Strange national signing day for Miami and everyone else, but Canes yield elite 2023 class

It was a strange national signing day from coast to coast, and way down in Miami it was no different.

Other than some transfers who had previously publicly pledged their commitments to the University of Miami, the Hurricanes did not announce the additions of any new players on Wednesday. The day that used to be the most exciting one on the recruiting calendar has now been replaced drama-wise by the first day of the early signing period in December.

The transfers who already are in classes but UM announced Wednesday as officially Hurricanes: Former UCF center Matt Lee; former Purdue defensive tackle Branson Deen; former Oregon tight end Cam McCormick; and former Iowa cornerback Terry Roberts.

Almost all the top players nationally had already signed their scholarship papers and were either attending college classes or preparing to graduate from high school and enter during the spring or summer. Only a handful of high-profile prospects were left to announce their decisions this week.

Entering Wednesday, Coach Mario Cristobal’s already heralded 2023 signing class was in the running, although remotely, for two previously unsigned players — 6-5, 225-pound five-star receiver/tight end Nyckoles Harbor and 6-3, 320-pound three-star defensive tackle Jamel Howard. But Harbor chose South Carolina and Howard picked Wisconsin.

Last month, Cristobal brought in 25 new football players to a 2023 class that was rated as high as No. 3 in the nation in the On3 and ESPN rankings, No. 4 in the 247Sports composite rankings and No. 5 in the Rivals rankings. That represented UM’s highest signing day finish since ESPN rated it No. 1 in 2008 — a class that never lived up to its initial accolades.

As of Wednesday, the Canes were ranked fifth by ESPN, sixth by On3 and seventh by Rivals and 247Sports.

Fifteen of those 25 signed last month have already enrolled in classes and will compete in spring practice that begins March 4 and culminates in the spring game on April 14.

Another player who had formerly committed to the Hurricanes as the nation’s No. 1 cornerback but never signed last month — Cormani McClain— recently flipped his commitment to Colorado. That defection cost the Hurricanes in their overall rankings.

Keep in mind that Wednesday was just the first day of an extended signing period that ends April 1. More transfers could eventually come as well. Either way, Cristobal nailed a signing class that according to 247Sports had four signees, regardless of position, among the nation’s top 100.

Those players: No. 10 Francis Mauigoa (6-5, 330 pounds), the nation’s No. 1 or No. 2 offensive tackle, depending on the recruiting service, out of Bradenton IMG Academy; No. 23 Samson Okunlola (6-5, 305), the No. 4 tackle out of Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts; No. 63 Rueben Bain, a 6-2, 250-pound defensive end out of Miami Central; and No. 81 Jayden Wayne, a 6-5, 245-pound defensive end from IMG Academy.