10 key targets who could land the Hurricanes’ 2023 class in the top 10 – The Athletic

Mario Cristobal isn’t one of those coaches who shrugs off what the recruiting rankings say. It matters to him.

Finishing 15th in the 247Sports Composite team rankings the last cycle — even in a transition year — was like a gut punch to his soul. It’s why Miami’s coach was quick to point out on local radio earlier this month that the Hurricanes finished seventh “in overall quality” (average rating) per recruit.

In fairness, judging recruiting classes in the era of the transfer portal is different from how it used to be. The traditional ranking systems used by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports only take into account high school recruits (247Sports began ranking classes with transfers this month).

So it’s only natural the teams who sign more high school recruits than transfers score more points in those standings. In the last cycle, Miami only signed 14 high school recruits, tied for the fewest among teams ranked in the top 50 of the 247Sports Composite. Every team ranked in the top 10 signed at least 20.

As far as 2023 is concerned, it’s anyone’s guess how many the Hurricanes will have room to sign. With the recent addition of ex-West Virginia starting cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. through the transfer portal, the Hurricanes are on pace to be three scholarships over the 85-man limit after eight more high school recruits arrive this summer and fall.

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