Miami has landed in the middle of a major recruiting fight for one of the country’s top young wide receivers.
Four-star receiver Malachi Lee trimmed his list to 12 schools, and Miami made the cut for the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Class of 2028 prospect from Virginia. Lee is viewed as one of the premier players in the cycle, sitting at No. 49 nationally and No. 8 among receivers in the Rivals300.
He is also ranked as Virginia’s top player in that ranking. The 247Sports Composite has him at No. 40 overall and No. 8 at his position, while ESPN lists him No. 50 in its Junior 300.
Lee’s final 12 includes Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Nebraska, USC, Texas A&M, Rutgers, Miami, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Florida and Arizona State.
He made his mark at Westfield High School in Chantilly, not far from Centreville. During his sophomore season in 2025, he hauled in 69 catches for 978 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He also contributed on defense, where he intercepted seven passes. This offseason, Lee moved to Loudoun Sports Academy in Leesburg, where he’ll play his junior year.
For Miami, the path won’t be simple. Lee is the highest-rated receiver in Virginia’s 2028 class, and the only ACC schools still in the mix are Miami and Virginia Tech. The Hokies are also a difficult opponent on the recruiting trail after James Franklin arrived there following his firing from Penn State and quickly flipped what felt like their entire class.
That surge has changed the feel of the chase, but it also makes this the moment for Miami to push. With Virginia Tech’s momentum building, the Hurricanes have a chance to make a statement if they can pull one of the state’s best prospects away.
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Miami Is In A Recruiting Fight Fans Will Want To Watch
Mario Cristobals staff is already deep into the kind of early recruiting battle that can shape a class long before signing day arrives, and Virginia prospect Lee is right in the middle of it. The 2028 four-star from Loudoun Sports Academy is drawing attention as a true two-way athlete, with the kind of versatility that shows up at receiver, on defense and in the return game. Miami has made a habit of getting in early on players with that sort of upside, and the Hurricanes are trying to keep building on the momentum they have created with the 2028 class.
For Miami, the appeal is obvious. Lees ability to help in more than one spot makes him the sort of prospect staffs keep circling back to, especially when multiple major programs are involved. The Hurricanes already have two verbal commits in the cycle, but the bigger question is whether they can turn that early progress into a stronger foothold with a player whose recruitment should stay active for a while. [Read more 🡒]