Connor Lew visited Auburn twice before making his final visit last week. The projected center, Auburn talked to him about life after football and convinced him that it was a better option long-term and a chance to stay closer to home with him from Georgia.

The loss puts Miami at four offensive linemen committed to the class and still with one center in Antonio Tripp. Jovian Cohen will likely compete for a guard position if Miami is able to land the transfer from Alabama. Jakai Clark is expected to be the starter at center next season. Jonathan Denis would likely be the backup along with Laurence Seymore.

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Recruiting update with STA 2024 DB Ryan Mack:

Where are the updates? We are a couple days away from major announcements and early signing period and I feel there is not much information here on who we close on and possibly lose out on.

I.e Lew flirtation with auburn, Fletcher/pancake battle with UF, Bain announcement, Clark (UM/Louisville) and much much more. I have to search elsewhere to see what’s going on I don’t see much activity here. I will give props that when you do post updates it’s good intel but just some constructive criticism gentlemen! Maybe a pinned thread of %’s and what you’re hearing would be nice.

Thanks!

Chaminade-Madonna five-star WR Jeremiah Smith commits to Ohio State. This was a surprise decision but the SFE connection and several visits to Columbus had them as a close leader over Miami.

This is the second year in a row that Ohio State has come down to grab the top WR out of South Florida and this is a big one. He is the #2 prospect in the country and one of the top players to come out of this area in years. Now he combines with top 2024 QB Dylan Riola to lead a strong early 2024 push for Ohio State.

Right here:

losing to Duke, MSU, and even FSU is questionable. The stubbornness to enable OC to run that ill advised scheme with players incapable of doing so, was telling on many fronts. No adjustments were made on O - Mario has three years to get it going, but if what happened this year happens next year, Mario will get axed. This past season was a complete disaster. This team was not void of talent and even though there were injuries, losing to Duke and MTS at home?

And Gary, for the record - it is not the absence of a home stadium that is cause for this season's failure - it was a lack of vision / coaching.

Confirmed that Mark Fletcher will be taking his official visit to Miami this weekend and Mario Cristobal will be heading to the Fletcher household for an in-home visit ahead of the State Championship game and his OV. Huge opportunity, as we have seen so many times before the final visit being a factor in a kid's decision (ex. Christopher Johnson).

A package deal for Fletcher and the Brown brothers is still extremely realistic, especially with James Williams and Daryl Porter getting in their ear and Cristobal taking a hands on approach with just a week to go.

First, Alonzo Highsmith has done a tremendous job of evaluating talent and the future is bright and the fanbase needs to be patient. Look out when the entire roster consists of all of Highsmith's guys.

We are hearing that Miami is likely looking to land three receivers from the portal. Highsmith likes Isaac Tesla as one of the possible receivers to end up in the class.

Miami is in prime position to land:

OL Javion Cohen
DT Tunmise Adeleye
LB Fransico Mauigoa

Kyon Barrs is set to decide between LSU, Miami, and USC this week. Miami is in a good spot to add Barrs.

Adeleye is of course a former teammate of former local five-star DE Shemar Stewart. Stewart is rumored to end up in the portal but Georgia will have a say on if he ends up in Miami or not.

Can Miami flip Stanquan Clark away from Louisville?

Rueben flirted with several schools during his process which included Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, and Louisville. The hometown hero is set to stay home and help build a program he grew up watching. The fallout and restructuring of coaching staffs at Louisville and Auburn have aided his decision.

The big win is landing a player from the best program in Miami-Dade County. Central could be crowned its first national championship by season's end and the pipeline from Central to Miami is an essential one for the future of the Cristobal era.

Bain's commitment increases the chances of LB Stanquan Clark, and flipping from Louisville. The future of the Miami Central program is bright as always with 2024 WR LaWayne McCoy, 2025 LB Ezekiel Marcelin, and 2025 Amari Wallace to name a few. Miami has already developed former Central linebacker Wesley Bissainthe into power 5 starting linebacker in year one.

