The Hurricanes are off to a hot start for the 2020 recruiting class, but there is still work to be done. One of the position groups that is lacking right now is linebacker. For this reason, Miami brought in 2020 3-star linebacker Ruben Hyppolite for a visit on Tuesday.
“I liked the visit a lot. I liked the indoor facility. How it’s set up, it’s very nice. I like the energy they have at practice - I saw I could fit in their style of play, in their scheme. How they run their team, I like it a lot.”
While on his visit, head coach Manny Diaz personally extended an offer to the rising senior will other staff members cheered Hyppolite on in a memorable moment.
“It was a blessing, I was very grateful. I’ve believed in myself, I’ve been patient and it’s finally paid off. I’m glad to receive this offer.
“How it went, I went with my team to the University of Miami, we watched practice. After the practice, I met with coach Diaz in the new facility. I was in a circle with the whole defensive coaching staff and coach Diaz said they were going to offer me. Everybody went crazy and congratulated me. It was an exciting experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Hyppolite was only offered this week, but his connection with Miami’s staff goes back nearly a decade.
“I spoke with them for a couple of months before the offer, but I’ve known coach (Mike) Rumph since I was nine years old.
Coach Rumph isn’t the only connection that Hyppolite has to Miami. He also played with sophomore defensive tackle Nesta Silvera for a couple of years.
“Yes, I played with Nesta his junior and senior year at Heritage. He told me to make that move, and he wants me to make the crib great with him. He’s family.”
Another Miami connection at American Heritage is 5-star 2021 safety James Williams.
“James was my teammate last year, and that’s family as well. He told me to come play with him and come be great at the U.”
It’s those long-term relationships and much more that has Hyppolite’s interest in Miami high up.
“My interest is very high, they’ll definitely be in my top list when it comes out this summer. Miami will definitely be a factor in where I go to school.
“It’s home. Playing in front of the home crowd, there’s nothing like it. Just having family come each and every game, it’s priceless. It’s a moment that’s hard to pass up. The culture and the tradition at Miami is great, and hopefully I can be a part of that when the time comes to make a decision.”
In his junior season at American Heritage, Hyppolite racked up 68 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks, and 1 INT on his way to making first team All-Broward. Although American Heritage fell to Cardinal Gibbons in the third round of the playoffs, Hyppolite feels he gave it his all in 2018 and that’s what is most important.
“My junior season went very well, I feel like I stood out a lot, especially to different colleges and coaches. We didn’t end up with a state championship like we aspired to, but at the end of the day it’s all about giving your best effort and putting your best foot forward. So I felt like I gave it all I had in my junior year. But senior year is going to be a thousand times better and I can’t wait to show it to the public.”
Heading into the 2019 season, Hyppolite is no longer at American Heritage; he recently decided to transfer to McArthur for his final year of high school ball.
“I left American Heritage because McArthur gave me the opportunity to graduate high school early, and early enroll college. It’s been great. I’m loving it.”
One of Heritage’s starting defensive ends got hurt early in the season and the coaches ended up relying on Hyppolite to play a lot of DE in 2018 due to the lack of depth at the spot. Hyppolite points to that type of versatility as a hallmark of his game, as well as his top-notch speed.
“I’m a very versatile linebacker. I can play inside, outside, wherever you need me to be at, I can play that position and I can execute as well. I’ll get the job done no matter what, there’s no limit to my game. I have elite speed, not every linebacker has speed like I do. So I feel like my speed at the linebacker position will allow me dominate on the field at the college level just like I’m doing in high school.”
Despite being right in Miami’s back yard and his relationship with the staff, as well as landing 25 offers from schools like Auburn, Florida State, Penn State, Michigan, and Maryland, the Hurricanes were a little late to offer Hyppolite. However, Hyppolite claims that this will not affect his decision.
“No, it doesn’t. I’ll still consider Miami when it’s time for me to decide where I want to commit.”
What will be some of the main factors for Hyppolite when he is ready to make a commitment?
“The fanbase, the culture, and most importantly, the coaches having my best interests at heart. Just me getting along with everybody and me fitting in. I feel like that’s going to be a deciding factor when it’s time for me to decide on a school.”
Speaking of commitments, Hyppolite is aiming for a summer decision and will use some official visits before he decides on a school. No official visits have been locked down just yet, but Hyppolite does know he will take an unofficial visit to Maryland on the 25th of April. Hyppolite is also trying to make it down to Miami’s scrimmage this Saturday, but his ACT test that same day may prevent him from making the trip.
