Back to the recruiting trail for Miami - but this time, there’s reason for optimism.
Four-star wide receiver Jaden Upshaw has narrowed his list of potential college homes down to six, and the Hurricanes are still firmly in the mix. For Mario Cristobal and his staff, that’s a win in itself, especially considering the level of competition they’re up against.
Upshaw - a 6-foot-1, 196-pound playmaker out of Lee County High School in Leesburg, Georgia - has named Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Auburn, and Georgia as his finalists. No commitment date has been announced yet, but the race is heating up.
There’s a family connection here that could give the Hurricanes an edge. Jaden is the younger cousin of current Miami wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw.
While Daylyn hasn’t seen much action on the field in Coral Gables, that bloodline tie could be an important factor as Jaden weighs his options. Relationships matter in recruiting, and having a familiar face already in the locker room never hurts.
Jaden got an up-close look at what Miami has to offer during a visit for the Hurricanes’ 27-6 win over Florida - a game that showcased both the energy around the program and the kind of performance Cristobal wants to build on. Since then, Upshaw’s been making the rounds, including a recent stop at Auburn on January 17 as he continues to evaluate his top schools.
As a prospect, Upshaw checks all the boxes. He’s currently ranked as the No. 79 overall player in the country, the 17th-best wide receiver in his class, and the No. 10 player in talent-rich Georgia. That’s the kind of profile that turns heads in any recruiting office - and clearly, several top-tier programs are taking notice.
Miami’s wide receiver room is still evolving, and adding a player like Upshaw would be a big step toward building out a more dynamic passing attack in the years ahead. His blend of size, speed, and route-running polish makes him a compelling target for any offense looking to stretch the field and create mismatches.
Recruiting battles like this are rarely easy, especially when you're going toe-to-toe with SEC powerhouses and national brands. But Miami’s in the fight - and with ties that go deeper than just football, they’ve got a shot.
One thing’s for sure: the recruiting grind never stops.