National Signing Day: 2022

Mario Cristobal understands what it means to be a Miami Hurricane.

He knows how life-changing a degree from the University can be. He has experienced the highest of highs on the football field, winning a pair of national titles during his time in orange and green. And he’s never forgotten the relationships he forged during his time at The U.

That’s why for him, recruiting is so personal. It’s why he relishes every conversation he has with young football players and their families; why he’s so hands-on during a process that can be grueling and daunting in even the best of circumstances.

“I enjoy it. I really do. I like getting out there. I like meeting families. We’ve had great moments and I’ve had my tail kicked in a couple of times and just the appetite for it grows more and more and more over the years,” the Hurricanes’ head coach said of recruiting. “I think it’s awesome. And you know, the staff that we put together has to love it…and they have to love the University of Miami as much as I do…It’s an honor and a blessing to be able to go out there and give young men and their families an opportunity to play football at the highest level and [have the] experience of a lifetime. It’s a blessing.”

On Wednesday, Cristobal’s passion and drive on the recruiting trail paid dividends for the Hurricanes, with Miami adding four additional highly touted prospects to its 2022 recruiting class, a class Cristobal emphasized he isn’t quite finished shaping just yet.

Joining the Hurricanes on National Signing Day were four-star running back TreVonte’ Citizen, three-star offensive lineman Anez Cooper, four-star defensive lineman Ahmad Moten and three-star offensive lineman Matthew McCoy.

They are the latest additions to a group that already includes four-star quarterback prospect Jacurri Brown, four-star wide receiver Isaiah Horton, four-star safety Markeith Williams, four-star cornerback Chris Graves, four-star linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, four-star cornerback Khamauri Rogers, three-star cornerback Jaden Harris, four-star defensive end Nyjalik Kelly, four-star tight end Jaleel Skinner and four-star defensive end Cyrus Moss, all of whom joined the Hurricanes during the Early Signing Period.

In all, Miami’s 14 freshman signees and five transfers – defensive linemen Jake Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie, offensive lineman Logan Sagapolu, wide receiver Frank Ladson and running back Henry Parrish – helped the Hurricanes secure one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, an impressive feat given Cristobal was named Miami’s new coach just eight days before the Early Signing Period began in December.

Recruiting website 247Sports.com ranked Miami’s 2022 recruiting class 15^th in the nation and third in the ACC – a marked improvement from where the Hurricanes stood in December.

“I’m thankful to the staff. We had a good day. We had a good day. We’ve set really high standards for ourselves. We’ve gotten used to knocking out consecutive top-10 classes in difficult situations,” Cristobal said. “So the fact that we’re not done yet is exciting. The fact that we closed a gap like we did is good. Never satisfied about that, but it shows you again the caliber and the power of the University of Miami. If you work at it, if you grind at it, a lot of needs were addressed.”

And even as the Hurricanes continue working toward the start of a new season and he continues looking to add the final pieces of Miami’s 2022 recruiting class, Cristobal is already starting to think of the work that awaits him down the road.

Already, he and his coaching staff are trying to connect with the prospects they hope to sign in 2023 and 2024.

Read more here: https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2022/02/02/fb-feature-cristobal-canes-add-playmakers-on-signing-day/

Comments

[86Cane]

Miami’s class ranked 15th despite having only 14 commits. The only other team ranked in the top 50 with less than 15 commits is TCU at 47th. The quality in this small class is wild.

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 02, 2022 at 11:37 PM

All things considered GREAT results for NSD 2022!

[86Cane]

Ken Dorsey promoted to OC for the Bills

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 01, 2022 at 02:25 PM

Impressive move. They really want to keep him and not lose him to Miami. After Mario, Kenny?

[86Cane]

Kevin Steele is Miami’s next DC

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 01, 2022 at 06:22 PM

'Bout time. Not the FIRST choice but seems to be a good choice.

[86Cane]

I agree. It'll be the biggest NFL soap opera since Robert Kraft's arrest, except this one won't have a happy ending.

