Raul Aguirre never took Miami Hurricanes OV; it didn’t matter ... there were family ties, and he’s a Cane

Fayetteville (Ga.) Whitewater High School LB Raul Aguirre took June official visits to four programs: Florida, Alabama, Texas and Ohio State. That Texas visit? It was supposed to be a University of Miami visit, but he replaced it with the Longhorns.

Things, perhaps from the outside looking in, seemed bleak at that time.

In the end?

It simply turns out Aguirre saw enough during January and April visits to UM to sell him, and he was measuring the other programs against that.

Yes, Aguirre is now a Cane commitment in a huge pickup for UM.

He says he believes that Charlie Strong and Kevin Steele are “great coaches” and that “They told me how I can fit into their plan and their defense.

“I know they’ll take care of me. I’ve been down there and it just felt like home.”

There’s also a very personal connection here.

My whole family is down there – The U is The U!

Raul Aguirre

Aguirre’s father played for UM OL coach Alex Mirabal at Miami Columbus High School. And dad remains best friends with Mirabal’s brother.

“I have a real good connection with Miami,” Aguirre said. “My dad tells me stories about coach Mirabal, they are very close.”

At his announcement ceremony at his school, Aguirre lined up the hats of his finalists in front of him. Then he picked up a Georgia hat. Shook his head. Picked up a ‘Bama hat and started to put it on. Shook his head.

Then picked up the Miami hat and put it on.

“My next 4 years i will be taking my talents to the University of Miami!” he declared.

Also at his announcement he specifically gave a shoutout to the coaches, and said Strong “is a great coach, great person. Can’t go wrong with that.”

Aguirre lists over 30 scholarship offers, and the previous staff offered him in July of 2021 with the new staff quickly re-offering.

Aguirre also has family members that still live in the Miami area, so in a sense this will be a homecoming for him.

“My whole family is down there – The U is The U!” Aguirre says.

Aguirre also spoke highly of how Miami recruited him. 

“It’s their coaching staff, that school stood out to me from the jump,” Aguirre told on3’s Jeremy Johnson this week. ”They feel like I fit with them. I’m from Miami. They fit all the dots. That was a school that was definitely going to be there and everybody knew that.”

Aguirre’s On3 Scouting Report? It reads “

Has one of the more complete linebacker skill sets in the country. Stands in right around 6-foot-2, 220 pounds with a 6-foot-5 wingspan. Strong build with even weight distribution throughout the frame. Has the positional flexibility to cover in the slot, rush the passer off the edge and stuff the run between the tackles. Helped lead his team to a state quarterfinals appearance during his junior campaign. Constantly around the football. Excellent instincts and ability to diagnose. Totaled 80 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 interception during his junior season. Striker as a tackler that explodes through ball carriers. Lacks ideal long speed to cover sideline to sideline but makes up for it with his ability to trigger. High floor defender who could be primed to make an early impact at the college level.”

CaneSport’s take

The Canes are looking to play Aguirre at STAR or the other linebacker spots, and this is a big pickup at a position that needs a lot of recruiting class help. Aguirre has the level of physicality and athleticism to where he can help out the team from Day 1.