Four-Star Linebacker Adarius Hayes Flips from Florida to Miami

If there is one thing Hurricane fans have learned about the way Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff handle certain recruiting situations, sometimes working in silence is better than making a ton of noise, and that’s exactly what happened on Early Signing Day. Largo High School (Fla.) four-star linebacker Adarius Hayes flipped his long-standing commitment from the Florida Gators to the Hurricanes, marking a recruiting victory won mostly in the shadows.

With persistence and hard work, the orange and green achieved this feat after bringing Hayes in for multiple visits to campus throughout the spring and summer months. Even some game day visits during the 2023 season were not made known to the general population, outside of one, and securing the final official visit the last weekend before early signing day caught Billy Napier and the Florida Gators football program and coaches by surprise.

What sold Hayes on flipping his commitment to Miami this afternoon? Miami linebackers coach Derek Nicholson played a crucial role in the recruiting efforts, working with Hayes, his family, and even his head coach at Largo High School throughout the process. They drove home the fact that Miami was the destination for Hayes. Mario Cristobal and his staff never gave up, despite Hayes claiming on social media that his recruitment was shut down to the Gators.

Miami’s defensive scheme, led by defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, combined with the impressive production of its linebacker unit during the 2023 season, was all Hayes needed to see to change his mind in the end. Not only is it a huge coup for Miami to secure the signature of the 6-foot-4 linebacker, who was at the top of their recruiting board at the position this recruiting cycle, but it’s also a massive victory over an in-state rival in Florida.

Hayes will arrive at Miami having produced 389 tackles and 38 tackles throughout his high school career, establishing himself as a presence that must be accounted for as a pass rusher from the linebacker position for opposing defenses.