Posted by: Old Skool | February 02, 2022 at 01:04 PM

Skool turning up the HEAT in here! But really man, wasn't it already WARM enough? LOL

[DallasTX Cane]

It ain’t WARM at all in Big D today 86! LOL But I’ve got chili on the stove so why complain?!?

Impressed with Mario on the ‘cruiting trail so far. We need a lot more of it, but he did a good job salvaging the shit-show he inherited. A couple of years of top 15 classes + decent coaching prep and in-game decision making should be enough to vault us into the national mix. It’ll take more than that to truly challenge Bama or GA. But like Rome, those programs (or Clemson or A&M etc…) weren’t built overnight. The jump from top 15 classes to top 5, year after year, is the hardest cliff to climb. But I’m done being greedy, I’d just like to see really good CANES football again without all the stupidity and failure we’ve had to endure the past 15 yrs.

[AeroCane]

I listened to a podcast regarding Kevin Steele
The most impressive things said was ‘he will adapt his defense to his players and ‘he will change his defense to the offense they are playing against’
In English: he plays to his players strengths and he actually game plans!

[AeroCane]

Mario says that most of his staff will be in place within the week. LOL
At this time there’s no rush! He needed to of brought Steele on about 2 weeks sooner and we may of gotten Stewart!

[VA Cane]

I think he has done a good job...a little sleep at the wheel...still think certain coaches and kids are hesitant to drink the green and orange Koolaid....19 years of failure 5 coaches that just were not right...so yea..its a good start. We just need to focus on a good OC...getting in shape, getting to know what the team is about and focus fundamentals...and go out and execute. I do not care about *s, predictions, rankings....lets focus on the very basics work hard and improve. We can win some games...1 at a time is all we need to think about!

[VA Cane]

just a quick note on one of my guys...All state safety Anthony Harris....played UVA the 6 yrs vikings, this year Philly....he was asked by a young mom from Texas to take her daughter to father daughter dance...she lost her father and grandfather last year....man he did it with style and grace young lady had a nice shopping spree and he flew down to do it....was on Fox this AM....I had spoken to him about it...he said I know thats what you would have done coach....

Thats why I coach...hoping I can teach them things about life now that they can take with them down the road somewhere....what a fine gesture by a young man who did a kind deed...the young lady was so happy....very proud of one of my many fine young guys

[TJL]

We could have gotten Jesus Christ to be D coordinator and Stewart wasn't coming. Look at Manny's article in the Athletic his coach/handler/leech was steering him to TAMU from day #1

[TJL]

rumor is Auburn coach is in hot water and frontrunner would be Kevin Steele to replace him

[Terrance M Sullivan]

Correct TJL!

[KYcane]

I’d just like to see really good CANES football again without all the stupidity and failure we’ve had to endure the past 15 yrs.

Posted by: DallasTX Cane | February 03, 2022 at 05:30 PM

I approve of this message

[AeroCane]

Mario will have us recruiting at a high level, playing good solid ball, strong in the interior! I don’t know if he’s a great coach (ie saben etc) but we will be in the hunt!! JMO

[nemo2020]

rumor is Auburn coach is in hot water and frontrunner would be Kevin Steele to replace him

Posted by: TJL | February 04, 2022 at 07:28 AM

Of course. And when Nick Saban suddenly/finally retires, guess who will jump at the opportunity to replace him?

[AeroCane]

Nemo- dabo?

[nemo2020]

Nemo- dabo?

Posted by: AeroCane | February 04, 2022 at 10:26 AM

Aero - Mario?

[86Cane]

It ain’t WARM at all in Big D today 86! LOL But I’ve got chili on the stove so why complain?!?

I’d just like to see really good CANES football again without all the stupidity and failure we’ve had to endure the past 15 yrs.

Posted by: DallasTX Cane | February 03, 2022 at 05:30 PM

1. Chili always makes me feel WARM!

2. Amen brother, AMEN!

[86Cane]

We could have gotten Jesus Christ to be D coordinator and Stewart wasn't coming.

