Miami and Florida might not face off frequently on the field these days, but the rivalry between these in-state programs remains intense.
This Saturday, as the teams meet for the first time since the 2019 season opener, the outcomes of several critical recruiting battles between them will be significant.
Both the Gators and Hurricanes have benefited from recruitment successes through traditional means and the transfer portal. For Miami, securing certain prospects over Florida will influence the outcome of this weekend’s game.
With Mario Cristobal and his team heading to Gainesville for a highly-anticipated Week 1 matchup, let’s examine some of the key recruitments that Miami has won against Florida:
DB Mishael Powell
Before transferring to Miami this winter, Mishael Powell, who had just played in the national title game with Washington, visited Florida. Miami swiftly turned that visit into a South Florida trip and managed to secure Powell’s commitment. Now one of the Hurricanes’ key secondary players, Powell, who previously played nickel for the Huskies, will start at safety for Miami this season. Securing him over Florida and his former position coach, Will Harris, has given Miami crucial leadership and experience in their defensive backfield.
RB Mark Fletcher
Mark Fletcher, a running back who initially committed to Ohio State in the spring of his junior year, only visited the Buckeyes officially that summer. However, his recruitment began to broaden in November. He first visited Miami for the Florida State game (a game where Florida State defeated Miami significantly in Mario Cristobal’s first year) and then quickly traveled to Florida.
After his visit to Gainesville, Fletcher reopened his recruitment, and Florida seemed to be the frontrunner. In December, the Gators had the first opportunity to impress Fletcher, appearing to have the upper hand. However, Miami secured the final official visit, making significant progress during that trip and ultimately securing a major recruiting victory over their in-state rival for the Top 100 talent.
OL Jalen Rivers
Florida was the first to offer Jacksonville native Jalen Rivers, with Miami soon extending an offer as well. Despite Florida hosting him multiple times throughout his recruitment, Rivers committed to the Hurricanes in June and signed with them in December. There wasn’t much suspense, but Florida remained involved with Rivers, who has become a key player on Miami’s offensive line. He’s set to start at left tackle for the Hurricanes in the season opener.
OL Matthew McCoy
In Mario Cristobal’s transition class, Miami managed to recruit Matthew McCoy, even though Florida had the final official visit and was initially favored to land him. McCoy, a late bloomer who gained attention after shifting from tight end to offensive line, had been a strong candidate for Florida. Now, he’s competing for Miami’s starting left guard position and could make a significant impact this fall.
WR Isaiah Horton
Florida was one of four finalists for Tennessee native Isaiah Horton, who also considered Alabama, Tennessee, and Miami. After visiting each of these schools that summer, Horton committed to the Hurricanes in late July. Now in his third year, Horton is poised to take on a significant role as an outside wide receiver for Miami this fall, providing a key target for Cam Ward.
OL Samson Okunlola
In the 2023 recruiting cycle, Samson “Pancake Hancho” Okunlola was a highly sought-after prospect who showed strong interest in Florida, leading some to believe the Gators were a serious contender. His final choice came down to Florida, Miami, and Michigan State, with Okunlola ultimately committing to the Hurricanes. This was a significant recruiting victory for Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal over their in-state rival. Now in his second year, Okunlola is still developing but is vying for a spot in Miami’s rotation this fall.
EDGE Malik Bryant
Malik Bryant, once considered a five-star prospect, was a high-profile recruit with several national programs in pursuit. However, his decision ultimately came down to a fierce battle between Miami and Florida. The two in-state rivals went back and forth, with Bryant delaying his decision a few times, adding to the suspense.
Although he seriously considered Florida, Bryant chose Miami, signing as a linebacker before transitioning to his more natural position as an edge rusher. The Hurricanes are enthusiastic about the progress he’s made in his second year with the program.
OL Tommy Kinsler
After a June official visit to Florida, Tommy Kinsler committed to the Gators, seemingly ending his recruitment. However, the following weekend, he visited Miami, and it quickly became apparent that the Hurricanes had made a strong impression. By early July, Kinsler decommitted from Florida and formally committed to Miami later that month.
Even then, Florida continued to push hard to get Kinsler back on campus and nearly succeeded before Miami intervened, convincing him to shut down his recruitment. Now a second-year lineman, Kinsler is a player Miami is very excited about and could be a future starter for the program.
LB Adarius Hayes
In a thrilling Miami-Florida recruiting showdown, Adarius Hayes committed to Florida in January 2023 and appeared firmly locked in with the Gators. However, Miami made a strong push, hosting Hayes quietly over the summer and again in the fall.
As the recruitment neared its end, Hayes took an official visit to Miami during the final weekend of the process, joined by top UM commits and targets. He ultimately flipped his commitment to Miami on Signing Day. Derek Nicholson and the Hurricanes played the long game, securing a significant win over Florida’s prized recruit.
Although Hayes is unlikely to play in Saturday’s game due to Miami’s strong linebacker depth, there is optimism about his development, given his impressive size at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds.
WR Chance Robinson
Chance Robinson was the first blue-chip prospect to commit to Miami in the last recruiting cycle, doing so during the Hurricanes’ spring game at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Even after his commitment, Robinson attracted interest from national programs like Florida, Penn State, Ole Miss, and Ohio State.
Florida hosted Robinson for an official visit in June, and there was considerable buzz around the Gators for the Broward County native. Despite the attention from these major programs, Robinson remained committed to the Hurricanes.
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