The minute the NCAA ‘Contact Period’ opens up on Jan. 14, Miami will host a trio of official visitors from the West Coast who were at one point committed to Oregon.
Puyallup (Wash.) four-star offensive lineman
Dave Iuli will be one with San Diego (Cali.) Lincoln Top247 cornerback
Jahlil Florence and San Diego (Cali.) St. Augustine Top247 defensive lineman
Gracen Halton joining him.
Iuli committed to
Alex Mirabal and
Mario Cristobal and they are why the Hurricanes are in a good spot heading into the New Year.
“Miami is a top priority for me and you know it’s because of that staff that they got going on,” Iuli told InsideTheU over the phone Tuesday morning. “I ain’t going to sit here and lie to you. Miami is a top school for me right now and it’s because Coach Mirabal and Coach Cristobal, we’ve been keeping that close contact. At the same time, I’m still open to schools and stuff like that, but for sure Miami is up there because I already know the coaching staff, I already built that bond. I know what Coach Mirabal is about. I know what Coach Cristobal is about.
“Honestly, I’m getting hella hate for it and people say, ‘Don’t chase the coach, chase the school,’ but personally for me,
I know what a national championship coach is like. It’s more than that, you just got to read more than the coach. Miami is tops for me for sure.”
The Hurricanes will be the only school to get the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder on campus in an official capacity before he makes a decision. Oregon and USC will likely get unofficial visits from Iuli following the Polynesian Bowl the weekend of Jan. 22. Iuli has been talking with Florence and Holton about the trip. “We got a little group chat. I was like “What are y’all finna do?’ and stuff like that,’ Iuli said. “They’re like, ‘We going to take this visit and were going to see what it’s about.’ That’s all there is to it. We were just discussing the visit and how we are going to be, how they feeling about their recruitment right now. We kind of all in the same spot right now. After Jahlil decommitted, that kind of forced me and the other boys to almost decommit as well.
“We all close. I don’t think people understand how close that Oregon class was. When Jahlil decommitted, a bunch of the other boys did as well. We’ve definitely discussed it, coming down to Miami and figuring it out and trying to see where it goes.”
Playing his college football on the opposite corner of the country isn’t something that is hurting Miami with the blue-chip lineman.
“I’m more like I’m ready to get down to business type of dude. Wherever it’s at, whatever we got going on in football, I’m ready to bust a move and get to work. Overall, I know Florida is going to be a new place. It’s going to be new lifestyle, but if other people can get used to it, then Iuli can get used to it. We’re going to go check it out and see how it goes,” Iuli said.
The plan right now is for Iuli to sign in February after the Polynesian Bowl and trips to Los Angeles and Eugene. It will be interesting to see if Florida is able to squeeze Iuli on campus between everything.
“The Gators looking at me right now. The Gators are thinking of having me out there, so that’s another one. But we will get that one situated and figured out.”
Iuli is considered the No. 191 overall player and No. 13 interior offensive lineman in the country, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