Posted by: TJL | February 04, 2022 at 07:15 AM

So I just talked to Jesus and he has confirmed that this is true. He also confirmed that Mario never contacted him for the position.

[86Cane]

In English: he plays to his players strengths and he actually game plans!

Posted by: AeroCane | February 03, 2022 at 07:46 PM

I like this, yeah, I like this a LOT.

[AeroCane]

Nemo
If Mario is doing that well for us that Bama wants him over dabo or kiffen or whoever, then more power to him and us. But I sure am not going to worry about it! Let him win a championship or 2 and if he leaves he leaves. We just have to hope we have a top AD in place to hire the next guy.
But I can tell you this- if Mario is good at Miami but not great, I’m pretty sure Bama ain’t calling!

[VA Cane]

Mario is going to have to win here..and I think he will...big time? not sure...its going to take a few seasons to get up and running...the ghosts of the past are hard to elude...but with a new AD and Mario working fairly quickly, we are off to a fairly good start. Nobody turns it around right away..

(19 years not 15...sorry DTX...2003 was the beginning of this clusterf**k....there have been no good teams since..it died with KD 11 on his knees in the Fiasco Bowl ..LOL...jmo...you got to be in the mix...not outside looking in!)

...but I think we will see a different attitude...that makes a difference in how you play...I think it will be a very fresh breath of air...19 years of breathing bulls**t can be hazardous to ones football health!!

I look forward to a new atmosphere...not the failed doomed promises from 2003 to 2021 from 5 coaches who were never properly vetted!!!!

[JCane]

Anyone know what BMac was gonna be paid at UM? Just read he got 515 at Oregon and will be getting 700 at UGa.

[86Cane]

19 years of breathing bulls**t can be hazardous to ones football health!

Posted by: VA Cane | February 04, 2022 at 01:36 PM

#StraightFacts

[MLALUMNI1970]

Been breathing bull shit for over 50 years, but I am still a CANE through and through. (Class of 1970) I am either brain dead and old, or love my U with reckless abandon!
Lousy BB game the other night. Didn’t realize Notre Dame was that good. We were so flat. But to lose at home like that, made my stomach turn. My father, God rest his soul, would have loved it. He went to ND both undergrad and law school. He also wrote all the papers for the football team, because that’s what you do, when you love your school!
Anyway, go Canes. Can’t wait to see football again.

[HerbieIbis]

No VA, our agony began the moment McGahee got hurt and until something changes, it's still going. Hopefully Mario will end this funk!

[TJL]

Georgia payed 600K to buyout out our receiver coach McClendon and signed him to a 700K contract--pennies for them

[UMike]

I was hoping for a bigger name, but after looking further into Steele, I think it was a good hire. Not sure about his recruiting chops, but we will have plenty of other recruiters on staff. As long as we win and the D plays well the recruits will come.

[86Cane]

Georgia payed 600K to buyout out our receiver coach McClendon and signed him to a 700K contract--pennies for them

Posted by: TJL | February 05, 2022 at 09:42 AM

That's nothing, we pay Ohio Cane more than that.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

"Posted by: UMike | February 05, 2022 at 10:41 AM"

Always found him overrated compared to the general consensus on his ability, but recently he may have become a better game day coach to go with the recruiting bona-fides he used to dine out on? As long as he changes up his tendencies when the other coordinator gets a chart of them 3/4 of the way into '22, he'll be better than who he replaced.

Looking forward to see what Cristobal can do with a year and two months on the job regarding recruiting trail campaigns if this is any indication of what can be in store with a skeleton staff.

Basketball team is going to have their tenuous post depth tested today, without quality answers it could get ugly.

[TonyCabe]

Nemo 2020, it will more likely be Dabo then it would be Mario. Saban will probably be out in another year or three, and if that is the case Mario would have been just as well served by staying at Oregon.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Heartless and pride-less overall team defensive performance by the basketball team. Time to shake up the starters because too small and can't hit from beyond the arc is a terrible team configuration to play for any length of time at all. Nights like tonight really show you why Wong's best decision is probably another year of NIL money with a year of development before trying the pro draft. Interesting how the refs think Virginia never once fouls in the act of shooting or enough to get to the bonus, ACC worked officiating is trash.

