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FIRST TO SIGN AT 7 AM! Post-graduate center Nino Francavilla signs with Miami Hurricanes: "I’m coming in to work"

Stephen Wagner covers recruiting for the University of Miami for On3 Sports and CaneSport. He can be found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at Stephen.Wagner@On3.com.by:Stephen Wagner•12/20/23•

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Nino Francavilla
(photo via Nino Francavilla)

There are recruits who are committed to different programs, recruits who say they’re locked in, and recruits who say they’re shut down in every cycle. And then there’s Miami commit/now-signee Nino Francavilla (he is confirmed signing his UM papers).

Francavilla, a three-star post-graduate center from Connecticut’s Cheshire Academy who committed to Miami in late July, earned his offer from the Hurricanes the hard way. Francavilla had little to no Power Five attention when he showed up at a Miami prospect camp in June, but the 6-foot-3, 295-pound offensive lineman quickly got offensive line coach Alex Mirabal’s attention. The Hurricanes staff continued to monitor Francavilla for the next month – and Francavilla briefly committed to Harvard – before Miami extended an offer near the end of June that Francavilla quickly accepted.

And arguably became Miami’s most enthusiastic commit in the 2024 cycle.

Francavilla didn’t just commit to the Hurricanes – he became borderline obsessed with the program. He couldn’t get enough of everything Miami, even celebrating a Miami-themed Christmas with an orange and green Miami beanie on the Francavilla family Christmas tree where a star would normally sit. He took his official visit to Miami the final recruiting weekend before signing day, but it largely amounted to the cherry on top of a recruiting sundae months in the making.

He’ll be a January enrollee.

“I’m coming in early, and a lot of the guys are,” Francavilla said after his official visit. “I’m coming in to work. I’m just going to put my head down and work. Whatever happens after that happens, and I’m just ready to work.”

Francavilla will room with fellow three-star offensive lineman Deryc Plazz, who he’s spoken with over the phone, and he met a few other Miami commits for the first time during his official visit weekend.

“I got to know a few more guys, like Markel (Bell),” Francavilla said. “It was great to finally meet everyone in person and build those relationships early. We all agreed we’ve got to come in January and get to work.”

Francavilla is Miami’s lone post-graduate scholarship signee and will be one of the older members of the 2024 class. Francavilla decided to take a post-graduate year after receiving limited attention from FBS schools as a high school player, but his gamble paid off. Francavilla began mentally preparing for the college level immediately after committing to Miami.

Penn State, Purdue and “a couple of other schools” made some late pushes for Francavilla shortly after he announced his commitment to the Hurricanes, but he never wavered.

“I’m really excited,” Francavilla said.

CaneSport’s Take

While some recruits’ stories revolve around talent and skill, Francavilla’s revolves around hard work, dedication and a decision to bet on yourself. It truly is a feel-good story for a player living out his dream.

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