The Bank (6/11)

Miami's priority list is coming together as the staff gets ready for a major push.

- WR Vernell Brown (Orlando) has been on campus all day and is having a very good visit. He is as high as it can get on the board. WR Jaime Ffrench (Jacksonville) was delayed by weather but will be arriving today.

- Miami feels it made a major move for DT Elijah Griffin (Savannah) on his visit. They are in the fight and he is an extreme priority. It should be noted that Griffin is close friends with fellow Savannah natives DE Herbert Scroggins (who the staff loves) and DT Walter Mathis, who visited last week. Mathis was crystal balled to Miami by 247's Anna Adams and there is real smoke there. Mathis is closer to 6' than 6'3, but he's extremely twitched up and coveted by top DL factories like Clemson, LSU and Auburn.

- Miami is also right in the mix for OG Cortez Smith (Atlanta), who announces on July 20th. If the Canes can survive his Georgia OV, they have a very good shot. They would love to land 2 of the following 3 on the interior: Smith, SJ Alofaituli (Las Vegas) and Spike Sowells (Louisville).

- While LB Jadon Perlotte (Buford, GA) was saying all the right things when moved his OV, it looks like the Canes are fading in that recruitment.

- Miami remains in strong position for LB Gavin Nix (IMG), a Top 100 player nationally. Former NFL stars who have interacted with him rave about his leadership.

- The staff was very impressed with WR Dalyn Upshaw (Phenix City, AL) on his visit. He is on the priority list right next to some big names.

- Two names with a lot of juice right now: DL Derry Norris (Spruce Creek, FL) and OT Jaden Wilkerson (Orlando). I'm told Norris has grown an inch since the last time Miami measured him a few months ago.

- DE Iose Epenesa (St. Louis), like Griffin, is a major priority target. Full-court press there.

- While the board is always fluid, I don't expect a second running back at this time.

- It's early and all the usual disclaimers apply, but the summer arrivals have Miami giddy about the 2024 class. They feel that every successive class has gotten better from a competitive-character standpoint, and they're very far ahead of where they were upon arrival in that category.

Along with RB Jordan Lyle, who has been the talk of the town, some names mentioned to me were CB OJ Frederique ("big, fast, talented"), CB Ryan Mack ("High IQ"), DEs Booker Pickett and Elias Rudolph ("run like deers") and DT Justin Scott. Frederique, in particular, was identified as someone who may be able to help this year. DT Artavius Jones is nicked up but has already made a good impression with his physical ability.

- A few names that were already on campus who are making noise: DT Josh Horton (healthy and up to 307 pounds), DT Armondo Blount (growing into a DT) and WR Ny Carr (competing with all the top dogs in conditioning).