We'll see what kind of fight the team has left to offer this week for the rest of the way. Stop shooting threes when you can drive for an open look closer to the basket on ball movement in the first half or drown.

[Terrance M Sullivan]

Preach OGV!

[Terrance Sullivan]

We have hired Michigan OC Josh Gattis to be the OC! Good Stuff!

[alpine]

- watching the canes go down again was a bad way to start my sunday
- canes are a good team, but i had started thinking they were top 25; right now, they definitely are not
- when the canes cannot hit open 3's (they began 0-10, as every member of their rotation failed at it), and then are a bit too lackadaisical with the ball, then "trouble" is their middle name
- it was good to see mcgusty & moore come back from their bad games vs. ND, but . . .
- jordan miller is a fun dude; looks (relatively speaking) a bit asleep on his feet, yet, he was a gain a disrupter, this time getting 7 steals and breaking the record for most steals by an opposing player at John Paul Jones Arena!!!
. . . i'll say it again, miller just got MORE steals than EVERY other opposing player at VA's arena

[AeroCane]

"It has to be something special to get me to leave something special, and this was it, man," Gattis told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. "This place is it. I am so excited about coming to the 'U.'"

He’s also a top recruiter!

Alpine - we NEED to get rid of coach L. Let him retire at the end of the year and trust AD Rad will get a wonderful up and comer!!

[HerbieIbis]

Mario and Harbaugh about the same thought process
Tough physical lines and want to run the ball. I just hope we don't start this BS again of 2 runs and a pass, well not unless we are running down someone's throat, which don't happen to often.

[AeroCane]

Herb
I agree BUT with Thad and citizen we have 2 big and fast RBs
Add in sagopaula at 340 plus and Cooper at 340 plus, rivers and Zion etc we will be able to force our will
Add with ALL our dynamic receivers AND TVD and skinner and arroyo at TE I think gatis is going to be scoring LOTS of points
Now if we can get a stud LB, CB and DT in the portal we will be really good!!
PS I purposely did not mention Mallory as I like the younger more dynamic TE’s more JMO

[Ohio_Cane]

Josh Gattis is a HOMERUN HIRE! Great recruiting on top of very good WR coach and obviously playcaller. Won the Broyles award as the nations top assistant coach in 2021 at Michigan. 🙌

[HerbieIbis]

Aero,
Did u say a LBer? When's the last time a coached really cared about the position. We keep getting space takers and not talking about Bisainthe. Every effing body in the world knows that's been the biggest issue for 2 years, except the coaches. I mean they talk about it but do really nothing to address it.

[TonyCane]

Some stats post NSD:

- Including transfers, Miami finished with 19 overall recruits (10 four stars, 8 three stars, and 1 two star). This marked the SIXTH consecutive year that Miami has had double digit blue chip signings. Prior to 2017, that only happened once over an eight year stretch

- Miami's blue chip ratio is now at 53%. And compared to previous seasons:

2022: 53%
2021: 54%
2020: 49%
2019: 45%
2018: 42%
2017: 35%
2016: 34%
2015: 33%
2014: 33%
2013: 34%
2012: 26%
2011: 38%
2010: 46%
2009: 53%
2008: 48%
2007: 53%

- The running back room is STACKED, at least on paper. We now field:

Don Chaney (4 star)
Jaylan Knighton (4 star)
Michael Parrott (unranked)
Cody Brown (4 star)
Thaddius Franklin (4 star)
TreVonte' Citizen (4 star)
Henry Parish (4 star HS, 3 star transfer)

- Miami presently stands at 90 overall players. At a position level, this breaks out to:

WIDE RECEIVER
Dazalin Worsham
Keyshawn Smith
Michael Redding
Xavier Restrepo
Brashard Smith
Jacolby George
Malik Curtis
Romello Brinson
Isaiah Horton
Frank Ladson