“I liked the visit a lot. I liked the indoor facility. How it’s set up, it’s very nice. I like the energy they have at practice - I saw I could fit in their style of play, in their scheme. How they run their team, I like it a lot.”
While on his visit, head coach Manny Diaz personally extended an offer to the rising senior will other staff members cheered Hyppolite on in a memorable moment.
“It was a blessing, I was very grateful. I’ve believed in myself, I’ve been patient and it’s finally paid off. I’m glad to receive this offer.
“How it went, I went with my team to the University of Miami, we watched practice. After the practice, I met with coach Diaz in the new facility. I was in a circle with the whole defensive coaching staff and coach Diaz said they were going to offer me. Everybody went crazy and congratulated me. It was an exciting experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Hyppolite was only offered this week, but his connection with Miami’s staff goes back nearly a decade.
“I spoke with them for a couple of months before the offer, but I’ve known coach (Mike) Rumph since I was nine years old.
Coach Rumph isn’t the only connection that Hyppolite has to Miami. He also played with sophomore defensive tackle Nesta Silvera for a couple of years.
“Yes, I played with Nesta his junior and senior year at Heritage. He told me to make that move, and he wants me to make the crib great with him. He’s family.”
Another Miami connection at American Heritage is 5-star 2021 safety James Williams.
“James was my teammate last year, and that’s family as well. He told me to come play with him and come be great at the U.”
It’s those long-term relationships and much more that has Hyppolite’s interest in Miami high up.
“My interest is very high, they’ll definitely be in my top list when it comes out this summer. Miami will definitely be a factor in where I go to school.
“It’s home. Playing in front of the home crowd, there’s nothing like it. Just having family come each and every game, it’s priceless. It’s a moment that’s hard to pass up. The culture and the tradition at Miami is great, and hopefully I can be a part of that when the time comes to make a decision.”
In his junior season at American Heritage, Hyppolite racked up 68 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks, and 1 INT on his way to making first team All-Broward. Although American Heritage fell to Cardinal Gibbons in the third round of the playoffs, Hyppolite feels he gave it his all in 2018 and that’s what is most important.
“My junior season went very well, I feel like I stood out a lot, especially to different colleges and coaches. We didn’t end up with a state championship like we aspired to, but at the end of the day it’s all about giving your best effort and putting your best foot forward. So I felt like I gave it all I had in my junior year. But senior year is going to be a thousand times better and I can’t wait to show it to the public.”
Heading into the 2019 season, Hyppolite is no longer at American Heritage; he recently decided to transfer to McArthur for his final year of high school ball.
“I left American Heritage because McArthur gave me the opportunity to graduate high school early, and early enroll college. It’s been great. I’m loving it.”
One of Heritage’s starting defensive ends got hurt early in the season and the coaches ended up relying on Hyppolite to play a lot of DE in 2018 due to the lack of depth at the spot. Hyppolite points to that type of versatility as a hallmark of his game, as well as his top-notch speed.
“I’m a very versatile linebacker. I can play inside, outside, wherever you need me to be at, I can play that position and I can execute as well. I’ll get the job done no matter what, there’s no limit to my game. I have elite speed, not every linebacker has speed like I do. So I feel like my speed at the linebacker position will allow me dominate on the field at the college level just like I’m doing in high school.”
Despite being right in Miami’s back yard and his relationship with the staff, as well as landing 25 offers from schools like Auburn, Florida State, Penn State, Michigan, and Maryland, the Hurricanes were a little late to offer Hyppolite. However, Hyppolite claims that this will not affect his decision.
“No, it doesn’t. I’ll still consider Miami when it’s time for me to decide where I want to commit.”
What will be some of the main factors for Hyppolite when he is ready to make a commitment?
“The fanbase, the culture, and most importantly, the coaches having my best interests at heart. Just me getting along with everybody and me fitting in. I feel like that’s going to be a deciding factor when it’s time for me to decide on a school.”
Speaking of commitments, Hyppolite is aiming for a summer decision and will use some official visits before he decides on a school. No official visits have been locked down just yet, but Hyppolite does know he will take an unofficial visit to Maryland on the 25th of April. Hyppolite is also trying to make it down to Miami’s scrimmage this Saturday, but his ACT test that same day may prevent him from making the trip.
