Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

5 Recruits Miami Needs to Land in 2024 to Break Through in the ACC

JoJo Trader, Zaquan Patterson, and other key recruits for Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes

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Nov 12
Nov 12

It wasn’t the ideal start that Mario Cristobal was looking for in year one of his coaching tenure at the University of Miami. The Hurricanes finished last season with a disappointing record of 5-7 after an off-season where it seemed as if things were finally turning around for the Canes. The start to the offseason also wasn’t too friendly to Miami, who would go on to lose 19 players to the transfer portal. 

However, Cristobal seems ready and able to rebuild this program from the ground up. Cristobal, known for his ability to recruit at a high level, brought in a top-10 class in just his first year at Miami. The Hurricanes’ staff will have to continue that success into the 2024 recruiting cycle if they want to ever get to being the respected program they once were.  

Here are five recruits Miami needs to land in 2024 to finally break through in the ACC.

1. Josiah (JoJo) Trader

Wide Receiver

Hollywood, FL (Chaminade-Madonna Prep)

Josiah Trader’s ability to catch the ball in traffic is second to none in the class of 2024. There’s a reason Trader is seen as one of the best receivers in this year’s cycle, and that is because he can come down with anything thrown in his radius, even with defenders draped all over him.

Josiah has great vision for the football, allowing him to track where the ball is going in the air. That, combined with his excellent body control in the air, lets him win most 50/50 balls against almost anyone. Trader’s silky smooth route running allows him to get open whenever he wants, and he is electric once he has the ball in his hands, making him the jack of all trades.

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2. Zaquan Patterson

Linebacker/Safety

Hollywood, FL (Chaminade-Madonna Prep)

Zaquan Patterson is as physical as they come at the safety position. He’s a do-it-all type of player who can line up anywhere. He does really well in coverage by disrupting receivers’ routes and not allowing them to get open on time for quarterbacks. Patterson can also play in the box and brings an aggressive nature that makes it difficult for teams to run the ball against him.

Additionally, he is also a game-changer on special teams; he does a great job of flying down the field on kickoff, getting to the return man before he gets any momentum. You also have to keep an eye on him when punting the football as he has a knack for timing the snap and getting in the backfield resulting in a good amount of blocked punts for him.

3. KingJoseph Edwards

Edge Rusher/Tight End

Hoschton, GA (Mill Creek)

KingJoseph Edwards possesses much more than just the coolest name in the 2024 recruiting class. His long arms and big frame are the perfect size combination you would want to see in a pass rusher. He does a great job of using his size advantage to fight off blocks allowing him to get to the quarterback. 

Edwards also has the speed to blow past blockers giving him another tool in his arsenal for getting to the ball carrier. More than just a pass rusher, Edwards also impacts the game on the other side of the ball at the tight end position. Edwards’ basketball background allows him to go over defenders and come down with the football. His size and athleticism make him the perfect offensive weapon. KingJospeh will only become a more dominant football player as he continues to fill out his massive frame.

4. Air Noland 

Quarterback

Fairburn, GA (Langston Hughes)

The Canes would love to have a quarterback like Air Noland leading the charge for their team. A lefty with impeccable touch on the football, Noland almost always hits his receivers in stride down the field. He is very accurate with the football and has a strong enough arm to zip the ball through windows on crossing routes. 

Noland has the ability to escape the pocket and does an excellent job keeping his eyes down the field. However, his best attribute may be his quick release. There are not many, if any, quarterbacks with a faster release in the class of 2024. His ability to get the ball out fast makes it difficult for pass rushers to get to him and allows him to find his receivers as they get open.

5. Jason Zandamela

Interior Offensive Linemen

Clearwater, FL (Clearwater Academy International)

An absolute bully on the field, Jason Zandamela has all the qualities you want in your center. Zandamela moves bodies anywhere he wants to on the field, making plenty of space for his running backs. He moves really well for his size and gets to the second level quickly on screens to punish linebackers and DBs. 

The 6’3″, 290 lb. Zandamela flashes his ability to pull and kick out even from the center position, which will translate well if he decides to move over to the left or right guard position. Zandamela also does a great job protecting the quarterback in the passing game as well. His strong base allows him to negate bull rushes and not get pushed back into his QB.

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