4-star EDGE Marquise Lightfoot commits to Miami: 'Miami stood out with what they offered'

Chicago (Ill.) Kenwood Academy four-star EDGE Marquise Lightfoot had three major factors weighing in on his college decision.

First, he needed to find a spot that would develop him the best. Secondly he needed to find somewhere that treated him like a priority. Finally and most importantly, he needed a school he felt the most comfortable with for the next three to four years.

While he had several options, Miami was the school that checked all of those boxes the best as he announced his pledge to the Hurricanes Monday afternoon. Lightfoot chose Miami over Ohio State, USC and others.

“Miami stood out with what they offered on and off the field,” Lightfoot told On3. “They showed me that off the field I can still live my life as a teenager whilst there focusing on my career which is the end goal of going to the NFL. They have that goal in their mind.”

“When I was down there, I saw the vision that all of the coaches and players were talking about. I want to be a part of getting the U back to what it was.”

Lightfoot said he had a good feeling about Miami after taking his unofficial to Coral Gables during the spring. He went back at the end of June just to make sure if his original feelings were still there.

After that visit he went back home to mull over his options and came to the realization that Miami was his future home.

“It became hard having all of these top-10 schools in my face,” said Lightfoot, the No. 60 player in the 2024 On300. “I just sat down and asked myself what would be best for me instead of trying to please other people. That was Miami.”

Finding the right position coach was key for Lightfoot

A big part of the comfortability factor for Lightfoot was finding the right position coach he could learn from for the next few years.

Miami hired NFL Hall of Famer and former Hurricanes standout Jason Taylor in March as its new defensive line coach.

Lightfoot acknowledged that Taylor doesn’t have the coaching resume that other coaches like Larry Johnson and Shaun Nua have, but after meeting with him a few times, came to have full faith in his coaching ability.

“It became comparing Coach Taylor to the other coaches because that’s the main thing I had choosing a school was picking my position and strength coach,” Lightfoot said. “When I went down there, he showed me that he knows how to coach and his coaching personality fit who I’d want to be mentored by.”