Miami’s hot run on the recruiting trail continued Thursday afternoon with a commitment from another four-star recruit from the Sunshine State.
Robert Stafford, a 5-foot-11, 171-pound two-way athlete with a 6-foot-4 wingspan and 4.45-speed in the 40-yard dash from Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie, chose the Hurricanes over offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky and Oregon.
Ranked No. 163 in the 247Sports Composite Rating, Stafford caught 42 passes for 605 yards and five touchdowns and was credited with 17 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception in the nine games he played in as a junior.
“He’s played receiver his entire career until this past year where he played corner and receiver and special teams for us,” Eau Gallie coach Chris Sands said. “He’s an elite receiver, but as a cornerback, he’s special. He has length, speed, and athleticism that comes from his basketball background. Great kid, great family and all the potential is there to play on Sundays.”
Stafford’s commitment gives Miami 10 pledges in its 2023 class and lifts the Hurricanes in the team rankings from 31st entering the day Thursday to 19th with 177.16 points. He’s the third-highest ranked recruit in Miami’s class behind four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada (No. 45) and receiver Nathaniel Joseph (No. 105).
Miami picked up six commitments in June and enters July as a finalist for a handful of elite recruits set to make announcements.
Three will announce Friday: four-star defensive end Jaxon Howard of Minneapolis, four-star tight end Riley Williams of Portland, Ore. and four-star defensive end Collins Acheampong of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
(Photo: Courtesy of Miami)
What does Stafford’s commitment mean for the Hurricanes?
Manny Navarro, Miami beat writer: Miami signed three cornerbacks in the 2022 cycle and Stafford is the first cornerback commitment in the 2023 class. Although Miami remains in the hunt for the top-ranked cornerback in the nation in Cormani McClain of Lakeland, Fla., sources close to McClain told The Athletic last week following his official visit to Coral Gables the Hurricanes are running second to Alabama. Miami is continuing to pursue four-star Damari Brown of Plantation American Heritage. Brown is the son of former Hurricanes defensive back Selwyn Brown.
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