Five-star tackle Samson Okunlola commits to Miami, giving Canes a historic O-line haul
Samson Okunlola is one of the most coveted prospects in the entire Class of 2023, a five-star tackle with scholarship offers from schools all across the country and already built-in branding as the self-proclaimed “Pancake Honcho.” He’s a possible program-changing recruit, with the potential to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and now he’s headed to play for the Miami Hurricanes.
Mario Cristobal did it again. For the second time in the 2023 recruiting cycle, a five-star offensive lineman orally committed to Miami on Thursday, giving the Hurricanes a historic haul at one of the most important positions on the field.
Okunlola announced his commitment to Miami at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, and will sign a national letter of intent with the Hurricanes on Wednesday. Miami beat out the Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan State Spartans to land the 6-foot-5, 305-pound lineman, even after he spent the weekend in Gainesville on an official visit.
With Okunlola and fellow five-star tackle Francis Mauigoa now in the fold, the Hurricanes poised to sign multiple five-star offensive linemen in the same recruiting class for the first time ever, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Mauigoa, an Under Armour All-American for Bradenton IMG Academy, orally committed to Miami back in July and never wavered from his pledge. Okunlola, who will play in the All-American Bowl next month, took his official visit to Coral Gables in June and the Hurricanes emerged as the team to beat in his recruitment, and even a final push from Florida fell short.
Okunlola also plays some defensive tackle and placed in the top 15 of the 285-pound division at the National Prep Wrestling Championships in March.
Back in the summer, Okunlola heaped praise upon Cristobal and his “unique,” hands-on approach as a coach with a focus on the offensive line. Cristobal’s track record as a developer of offensive linemen helped Miami land Okunlola’s commitment, even after the Hurricanes failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2007.
Miami’s 2023 recruiting class now ranks No. 3 in the country and it includes five offensive linemen — Mauigoa, Okunlola, three-star IMG Academy interior lineman Antonio Tripp, three-star Ocala Trinity Catholic interior lineman Tommy Kinsler and three-star LaSalle tackle Frankie Tinilau — and, if they wind up signing with their current rankings, three of the 20 highest ranked commits in program history with Mauigoa, Okunlola and five-star cornerback Cormani McClain.
Okunlola is also the fourth blue-chip recruit — and sixth player overall — to commit to the Hurricanes since their season ended with a blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers in November. Four-star defensive lineman Collins Acheampong flipped from the Michigan Wolverines to Miami last month, four-star Dillard running back Christopher Johnson picked the Hurricanes on Sunday and four-star Miami Central edge rusher Rueben Bain committed to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Miami also landed a commitment from three-star linebacker Marcellius Pulliam on Dec. 3 and flipped three-star defensive lineman Joshua Horton from the North Carolina Tar Heels on Dec. 4. Three-star interior lineman Connor Lew is the only player to decommit since Miami’s season ended.
With 24 players committed and now five top-100 players in the fold, the Hurricanes have a real chance to land a top-five class for the first time since they brought in the top-ranked Class of 2008.
