Blount updates his recruiting relationship with UM:

Thoughts?

From the Super 7 tournament in Naples (Fla.), a sampling of players were asked to share their stories about interesting fanbase interactions. The UM vs. FSU feud is still strong among the fans.

Miami gets included in 2024 four-star TE Max LeBlanc's top eight despite just offering him on January 27th. To be included with Ohio State, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee and Michigan despite recently jumping in the race.

LeBlanc is from Tennessee, so they are likely the top dog in this recruitment but Miami has pulled off out-of-state blue-chip tight ends pretty much on a yearly basis. This year was a breakout year for LeBlanc, who had 39 REC, 700 YD and 4 TD.

Him. Colton Heinrich, Kylan Fox and LSU commit Tayvion Galloway are all names to watch at the position for this class.

Interesting to see Texas A&M going after Louisville WR coach Garrick McGee so hard, especially after news came out that James Coley (who currently holds that position) interviewed at Miami. With Texas A&M bringing in Bobby Petrino, ultimately bypassing Coley for the play-calling duties, and now searching for a potential replacement for Coley - watch for momentum with him at the WR coach or TE spot at Miami.

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Huge first offer for Monarch 2024 passer AJ Hairston. Kid had a big 2022 season, throwing for 3200 yards and 32 touchdowns with 347 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns on the ground. He is also a three-sport athlete, lettering on varsity for multiple seasons already in baseball and basketball. He checks the box size-wise as well (6'3" 215). It's not often we see local QBs offered, especially a first offer as a senior, but he is a name to monitor especially if they take two quarterbacks in this class, which I am hearing they are.

Interesting note is that he is the teammate and close friend of future blue-chip 2026 wide receiver Jabari Brady, who already has a Miami offer


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Smith has plans to visit Miami. Update on Rivals:

Knight is ready to return to Miami. Update on Rivals:

Hearing that two candidates are currently at the top of the list for the wide receivers coach opening.

Leonard Hankerson, current 49ers WR coach, and Lonnie Galloway, the current passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at North Carolina.

Either guy would be a home run hire. Hankerson would be a South Florida native that returns home to Coral Gables with NFL experience. His college experience is limited to Stephen F. Austin and UMass but he has the background to help Miami get into schools like St. Thomas Aquinas and is a younger coach that can connect to the kids, especially the ones that are homegrown.

Galloway is one of the best wide receiver coaches in the country. He has experience with new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson from their time at West Virginia. He has recruited big time South Florida receivers like Ivan McCartney, Jovon Durante and Stedman Bailey. Plus he has mentored guys like Tavon Austin, Kevin White, Dazz Newsome, Dyami Brown and Josh Downs, all of which were huge producers on the college level.

I'm also still hearing that Boston College defensive back coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim could be added to the staff with an exit from current defensive back coach Jahmile Addae. It looks like Cristobal may be clearing house and he could be next.

Another coach I am hearing potentially on the hotseat is tight ends coach Stephen Field. Texas A&M wide receivers coach James Coley did interview with Miami and could be in the race for the wide receivers job but also the tight ends gig, possibly replacing Fields.

In an update interview with Mack, he shares he plans to visit UM this spring.

Stone updated his visit to UM and relationship with coach Cristobal. The Air Noland factor here should be watched.

Noland goes in-depth on his relationship with UM's staff:

More here:

ALL-STATE FOOTBALL: Vote for the Class 2M Offensive & Defensive Players of the Year along with Coach of the Year – FloridaHSFootball.com

Maybe in talks

Hall of fame finalists Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, and Reggie Wayne were not elected for the 2023 hall of fame.

Surprised? Expected? Will they ever get in?

I think they are all deserving.

Miami has nine NFL hall of famers: Jim Otto, Ted Hendricks, Warren Sapp, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Jim Kelly, Edgerrin James, Michael Irvin, and Cortez Kennedy.

Recruiting update with Pierre-Louis on Rivals:

Thoughts?

Well within his rights? Should've waited it out? Will be interesting to see how he develops over the years.

Pruitt got a quick visit with Miami, he wants to return. Recruiting update with Pruitt on Rivals:

When Alonzo Highsmith offers a kid, you take notes. Miami took a shot on D2 Transfer Portal WR Isaac TeSlaa. Kid had 68 catches, 1325 yards and 13 TDs this season, winning Player of the Year honors. At 6'4" 210-pounds, he fits the mold of helping as an outside WR. Has picked up offers from Wisconsin, Baylor, Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Houston.

Here's his college bio:

Quarterbacked Hudsonville Unity Christian to a MHSAA Division 5 state title in 2018 and a Division 4 semifinal appearance in 2019, as well as playing on the Crusaders’ 2018-19 Division 2 state champion basketball team…earned OK Green All-Conference honors in both 2018 and 2019, and was named first-team All-State in Division 4 by the MHSFCA in 2019…rushed for 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 448 yards passing and 10 passing TDs as a senior…also won a MHSAA Division 2 regional championship in the long jump in 2019, setting the Unity Christian school record with a distance of 22’ 3 ¾”…graduated Summa Cum Laude from Unity Christian with a 4.0 GPA…father, Mark, played wide receiver at Hillsdale from 1992-96, winning team MVP honors in 1996…parents are Mark and Stephanie TeSlaa.

Film:

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Would not be surprised if one or two coaches are added on behalf of new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry

Also could see Charlie Strong leave the staff. I hear that is a likely development.

Jahmile Addae is someone to watch, as well. Guidry is a safeties coach by trade, meaning that Addae will not have totality of the room going forward. Interesting to see how that plays out.

Toledo head coach Jason Candle was the first choice for Mario Cristobal - the past two seasons- at offensive coordinator and negotiations were deep before Alabama went and hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Reese. Now Notre Dame is pushing for Candle at the same position and he is weighing his options between the two offensive coordinator openings, as well as staying with his current extension at Toledo.

With that fluid situation going on, another name has come up. That candidate is former North Texas head coach Seth Littrell. He was the head man at North Texas from 2015 up until the end of this past season. He has also been the offensive coordinator at Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina. He had a 44-44 overall record at North Texas with several bowl berths. In 2015 with North Carolina, he had one of the best offenses in the country, setting set school season records for points (41.2 points per game) and led the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship.

He has a proven track record as a play caller. This season with North Texas, his offense was 21st in yards per game (461.8), 15th in yards per play (6.68), 29th in first downs (307), threw for 3667 yards and 34 touchdowns while rushing for 2798 yards and 24 touchdowns (199.9 yards per game, 5.22 yards per carry).