Miami football in good position as finalist for 4-star RB Cedric Baxter

The Miami football program is in a good position with four-star 2023 running back Cedric Baxter after he named the Hurricanes one of his five finalists on Saturday. Arkansas, Florida, Texas and Texas A&M are the other four finalists for the Orlando Edgewater star. Miami does not have a commitment from a RB for 2023.

The recruitment of Baxter is competitive. Six programs have at least a 7.8 percent chance of gaining a committment from Baxter according to On3.Com. There is not currently a crystal ball for Baxter from 247 Sports. Baxter is the 36th player, third RB and ninth in Florida in the Class of 2023.

The hiring of Mario Cristobal as head coach and his staff is changing the culture of the Miami football program. Cristobal wants a tougher more physical culture throughout the program. That culture should attract defensive and offensive linemen and RBs. Miami will thrive for a more balanced offense in 2022.

Miami currently holds the 22nd ranked 2023 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Four of the five Miami commits are from Florida. Miami has one athlete, one linebacker, two OL and one wide receiver for 2023. Baxter spoke to Hayes Fawcett of On3 about his recruitment with Miami.

“Coach Cristobal is an O-line coach, which means he’s going to run the ball…Miami’s whole approach is to run the ball and I saw that with the spring game. Coach Kevin Smith has played at the highest level and has done it and was good at it. He’s a real dude and you can tell he wants what’s best for me.”

Fawcett quoted Baxter as saying he grew up a Florida State fan and that former Seminoles and current Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher is a “offensive brainiac.”  Baxter likes that Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman was also an OL coach and the genuineness of the Florida staff. There is no indictation when Baxter will commit.

Miami could potentially return all of their RBs in 2023. Don Chaney Jr., Jaylan Knighton and Henry Parrish will all be eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft. Miami has 2021 signee Thad Franklin and incoming freshman Tre’Vonte Citizen provide the Miami RB room a good foundation for at least the next two years.