Miami Hurricanes junior day loaded with priority recruits

It’s finally March, which means it’s time for the first major recruiting event of Miami spring practices.

Miami will host hundreds of 2024, 2025 and 2026 prospects at its junior day Saturday, which also marks the first day of spring practice for the Hurricanes. Junior day will take place following the Canes’ practice and will be headlined by dozens of priority recruits Miami hopes to land, which includes more than half a dozen On3 Industry Ranking blue-chip prospects.

Here are some of the players Miami is planning on bringing to campus Saturday.

Miami defensive line/EDGE targets

Aydin Breland | Mater Dei HS, CA | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 7 DL in 2024

• Pac-12 schools got in on the ground floor for Breland, who has almost two dozen total offers. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine lists USC, Oregon and Colorado as his frontrunners.

Terrance Cunningham | Los Alamitos HS, CA | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 9 DL in 2024

• Miami rose on Cunningham’s list of schools in February, but the Canes still have work to do to nab the No. 58 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.  Texas A&M, LSU, Penn State, Tennessee, TCU and Oklahoma are also high on his list.

Wyatt Gilmore | Rogers Senior HS, MN | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 46 EDGE in 2024
Kendall Jackson | F.W. Buchholz HS, FL | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 38 DL in 2024

• Jackson’s stock has continued to rise in 2023 and is now a On300 prospect. He’s garnered plenty of interest from the Canes, Florida, Texas and others, and Miami is continuing to push.

Jayden Jackson | IMG Academy, FL | 2024 | On3 3-star recruit, No. 49 DL in 2024
Daylen Russell | Christopher Columbus HS, FL | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 78 DL in 2024
Dylan Stephenson | Christopher Columbus HS, FL | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 14 EDGE in 2024

• Stephenson is one of the more intriguing local prospects and has received tremendous attention from the Hurricanes. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal has made visits to Stephenson at Columbus, where Mirabal used to coach, and he’s continued to hear from head coach Mario Cristobal as well. Look for Saturday’s junior day to be the first installment of Miami’s spring recruiting effort for Stephenson.

Steven Soles | Powell HS, TN | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 78 EDGE in 2024
Omar White | Valdosta HS, GA | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 16 DL in 2024
Davion Dixon | Belen Jesuit HS, FL | 2025
Iose Epenesa | Edwardsville HS, IL | 2025 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 12 overall recruit in 2025
Wilnerson Telemaque | Monsignor Edward Pace HS, FL | 2025
Xavier Ukponu | John H Guyer HS, TX | 2025
TK Cunningham | Los Alamitos HS, CA | 2027

Miami linebacker targets

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa | St. John Bosco HS, CA | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 10 LB in 2024

• Viliamu-Asa is feeling the love from Notre Dame, Ohio State and Alabama, but a solid unofficial visit could help Miami climb on his radar. Viliamu-Asa’s stock has continued to steadily climb after a spectacular junior season on a star-studded St. John Bosco defense, and Miami is trying to push up in the race for the four-star.

Miami offensive line targets

Brandon Baker | Mater Dei HS, CA | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 1 OT in 2024

• Baker may be the most eye-popping name in Miami’s junior day weekend and already has numerous ties to Cristobal. His older brother played for Cristobal at Oregon, and Miami’s head coach has maintained the relationship. The Hurricanes may be entering the race relatively late, but it’s done nothing to hurt Baker’s interest in the Canes. Keep an eye on Baker’s recruitment this spring.

Zack Boehly | Cardinal Gibbons HS, FL | 2024 | On3 3-star recruit, No. 67 OT in 2024
Nyier Daniels | Bergen Catholic HS, NJ | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 25 OT in 2024
Tye Hylton | Oviedo HS, FL | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 56 OT in 2024
Zuri Madison | Frederick Douglass HS, KY | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 47 OT in 2024
Juan Minaya | Paramus Catholic HS, NJ | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 51 OT in 2024
Riley Sunram | Kindred HS, ND | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 56 OT in 2024
Mike Williams | Charles Herbert Flowers HS, MD | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 80 OT in 2024

• Williams was my first RPM prediction of the 2024 cycle, and Miami appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for the three-star lineman. Williams would have to see a program prove to him they can develop him better than Cristobal and Mirabal. South Carolina is still on his list as well, but Miami is the frontrunner.

Kaden Strayhorn | IMG Academy, FL | 2025
Sandman Thompson | Eau Gallie HS, FL | 2025
Micah Smith | John Carroll Catholic HS, FL | 2026

Miami quarterback targets

Alberto Mendoza | Christopher Columbus HS, FL | 2024
Danny O’Neil | Cathedral HS, IN | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 29 QB in 2024

Miami tight end targets

Elija Lofton | Bishop Gorman HS, NV | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 4-star recruit, No. 18 TE in 2024
Roger Saleapaga | Orem HS, UT | 2024 | On3 Industry Ranking 3-star recruit, No. 21 TE in 2024

• Saleapaga played receiver last season but is listed as a tight end as a recruit, and he’s stood out to tight ends coach Stephen Field. Saleapaga was intrigued by former tight end Will Mallory’s performance as the team’s leading receiver last season and is maintaining his interest in Miami.

Miami running back targets

Zackariah Simmons | Central HS, AL
Chris Wheatley-Humphrey | Dillard HS, FL

• Wheatley-Humphrey has been a relatively under-the-radar prospect but one the Hurricanes have maintained interest in nonetheless. He was impressed on an unofficial visit he took at the end of January, and Miami is well within his top group of schools.

Miami wide receiver targets

Joshua Moore | West Broward HS, FL | 2025