Miami 'in the mix' for On3 No. 1 recruit Dylan Stewart

Landing a pair of five-star offensive linemen in Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola was Mario Cristobal’s two biggest wins for Miami during the 2023 recruiting cycle. Now an emphasis could be on fortifying the Hurricanes’ line on the other side of the ball.

One possible piece to that puzzle would landing a commitment from Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy five-star EDGE Dylan Stewart, the No. 1 player in the 2024 On300. Stewart’s set to take an official to Coral Gables on June 9.

On the latest edition of the On3 Roundtable, Miami recruiting insider Gery Ferman broke down where the Hurricanes sit in Stewart’s recruitment:

“I think they’re right there in the mix,” Ferman said. ” A year ago we were talking looking at the five-star players Miami was recruiting and there was a great emphasis was on offensive linemen. They got Mauioga and Okunlola and I think that you’re gonna see something very similar happen this year.

“Dylan Stewart has made multiple trips down here and I think he very very strongly considering Miami. I think Miami is all in on defensive linemen this year, the way they were on offensive linemen last year. Mario Cristobal is building this program from the inside out, which is the only way to build a successful program.”

Building the lines like Alabama and Georgia

If there were any two teams to immulate when it comes to play on the field and recruiting currently, those two programs would be Alabama and Georgia.

The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs finished with the No. 1 and No. 2 classes during the 2023 cycle and are No. 1 and No. 2 currently in the 2024 cycle.

Cristobal’s first full class with the Hurricanes finished No. 6 in the country. A former assistant coach under Alabama’s Nick Saban, Ferman noted that landing elite talent on the offensive and defensive lines like Alabama and Georgia have been able to is a must for Cristobal.

“Cristobal obviously being part of the Nick Saban coaching tree understands this,” Ferman said. “He did it in Oregon and now he’s doing it here. Last year the focus offensive line and this year the focus is defensive line. That’s why you see Miami in the mix with the greater majority of the five star defensive linemen are that are on the board.

“I think, this is gonna be a big month coming up in June, for recruiting in general, but certainly at Miami. Their recruiting class has gathered steam a little slowly so far in this cycle but I think you’re gonna see that change in June. I think you’re gonna see several commitments and I would not be surprised if two five-star defensive linemen are among those.”