Mario Cristobal nails another one as elite Orlando linebacker chooses Miami over Gators

Coach Mario Cristobal must be celebrating as he continues to create a storm in recruiting for the Miami Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes landed an elite prospect Wednesday at their most vulnerable position, as Orlando Jones linebacker Malik Bryant — rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 1 linebacker and by the 247.com composite as No. 4 — pledged his commitment to Miami for the Class of 2023.

“It’s already set in stone,’’ Bryant posted on twitter, with a graphic of him throwing up the “U.’’

Bryant, 6-2 and 235 pounds, is the No. 61 player, regardless of position, in the Class of 2023 and the No. 15 player in Florida, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Miami beat out the Florida Gators, Alabama and the USC Trojans to win his commitment. But it was Florida that most analysts believed was UM’s main competition.

After years of uncertainty at linebacker, the Hurricanes appear to have gone a long way in solving their long-term concerns with the commitment of Bryant. The Hurricanes now hold commitments from two of the top 10 linebackers in the class — Raul Aguirre from Whitewater in Fayetteville, Georgia, committed to Miami earlier this month — and both rank higher than any other linebacker the Hurricanes have signed since the Class of 2017.

Bryant might be something closer to a hybrid edge rusher, but he has primarily worked as a stand-up lineacker and his substantial frame means he’s best suited for the position in the Hurricanes’ 4-3 defense.

Bryant spent the past two years at Bradenton IMG Academy and earned All-American honors from MaxPreps in each season while playing linebacker. In January, Bryant announced he would return home for his senior year to play at Jones, where he will once again line up as a linebacker.

Bryant’s pledge adds to Miami’s incredible run of commitments across the last month, despite having offensive lineman Payton Kirkland commit Saturday night to Texas instead. Another O-lineman, Olaus Alinen, from Finland, picked Alabama over Miami and several other schools Friday. UM also was beaten out by Georgia for four-star safety Joenel Aguero on Saturday, but most projected the Bulldogs would get him.

The Hurricanes’ eight new blue-chip additions in the last month — quarterback Jaden Rashada, wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph, tight end Riley Williams, tackle Francis Mauigoa, edge rusher Jayden Wayne, linebacker Raul Aguirre, athlete Robert Stafford and now Bryant— are eight of the 10 highest-ranked prospects in their 2023 recruiting class.

Before Rashada kicked off the run during the final weekend of June, Miami’s 2023 class ranked 44th in the nation. As of 7 p.m. Wednesday after Bryant’s UM commitment, the Canes, now with 15 commits, were ranked 10th in the Rivals team rankings, No. 8 by 247Sports and No. 5 by On3.com.