DONE DEAL: Miami 5-star LB de-commitment after confirming another deal done
The 2025 Miami football recruiting class dropped to 12th in the national 247Sports composite rankings after losing four-star linebacker Elijah Melendez on Saturday. Despite the loss, Miami still holds commitments from five-star linebacker Gavin Nix and three-star linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin in the 2025 class.
For the 2024 season, Francisco Mauigoa is the only senior linebacker on Miami’s roster. Jaylin Alderman, Wesley Bissainthe, and Chase Smith are eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft, with Alderman and Bissainthe expected to be key contributors at linebacker, while Smith has mainly played on special teams.
In June, various reports indicate that Miami hosted around six linebackers for official visits. Marcelin, Melendez, Nix, and Auburn commit Eric Winters were among those who visited, along with Ohio State commit Tarvos Alford and USC commit Jadon Perlotte, as reported by On3.
Melendez is the third player to decommit from Miami’s 2025 class, following three-star wide receiver Waden Charles, now committed to Central Florida, and three-star offensive tackle Lamar Williams, who joined Maryland’s class.
BREAKING: Four-Star LB Elijah Melendez has Decommitted from Miami, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’2 230 LB from Kissimmee, FL had been Committed to the Hurricanes since December
Holds a Total of 40 Offershttps://t.co/6tPmuljkjV pic.twitter.com/XfeztAJbRk
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 31, 2024
Miami has extended offers to seven uncommitted linebackers, excluding Melendez. However, none of these uncommitted linebackers are strongly considering Miami, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. The Hurricanes might aim to add another linebacker to their 2025 class or bring in a transfer linebacker.
In recent years, Miami added Jaylin Alderman as a transfer in 2024 and K.J. Cloyd in 2023, both from Louisville. Alderman, who still has two years of eligibility, could potentially replace Francisco Mauigoa as Miami’s middle linebacker in 2025. Raul Aguirre, Cam Pruitt, and Adarius Hayes are all linebackers with promising futures at Miami.
Gavin Nix, a highly-regarded prospect, could compete for significant playing time as a freshman. Cam Pruitt is also expected to see action as a true freshman in 2025. Wesley Bissainthe, who has eligibility beyond 2024, led the Miami linebackers with four tackles in the season-opening win at Florida on Saturday.