Miami Hurricane Football Recruiting Class Check-In

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The University of Miami had great success recruiting new students last year and is continuing that success for the class of 2025.

Mario Cristobal and Co. currently have a strong crop of elite defenders and have added ready-made offensive talent to boot. That makes the crop the 7th-best by Rivals, 10th by On3 and 11th by 247Sports.

Below, read how Miami players performed in their respective games across the country.

Bryce Fitzgerald, Columbus S

Ranking: No. 50 in the USA Today Florida Top 100

Measurement data: 6-1, 175

Fitzgerald announced on August 17 that he would stay home, choosing the Hurricanes over Florida, Florida State and USC. Fitzgerald is a ball hawk, having thrown 10 interceptions in his junior campaign en route to a 4M state championship. The Explorers began their quest for repeat titles with a 17-14 win over Southridge.

Luke Nickel, Milton (Ga.) QB

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top-20 quarterback in the country

Measurement data: 6-2, 205

Nickel fired up South Florida in Week 1, leading Milton to a 37-28 win over perennial powerhouse American Heritage-Plantation in the Broward County Showcase. He threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns for the reigning Georgia Class 7A champions, catching a touchdown pass on a play aptly dubbed “The U.”

Hylton ‘Drake’ Stubbs, Mandarin ATH

Ranking: No. 6 in the USA Today Top 100

Measurement data: 6-4, 225

Stubbs is the highest-ranked commit in this class, and for good reason. He has the size to succeed right away in the ACC, and he proved it in the Mandarin’s Week 1 blowout over Creekside, where he had six solo tackles and a sack in the 57-13 win.

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Jaboree Antoine, Westgate (La.) CB

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top-3 cornerback in Louisiana

Measurement data: 6-1, 175

Another top performance for Cristobal, with Antoine landing with the Hurricanes over LSU and Florida State. He’s primed for a big senior season with state title contender Westgate, which plays its Week 1 matchup against Lake Charles Prep on Sept. 6.

Seuseu ‘SJ’ Alofaituli, Bishop Gorman IOL

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top-5 IOL in the country

Measurement data: 6-1, 280

Alofaituli, a MaxPreps First Team All American, is as skilled as they come on the offensive line and a four-year starter at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He did not play in the Gaels’ win over St. Thomas Aquinas last week.

Elijah Melendez, Osceola LB

Ranking: No. 44 in the USA Today Florida Top 100

Measurement data: 6-2, 225

Melendez was one of the first players to enroll in this class and has been a Hurricane since December 2023. He made six tackles in the Kowboys’ 21-7 win over Treasure Coast.

Gavin Nix, IMG LB

Ranking: No. 27 in the USA Today Florida Top 100

Measurement data: 6-0, 225

Nix earned varsity reps as a sophomore for the loaded Ascenders, tallying 42 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a sack in eight games as a junior. IMG lost its first game of the season to Corner Canyon (Utah), 35-34.

Girard Pringle, Armwood RB

Ranking: No. 26 on the USA Today Florida Top 100

Measurement data: 5-10, 185

Pringle averaged 153 yards a game and scored 24 touchdowns for Armwood his junior season. He kept the momentum going this year, rushing for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns in a 51-20 preseason win over Miami Norland.

Chris Ewald, Chaminade-Madonna CB

Ranking: No. 24 on the USA Today Florida Top 100

Measurement data: 6-0, 160

Ewald made six tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the Lions’ 24-27 loss to talented California side St. John Bosco.

Brock Schott, Leo (In.) ATH

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top 10 tight end in the country

Measurement data: 6-3, 215

Schott is a high-level two-way player with good film as a tight end and linebacker. He tallied four tackles for loss and four sacks while hauling in three passes for 18 yards in Leo’s 20-17 win over Fort Wayne Bishop.

Max Buchanan, Seminole IOL

Ranking: No. 22 in the USA Today Florida Network Top 100

Measurement data: 6-4, 275

Buchanan chose the Hurricanes over Florida State, Clemson, Ole Miss and Penn State, and was instrumental in a Seminole offense that produced four ball carriers who averaged five yards per carry last year. Seminole’s Week 1 home game against Robinson was canceled due to transportation issues.

Luka Gilbert, Lakota West (Ohio) TE

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top-25 tight end in the country

Measurement data: 6-7, 233

Gilbert has the catch radius any quarterback would want, and the frame that makes him a good blocker. Lakota West, which has regional playoff hopes, won its season opener against St. Xavier, 17-14.

Amari Wallace, Miami Central CB

Ranking: No. 43 on the USA Today Florida Top 100

Measurement data: 5-11, 170

Wallace is part of the Rocket’s strong defense, which lost 16-8 to Lakeland in Week 1.

Ezekiel Marcelin, Miami Central LB

Ranking: No. 55 in the USA Today Top 100

Measurement data: 6-0, 190

Marcelin signed for the Hurricanes three days after teammate Wallace and played a key role in holding back the Dreadnaughts’ run game during their 16-8 loss to Lakeland.

Herbert Scroggins III, Benedictine Military School (Ga.) EDGE

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top-35 EDGE in the country

Measurement data: 6-2, 235

Scroggins is a two-time 4A state champion with the Cadets, but his road to a third straight finish has been a struggle after starting the year 0-2.

Daylyn Upshaw, Central (Ala.) WR

Ranking: Composite four-star, consensus top-85 wide receiver in the country

Measurement data: 6-0, 180

Upshaw was part of last year’s undefeated 7A state championship team, scoring three touchdowns and 156 yards on four receptions in a 61-14 win over Pinson Valley in the season opener. Upshaw played in only the first half of the blowout win.

Timothy Merritt, Parker (Ala.) C.B

Ranking: Composite three-star, consensus top-25 overall player in Alabama

Measurement data: 6-2, 180

Merritt made five tackles for the Thundering Herd in their 41-12 win over Ramsay.

Donta Simpson, Chaminade-Madonna DL

Ranking: Composite three-star, No. 76 defensive linemen in the country by 247Sports

Measurement data: 6-6, 280

Simpson made four tackles in the Lions’ 34-27 loss to St. John Bosco.

Mykah Newton, Newberry EDGE

Ranking: Composite three-star, No. 92 EDGE in the country at 247Sports

Measurement data: 6-2, 255

Newton helped the Panthers to a 44-27 win over University Christian in Week 1.

Demetrius Campbell, Orlando Christian Prep OT

Ranking: Composite three-star, No. 72 OT in the country at 247Sports

Measurement data: 6-6, 300

The Warriors lost 42-16 to Beachside in their season opener.

Takaylen Meux, Duncan Fletcher IOL

Ranking: Composite three-star, No. 78 IOL in the country on 247Sports

Measurement data: 6-4, 340

Meux helped the Senators to 426 yards of total offense in their 42-0 win over Ribault.

Jaden Wilkerson, Edgewater OT

Ranking: Composite three-star, No. 102 offensive tackle in the county at 247Sports

Measurement data: 6-6 330

Edgewater’s Week 1 game against Wekiva has been canceled.

Liberations

Wading Charles, WR: The four-star Palm Beach Central wideout decommitted from the Hurricanes in late May and announced his transfer to UCF a month later.

Lamar Williams, OT: Williams, a three-star player at Gasden County, departed Miami in early May and joined Maryland in late June.