The weekend in Coral Gables gave Maui Tonata a closer look at Miami, and the top-ranked Utah prospect came away impressed.
Tonata, a 6-foot-6, consensus top 15 recruit in the Class of 2028, traveled from the Salt Lake State to Miami to watch the No. 3 Hurricanes beat Florida State in dramatic fashion at Hard Rock Stadium. The Orem High offensive lineman said the atmosphere and the way Miami closed out the game stood out most.
"What a great game. Probably one of the best games this year.
Finishing off with Miami winning, they definitely deserved it. It was a great experience."
Tonata also pointed to the way Miami operates under coach {Alex} Miribal and coach {Mario} Cristobal, saying the program always seems to have answers ready.
"They always got a gameplan, you know. They're always able to accomplish it. Coach {Alex} Miribal and Coach {Mario} Cristobal always got something up their sleeves, not only for the offense- but also the offensive line."
Saturday night’s conditions only added to the experience. The rain and mud made it a true line-of-scrimmage game, the kind of setting where power and physicality take over. For Tonata, that made the trip even better.
"They're always doing the little things right. Finishing the block, always looking for the ball and trying to block someone. It was cool seeing an offensive line moving so quick at 300+ pounds."
Miami appears to be firmly in the mix for one of the top offensive tackles in the class, though Tonata also mentioned Brigham Young (BYU) and Oregon as other possibilities.
For now, his focus is straightforward. Tonata said he wants to keep building authentic relationships as his recruitment continues.
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Pittsburghs season has been shaped in part by injuries to its star quarterback, a factor that has affected the Panthers consistency and helped lead to a recent loss at Boston College. For Miami, the challenge is as much about staying sharp as it is about handling a physical opponent, since the Hurricanes have moved into a stretch where every conference game comes with extra scrutiny and the margin for error keeps shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
Miami May Have Turned Rivalry Win Into A Huge Recruiting Boost
The double-overtime win over Florida State did more than just give Miami another rivalry victory to celebrate. It also played out in front of a notable group of recruits, including a pair of five-star prospects from Jacksonville who fit neatly into the Hurricanes long-term in-state pitch and gave the program a chance to show off the atmosphere that comes with a night like that.
Brysen Wright and Asher Ghioto, both members of the 2028 class and among the top-ranked players in Florida, were among the visitors with Miami already drawing buzz in their direction. Wright, who has stood out at Mandarin High School, could even end up moving up a class, which only adds to the intrigue for the Hurricanes as they try to turn a marquee win into momentum on the recruiting trail. [Read more 🡒]