Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater Top247 running back
Cedric Baxter Jr. has spoken very highly of his two most recent visits:
a one-day stop at Florida back in January and a
weekend trip out to USC earlier this month. While Baxter continues to speak highly of both the Gators and Trojans, it might be time to throw Miami into the group of legitimate contenders to sign the nation's No. 2-ranked running back per 247Sports.
Baxter was in Coral Gables last last week for two days and left campus raving about the Hurricanes after getting a chance to hang out with Mario Cristobal and the rest of the coaching staff.
"It was amazing. I had a great time," Baxter told 247Sports when reached by phone over the weekend. "There's great people there. They showed a lot of love from start to finish.
Baxter has toured Miami a few times in the past, but not since Cristobal took over for Manny Diaz.
"I love Coach Cristobal. First of all, he’s a head coach that’s also an o-line coach. So, that just tells you whats he’s about and that carries weight. And then even though he’s a head coach, you can tell that he really values recruiting. Like, when I was out there at the practice, the first thing he did was come and greet me even though he was in the middle of coaching," Baxter said.
Baxter also seems to really like UM running backs coach Kevin Smith.
"He was real cool. You know, I went into meetings with them and did all that stuff," Baxter said.
Baxter likes how Smith played in the NFL after a productive college career.
"I feel like any running back is going to have a connection with a running back coach that did it, and he did it. He had more yards than any other running back that played in Florida during college," Baxter noted.
Baxter, who has a "561" tattoo on one of his legs, is originally from the West Palm Beach area, which is roughly an hour and a half away from from Miami's campus depending on traffic.
"People always says there’s nothing like home. So, you never know, but I know if I go there, all my uncles and stuff will be real happy. Most of my family is in South Florida," Baxter explained.
Baxter wasn't joined on this visit by his parents, but pointed out that he plans to return with mom and dad at some point down the line.
"I liked Miami before, but me just being down there, watching practice, being in the meetings and being around the players, it definitely felt like one of my best visits," Baxter said.