Calling My Shot: Miami Will Finish With a Top 3 Defensive Line Class in 2024

Miami went all out prioritizing offensive line recruiting in the 2023 class and it paid off in a massive way. Arguably, the Canes landed the top offensive line class in the country, led by two five-star tackles Samson Okunlola and Francis Mauigoa. Miami rounded out their high school offensive line class with Tommy Kinsler, Frankie Tinalau and Antonio Tripp. The Canes then hit the portal and landed Javion Cohen and Matt Lee, two of the top available linemen on the market.

The Canes will need to retool their defensive line in a major way with this 2024 recruiting class and will attack that position similar to how they did the offensive side of the trenches during the last cycle. Mario Cristobal took over a Miami team that was undersized and outmatched on both lines and is doing everything in his power to change that quickly. Nearly every player the Canes are after is 6’4+ and has elite physical traits. 

The Canes’ staff, led by head coach Mario Cristobal and defensive line coach Jason Taylor, has Miami at or near the top of the list for many blue-chip defensive linemen. The more I talk to people around the program about these top defensive line prospects, the more firmly I believe that that Canes will land at least two five-star defensive lineman and end up with one of the best D-line classes in the nation. 

Miami is front and center in the recruitments of five-star defensive linemen Kamarion Franklin, David Stone, Justin Scott and Aydin Breland. The Canes have also positioned themselves very well for multiple high four-star prospects. Ernest Willow, Jayden Jackson, TA Cunningham and current commit Daylen Russell are all high-level prospects that the Miami staff has done a terrific job of recruiting and building relationships with.

Many of these players have already been on campus multiple times or have plans to visit Coral Gables in the near future. TA Cunningham transferred to Miami Central and has been on campus throughout the summer and five-star Kamarion Franklin decided to make a return trip to UM for the Legends Camp shortly after his official visit. Justin Scott, Jayden Jackson and David Stone have all taken recent official visits as well.

The relationships that this staff has built with these players can’t be overstated and they’ve shown these linemen that they are a top priority. Jason Taylor’s presence as the defensive line coach has made a big impact on these recruitments as well. Not many schools have an NFL Hall of Famer coaching the position that they played at the highest level. In addition to his NFL success, Taylor is incredibly personable and is adored by recruits and their parents. WHEN Miami lands a top 3 defensive line class in 2024, Jason Taylor will be a big reason why.

Mario Cristobal is setting up this program for long term success with the way he’s building this roster in the trenches. Following the 2023 offensive line class with a monstrous 2024 defensive line class that the Canes are building will have them physically dominating anyone lined up across from them for years. Combining top size and talent, with the coaching of Alex Mirabal and Jason Taylor, is a scary thought for future Miami opponents.