OL JJ Sparks commits to Canes

[OrangeBowlMagic]

White boys who enjoy hurting people have done pretty well at center here over the years.

And any kid who has started at Bolles for 4 years can’t be bad.

Welcome, JJ.

(We are gonna take a MASSIVE OL class)

 

[CANESCANES]

**** we had to fight off powerhouses like Duke, FAU, FIU, and East Carolina for this kid!!! Welcome!!!

Florida State, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

Basically the entire ACC

 

[TpaBayFlyFisher]

Mario and company get the benefit of the doubt on OL. But, boy there is doubt, lots of doubt.

 

[MumbleRap]

I wonder if all of you would have thought Cam Ward would have turned into a 1 pick coming out of high school. Gotta find talent… sometimes gotta go with those making these evaluations.

Cam Ward the new Ed Reed

 

[MumbleRap]

I ain’t ever questioning Mirabal. Do your thing my short king

 

[CANESCANES]

He's been playing G. I like him better than Merit. Neither are Grant Wise. Welcome to the U JJ.

It’s music to my ears we took him over Miret

 

[305407cane]

At that school when will he flip to the lizards ?

 

[Damiencane86]

 

[DMoney]

Is this guy a center? Says he’s 6-4 but doesn’t look like it to me

Yes.

 

[Kansas Cane]

Canon or the southridge kid just lost their spot

Having watched all three, I’d be okay with that. Neither is significantly better than the other.

 

[Kansas Cane]

He's been playing G. I like him better than Merit. Neither are Grant Wise. Welcome to the U JJ.

That’s where I’m at.

 

[Gables Cane]

 

[DMoney]

Having watched all three, I’d be okay with that. Neither is significantly better than the other.

I don’t think this kid impacts Pickett. Sparks is a center and Pickett is a true guard.

 

[Jaxson Villain]

This is the take over Miret.

 

[skeeter]

Miami secured its center of the future with the commitment of Jacksonville (Bolles) OL JJ Sparks.



The 6’3.5, 300-pounder chose the Canes after visiting Coral Gables this past weekend with his family. He’s previously visited Florida State.

The staff prioritized Sparks after seeing him on the road in January. Coach Mirabal values his nastiness, twitch and IQ at the center position.

Sparks, who has started since his freshman year at the North Florida powerhouse, is a big body who plays with an edge and shows good foot quickness to mirror and in open space.

He joins QB Dereon Coleman, RB Javian Mallory, OL Ben Congdon, OL Joel Ervin, CB Camdin Portis, CB Jaelen Waters, and LB Jordan Campbell in Miami’s 2026 class.

So @DMoney … You haven't mentioned Sparks in the last few "Banks". It was all Miret and then recently Woodrow. Did this take you by surprise? Also, are you surprised at just the overall heavy attention they showed to Miret if they weren't going to take him? I mean they've been recruiting that kid for couple years now.

 

[Jassid82]

A lot of you guys are recruiting vets and should know better. Wasn’t it said on here we would probably take 6-7 OL? They all can’t be 5* kids. We all know Pepe and Cantwell will get the bulk of the OL NIL budget. This is a more than solid take at C. The big board at C really only had 2 kids. Sparks and Merit.

 

[rascon]

How does he compare to SJ? Thought he was the C of the future?
Guessing this is a kid that will be on the 3 year track to start?

Speaking of, this is year 3 for Mario and Mirabels five OL recruits and so far, only 1 has seen regular minutes. Will any of the other 4 show something this year? If not, that would be a 20 percent hit rate.

 

[JHallCanes]

It’s music to my ears we took him over Miret

Agreed that kid is terrible

 

[bdcane4eva]

First.. we're taking a huge OL class.
Second..at least this distracts a few of y'all from anointing the Noles as ACC champs in the tears thread..

 

[BALLHAWKU]

Not going to doubt Mario at this position . He might have a high ceiling that pays off two years down the road . We don’t need every ol or DL to come in be instant impacts . This was the same reaction from fans when we got from Simpson last year . Now coaches are saying he is showing out