In a whirlwind of activity that encapsulates the highs and lows of college football, the Miami Hurricanes have closed national signing day with a flourish, not only by securing the top recruiting class in the ACC but also by navigating the choppy waters of coaching changes.
The departure of secondary coach Jahmile Addae to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the loss of Alonzo Highsmith to the New England Patriots mark significant transitions within the program. Amid these changes, the Hurricanes have filled an open coaching position by bringing on board Matt Merritt as the new running backs coach.
Addae, a key figure in Miami’s coaching staff, brings his expertise in developing secondary players to the Buffalo Bills after a successful tenure with the Hurricanes. Addae’s impact was profound, notably coaching All-American safety Kamren Kinchens and contributing to the development of NFL draftees Tyrique Stevenson and DJ Ivey. His recruiting prowess, shown during his time with Georgia when he helped secure a top-three class, leaves big shoes to fill at Miami.
Amid these departures, Miami has filled a hole in the staff by hiring Matt Merritt from USF as the new running backs coach. Merritt, recognized for his role in significant team improvements and player development, brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the Hurricanes’ offense. His recent accomplishments include elevating the performance of USF’s tailbacks, with notable achievements such as Nay’Quan Wright’s breakout season.
The Hurricanes also excelled in recruitment, finishing national signing day with the top class in the ACC. This marks a historic moment for Miami, which achieved the No. 1 spot in the conference in back-to-back seasons for the first time in the 247Sports era. The defensive line class stands out as possibly the best in the country. Among the eight prospects, four defensive linemen are ranked inside the top 150. The addition of talents such as Justin Scott, Armando Blunt and Marquise Lightfoot highlights Mario Cristobal’s commitment to building a powerhouse in the trenches.
Furthermore, Miami’s success in keeping local talent home is evident in this year’s recruiting class. With 14 players from the Sunshine State, including eight ranked in the Florida top 25, the Hurricanes are making significant strides in retaining top local talent.
Going into his third year as Miami’s head coach, Cristobal secured more five-star prospects than the rest of the ACC combined. He flipped notable blue chips Jordan Lyle and Justin Scott away from Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. He also finished strongly and came close to securing the No. 1 player in the country, Jeremiah Smith, who signed with Ohio State.