TIGHT END
Will Mallory
Larry Hodges
Dominic Mammarelli
Elijah Arroyo
Kahlil Brantley
Jaleel Skinner

RUNNING BACK
Don Chaney
Jaylan Knighton
Michael Parrott
Cody Brown
Thaddius Franklin
TreVonte' Citizen
Henry Parish

OFFENSIVE LINE
Zalon'tae Hillery
Cleveland Reed
Delone Scaife
John Campbell
Adam Elgammal
Jakai Clark
Ousman Traore
Zion Nelson
Chris Washington
Jalen Rivers
Isaiah Walker
Laurence Seymore
Michael McLaughlin
Ryan Rodriguez
Justice Oluwaseun
Matthew McCoy
Anez Cooper
Logan Sagapolu

QUARTERBACK
Peyton Matocha
Tyler Van Dyke
Jake Garcia
Jacurri Brown

DEFENSIVE END/TACKLE
Jahfari Harvey
Chantz Williams
Elijah Roberts
Jabari Ishmael
Nyjalik Kelly
Cyrus Moss
Antonio Moultrie
Jordan Miller
Jared Harrison-Hunte
Allan Haye
Leonard Taylor
Ahmad Moten
Jacob Lichtenstein

LINEBACKER
Waynmon Steed
Avery Huff
Samuel Brooks
Corey Flagg Jr
Tirek Austin-Cave
Ryan Ragone
Chase Smith
Deshawn Troutman
Thomas Davis
Tyler Johnson
Wesley Bissainthe

DEFENSIVE BACK
Al Blades
D.J. Ivey
Gilbert Frierson
Keontra Smith
Te'Cory Couch
Avantae Williams
Brian Balom
Isaiah Dunson
Jalen Harrell
Keshawn Washington
Marcus Clarke
James Williams
Kamren Kinchens
Chris Graves
Jadem Harris
Khamauri Rogers
Markeith Williams
Tyrique Stevenson

SPECIAL TEAMS
Clay James
Louis Hedley
Andres Borregales

[AeroCane]

Herb
You really think Steele is going to ignore the LB spot? I think not!!
Mario and Steele on the D side are not the idiot brothers manny and Blake!

[86Cane]

I just hope we don't start this BS again of 2 runs and a pass, well not unless we are running down someone's throat, which don't happen to often.

Posted by: HerbieIbis | February 06, 2022 at 12:30 PM

Two yards and a cloud of dust coming to a stadium near you soon? Time will tell...

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Say it with me now, "Anytime you can hire the reigning Broyles award winner to run your offense, you have to do it in college football."

Yeah, I like that, I like it, a lot.

[VA Cane]

Tony thanks for the great #s as always....you should be running the Fed!!!!!

I think Gattis will be a good deal...now we are not the front runners for the NC...and I hope they do not rank us...please overlook us....hard work team work good coaching dedication to the plans and schemes fundamentals and forget the past...good and bad....we will make our own way...goota give a tip o the cap to Herbie...he called it like it was....as much static as we have had on here...we been doing it forever!!!!

[DallasTX Cane]

CONFIRMED: Miami hires Broyles Award winner Gattis from Michigan to be new offensive coordinator miamiherald.com/sports/college… @CanesFootball @UMichFootball @ACCFootball

U all knew it before I did but score one for Mario!

[86Cane]

"Anytime you can hire the reigning Broyles award winner to run your offense, you have to do it in college football."

Yeah, I like that, I like it, a lot.

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | February 06, 2022 at 03:38 PM

Well, since you put it that way.

[86Cane]

But I am telling you the FIRST time he runs into the line of scrimmage on two consecutive plays for -2 yards with 8 or 9 men in the box U will not want to here what she says!

[86Cane]

https://gbmwolverine.com/2022/02/06/5-candidates-to-replace-josh-gattis/

[TonyCane]

86 Cane...you’re bringing up memories of Enos (2019) and run run pass punt of 2018.