Still, Carter has made several trips, including to his hometown of Florida, where he previously saw Miami’s work firsthand. Now, he’s arrived in Miami Gardens as a Hurricanes recruit, where Miami continues its efforts to turn things around. His teammate, Cain commit and fellow defensive lineman Micah Newton, also listened as Carter learned more about the program.
The strong Hurricanes class doesn’t have as much depth as expected on defense, making Carter a key flip target as the early signing period approaches. Newton is scheduled to travel with him, and a group of fellow commitments will ultimately encourage Carter to consider the program further. It will not be easy to turn things around here, but this visit shows that the door is relatively open.
Another position where Miami is potentially looking for another addition has long been linked to another OSU commit in Alford. The Vero Beach standout has already been on campus this fall, and his return continues to suggest this recruitment isn’t over yet. Miami isn’t the only program to successfully commit to a potential upset here, so each time he chooses to visit could tell us a lot about the true contenders to pull the upset.
Miami currently has only one off-ball linebacker committed to this point in Gavin Nix of IMG Academy, so they’re looking to pair him with a modern-day “helper” for years to come. . Alford or early riser Kellen Wiley will also be in town, and each could fit into a bid for the Canes throughout the cycle.
Arnoux is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprise visitors to Miami this weekend. He has long said he remains committed to USC despite push from all over the country, including Auburn, Colorado and now the United. A year later, and with recent increased communication between the two sides, Arnoux still has deep ties to South Florida, where he grew up. He told Rivals he remains close with longtime friend and Miami commit Chris Ewald. Ewald is also scheduled to come to Hard Rock Stadium.
Arnoux is a confident, gritty cornerback rookie who fits many of the classic mantras often associated with Miami’s best, so it’s not too much to see Cristobal and company late here. Not surprising. Strange happenings occur on the trail, so this trip and reacquaintance may be worth monitoring more closely compared to others on this list.
