Miami Hurricanes football coach Mario Cristobal’s staff has been in the dark when it comes to recruiting top talent, but this time they fell short. John Mateer, a highly touted dual-threat quarterback from Oklahoma, was a prime target, but he ultimately chose another program.
Mateer, a 6’1″ and 220-pound quarterback from Little Elm High School in Texas, was one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks last season, passing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores. However, he will not be donning the Hurricanes’ red and gold.
Despite missing out on Mateer, Miami is not worried. They have a solid backup in Emory Williams, who has waited patiently to show his skills. While Williams won’t be the savior of the program like former quarterback Deion Ward, he can lead the team with good decision-making and ball security. The Hurricanes also boast a stout running game and receiving core, making up for any potential shortcomings.
New recruit Luke Nickel, a 4-star signal caller from Georgia State, is another promising prospect. He dominated in the recent championship game, throwing for over 400 yards and four touchdowns while completing 95% of his passes.
This season will be a rebuilding year for Miami, but with the early enrollment period approaching and transfer portal players searching for new homes, the Hurricanes are shifting their focus back to finding a new quarterback. With time running out, they must identify their next top talent if they hope to remain a threat in the ACC.
Source: https://www.si.com/college/miami/football/miami-whiffs-out-of-the-john-mateer-sweepstakes-now-focuses-their-attention-home-01jf84mxpzwm