Cristobal made it a priority to get to Miami Central immediately after his introductory press conference and that visit among other moves is paying dividends. His connection at Central and his alma mater Columbus is big advantage for the program.

Guys, I watched the entire state title game tonight with Joshua Horton's team Langston Hughes playing Gainesville, GA and this is the second week I've watched him. He is an absolute force that never quits on you. He should be a star very quickly for the U. Kid just has that ump about his game and he's very, very talented.

Board is dead?

The latest blue-chip commit for Miami in Collins Acheampong from Rancho Santa Margarita, California and originally from Cape Coast in Ghana, was on hand in the #Canes twitter spaces on Tuesday evening. CanesCounty.com very own Marcus Benjamin and I were on hand to ask the important questions with the huge 6'8" lineman that very same night and get more of the inside details.

The Important Notes:

- Acheampong mentioned he was very, very torn between Miami and Michigan in the summer months coming off of multiple college visits, the four-star admitted he came very close to committing to Miami in July before ultimately announcing for Michigan. Miami and Mario Cristobal were the exact reason why his decision date was pushed back in the summer and Acheampong did not shy away from confirming that.

- Acheampong has mostly played basketball during his prep career but did participate in football as a freshman, he returned to the football field during his senior year and there was quite the jump in terms of his development and body frame. Unfortunately the Ghana native suffered a meniscus tear a few games into the season and had to shut it down, he said that he was already walking again and he is feeling pretty good as of late coming off the injury.

- His focus will be on football in college, and has no plans on playing basketball at Miami and his mind is set on football. He did not rule out working out with the basketball team while away from the football team at certain points of the year though. The 6'8" lineman mentioned he was averaging a double-double in basketball during his junior season in high school and almost a triple double at times. Basketball was initially his reasoning for coming to the United States, he also said that he is the youngest in his family and moved to the U.S. when he was 14 years old. His motive for making such a big move to a different country was for a better life for his family. Acheampong said he felt he needed to help out, it was difficult for him to see his mother working seven days a week and he couldn't take it anymore. He started to message schools, anything related to basketball that he could find and only one school took the chance on him and the rest was history.

- One of the key factors in why he flipped his commitment to Miami from Michigan, the four-star noted that it seemed as Michigan did not care for him much as a person in comparison to Miami that stayed consistently in his recruitment and continued to grow that relationship. He noted that Miami not only wanted him as a player but genuinely as a person and he felt the difference. Acheampong mentioned that one of his family members fell gravely ill in recent months and Michigan did not express as much interest or even check-in like Miami did in those matters. A few colleges backed away from him after his meniscus injury and Miami stayed right in it and ultimately won out. He had this to say about Mario Cristobal "relationship and bond is important, I know if he's pushing me really hard that it's coming from a good place." Miami's other 19 commitments wasted no time and added Acheampong to the recruiting class group chat immediately after his commitment to Miami.

- On Miami's coaching staff, Acheampong said he loves the entire staff and the family-like but business approach setting at Miami. He specifically noted Mario Cristobal as being a "great man and a great coach and he's genuine and consistent." He singled out coaches Rod Wright and Joe Salavae as being very involved with him in his recruitment and the relationship that they all have. When it came down to Jason Taylor, we couldn't even finish the question before Acheampong bursted out by saying "I'm going to stop you right there, yes 1000% I believe Jason Taylor can help develop me to be what I want to be. Their whole defensive line coaches are great and the d-line is doing their jobs." He was certainly excited about the opportunity of perfecting his game with coach Taylor.

