Florida State, Miami vying for top in-state prospects

Protecting home turf on the recruiting trail is vital for college coaching staffs around the country. That rings especially true in Florida.

Every recruiting cycle, Florida, Florida State and Miami battle for the top Sunshine State prospects, with one of the three programs often coming away the winner. In 2024, seven of the top 10 recruits in Florida — not including IMG Academy out-of-state transfers — signed with the Gators, Seminoles or Hurricanes.

As each program looks to build their respective 2025 recruiting classes, in-state battles are once again occurring. Entering the spring, the Canes and the Noles are trending for some of the best in Florida. On3’s Chad Simmons joined ‘The Inside Scoop’ to share the latest on top Miami and FSU targets.

4-star CB Chris Ewald

School: Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 97
On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Miami 77%, Michigan 7.5%, Florida State 4%

Simmons’ Take: “He was committed to a UM — Michigan — at one time. I like where another UM sits right now in Miami for Chris Ewald. He’s a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball over at Chaminade-Madonna, they had great success last year. (Miami) is in a good position for Ewald. There’s a connection there, not just with his position coach … but the way Cristobal does it I think really played into this race and is why Miami is in a good spot. The whole staff recruits these players, it’s not just position coach, he has the entire staff involved and I think that’s what’s held this together. They’re a local program that I was told was not going to let Ewald get away.”

4-star WR Cortez Mills

School: Homestead
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 125
On3 RPM: Miami 41.8%, Florida 18.5%, Nebraska 15.9%

Simmons’ Take: “Mills has really changed his story. Each time we talk — I’ve seen him three times in the last maybe two months — at different times, different schools have been mentioned more by him as the key guys in the race. I’d say a pretty consistent one has been Miami. He’s going back there this week. He’s mentioned some out-of-state schools too, but him going to Miami, that shows him that Miami is not wasting any time getting him back on campus, getting more face time with him. He has a great connection with Kevin Beard — and you really credit the whole staff, not just connecting with him, but his parents and family … not just recruiting him but getting to know him as a person.

…He’s a Homestead kid down below Miami, I think Miami really wants to work hard to keep him home, but some other schools are in the mix — Florida, an in-state school, he likes them a lot. Then you’ve got schools like LSU and Clemson I think will factor into this race as well.”

4-star RB Byron Louis

School: Fort Lauderdale American Heritage
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 161
On3 RPM: Ohio State 63.9%, Miami 32.2%

Simmons’ Take: “At different times, again here, I would say different schools have been trending. But a consistent name has always been Miami. Doing a great job there recruiting him. They’ve done a good job the last couple of years going against Ohio State … I think Louis has kind of emerged as that guy in the 305 they want to keep home in South Florida. He’s mentioned Ohio State, Tony Alford, great relationship there. He wants to get back to Columbus soon, he’ll be at Florida State and Miami both in March. Florida State’s coming on strong, making this race a little bit tighter than people thought from a Seminole perspective, at one time. Then you have Alabama, they’ve always been in this. He’s been talking to the new staff some, as well. I think those are the four schools I hear the most about.”

4-star CB Gregory Thomas

School: Fort Lauderdale American Heritage
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 245
On3 RPM: Florida State 98.8%

Simmons’ Take: “I like where Florida State’s at for Gregory Thomas. Nobody is recruiting him like Florida State, it’s that simple. We talked about Pat Surtain being from American Heritage, he was actually the head coach Thomas’ freshman year. There’s a connection to Heritage, a connection to Surtain. He hasn’t been a lot of places, but nowhere yet has made him feel at home like Florida State. From the staff, the people, the culture there in Tallahassee. He’s been to Miami, they’re involved, but he’s still kind of really early in getting out to see other places. He wants to see LSU this weekend, wants to see Penn State maybe in the spring. But there’s no doubt about it, Florida State is setting the pace in this race with Thomas.”

4-star DL Myron Charles

School: Port Charlotte
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 145
On3 RPM: Miami 49.1%, Florida 34.5%

Simmons’ Take: “UF, Florida State and Miami. All three in-state schools are heavily in the mix. He’s been to all three schools numerous times. Each school wants to get him back on campus this spring and hopefully this summer for OVs, or even into the fall, if he takes it that far. I think right now it is two schools — I think it’s Miami and Florida State. According to a source, and even I think Myron hinted at it himself this weekend that FSU may have a slight edge in this recruitment. I’m told by someone close that Miami feels pretty confident, at least in the top two, if not the favorite for Charles.

…He’s been to FSU a little bit more, he loves Odell Haggins, he likes the continuity of that staff, he likes what FSU did on the field this past season and just the stability of the program … then you have Miami, a little closer to home, he’ll probably take multiple trips there. I think right now, FSU and Miami kinda lead the way.”