- Miami is currently recruiting 4-star defensive lineman Enow Etta (Michigan commit) who Acheampong refers to as his brother while saying "He is the reason why I went to Michigan, and I will definitely be recruiting him to Miami." Acheampong mentioned there is a brotherhood between African native football players and did shed some light on the Canes 5-star offensive line target Samson Okunlola. Acheampong said Okunlola texted him just shortly after he announced his commitment to Miami and mentioned that they are like family. The two were also on a visit together to Miami when Acheampong visited in June and Acheampong noted he will be recruiting Okunlola very hard until signing day. Acheampong is also very familiar with current Miami senior defensive end Mitchell Agude and mentions that if Agude likes it at Miami he could definitely see why he would like it there too.

- Acheampong did not rule out the possibility of visiting Miami again if he gets the chance before he signs but did confirm he will be signing with Miami in December. He also confirmed he will be enrolling early at Miami for spring practices.

- We asked Collins about the possibility of going up against Francis Mauigoa in practices at Miami the next few years and potentially Samson Okunlola, "Yeah I'm really looking forward to going against Francis and possibly Samson, it is definitely going to make me better. I actually went up against Francis at the Future 50 (UA Camp)", Acheampong said.

- Collins noted he was excited about the direction and vision Mario Cristobal has for the program going forward, "I think they are going in the right direction, I don't think it will take just one year. Rome was not built in one day and I think once the pieces are in and the mindsets change, I think we will get there", Acheampong said.

- His mind set coming in as a freshman is "becoming the best that I can be, first thing first is developing my body. Building the right weight in the right places and learning from the best because I feel Miami's coaches are the best", Acheampong said. Former Hurricanes and NFL wide receiver Lance Leggett (Class of 2004, Rivals100 5-star) was on hand in the twitter space and asked Acheampong if he was prepared for what is about to happen on GreenTree Practice Fields, Acheampong rebutted back "I am always prepared and I am prepared for what Coach Cristobal will do on GreenTree." In regards to an adjustment from California to Miami, he sees no difference as they are both big cities and says he will like the college adjustment even more as he can work out 24/7 and the better support systems at the University of Miami.

- His final message to Canes fans before signing day and arriving at Miami on January 13th? "Patience, it's going to take some time to build. Patience and support this team because if you know that everyone has your back, you're going to be your best", Acheampong said.

*** What ultimately stands out for Collins Acheampong is "relationships and people", he said. That was the difference maker and it was a more than well-earned commitment flip for Miami as they never gave up. I will also mention that Marcus and I came away thoroughly impressed with how mature and genuine Collins is for his age, and I believe he will be one of the better interviews on Miami's football team for the years to come.

Mario pulled off a big surprise last year with trevonte citizen is there going to be a surprise like that this year

I put a forecast in for Rueben Bain to Auburn. He recently visited with his parents for a fifth time. The argument that there is no head coach will not be a factor in his decision. EDGE coach Roc Bellantoni coached his brother and the two have a strong relationship. Bain has talked heavily about a college atmosphere being a huge factor in his decision. With Miami Central QB Keyone Jenkins likely committing to Auburn this week and the potential flips of Pitt commit WR Lamar Seymore and LB Stanquan Clark as well, it seems like a pipeline is brewing from Miami Central to Auburn. This will likely come down to signing day but I see Auburn winning out here.

What's going on seems like every DB is leaving except for Kam and James have they been asked to go or something isn't right in that room

FSU and Miami pushing for Harrison to take an OV before the ESP. Update on Rivals:

You guys have his stats?

Any news on how his visit went

PLAYER… DEVELOPMENT. I THINK WE HAVE ”THE” best defensive backs coach in the country. That didn’t just happen without the overall defense playing exceptional position and overall assignment football. The question now is players. WE NEED THE PLAYERS IN 2023!

I watched his high school championship game yesterday and he played a great game was all over the field sideline to sideline making plays against a very fast team he really impressed me a big linebacker that can run and hit like that is going to be a really good player imo

I don’t think it’s a big deal. Probably taking it for fun. His parents are Miami fans and love Cristobal. He also tweeted 5 days ago about Horton’s commitment.

Should we be concerned about this or no?