South Florida Linebacker/Athlete Prospects to Watch for Miami

The core of the current class for Miami is full of South Florida products, as nearly half of the 16 commits are from Broward or Miami-Dade County.

On top of that local focus for this cycle, Miami has already noticed several young South Florida stars in the 2025, 2026, and even 2027 classes.

Here are the local underclassmen skill position defender targets and prospects to watch heading into the 2023 season.

The linebacker talent has improved recently in South Florida. Miami has taken Wesley Bissainthe, Bobby Washington, and now Vincent Shavers in the last three classes, proving that Miami is sifting through the local schools for second-level talent.

- Two of those takes Bissainthe and Shavers, hail from Miami Central. Three-star 2025 linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin and 2026 prospect Karon Maycock are near clones of their two predecessors.

Marcelin earned an offer from Miami as a freshman and has had the Hurricanes near the top of his favorites since. He will end up a four-year starter with over 20 offers to his name and potentially four state championships by the time he graduates - similar to Rueben Bain. If he can continue to add size (he gained 15 pounds in 2023), he could be the next great Rocket linebacker in Coral Gables.

Maycock is maybe the freakiest athlete defensively in the South Florida 2026 class. He is already 6'2" and runs like a safety. His game resembles Louisville signee Stanquan Clark in a lot of ways.

Physical at the point of contact, fly to the football, safety experience. He hits all the qualities of an elite outside linebacker prospect. After starting as a freshman and shining in a new role at Will linebacker this spring, Miami finally offered. He also has interest from the Cardinals and Florida State.

- If height is not a factor, Columbus 2025 stud Hector Chavez could be in the conversation as a top-five player at the position nationally. He was the centerpiece for a Columbus state title run last season, collecting over 100 tackles.

Coaches in the program called him the best player on the team - a significant statement with several other top prospects on the squad, including 2024 Miami commit Daylen Russell. Miami was the first to offer Chavez during the 2022 season.

- Davie Western has two of the top 25 outside linebacker prospects in the 2025 class. Both stand 6'1" or taller and have been documented squatting over 450 pounds before their junior year.

Jacob Joseph has played more of a role as a pass rusher and has picked up offers from West Virginia, Texas A&M, Louisville, and Pittsburgh after earning second-team All-County honors.

He is listed at a taller 6'3" and is set to play as a rush outside backer in a 3-4 scheme for the Wildcats. Joseph is a potential double-digit sack producer who will also gain some coverage experience.

Julian Mendez is a shredded-up 6'1" 195-pound linebacker with a potential 4.6 speed. That mix of size and speed has put him in a position to play a nickel/strong-side outside backer role this year. He is expected to be able to cover slots while maintaining an overhang role in the run game.

He was in the conversation for team MVP last season, moving everywhere from defensive end to inside linebacker to strong safety. West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and more have noticed that versatility.

Miami Norland has two underrated but intriguing athletes in the 2025 class.

The 6'2", 187-pound Jade Card likely projects as a big wide receiver but has also shown potential as an edge rusher during his time at South Broward in his freshman and sophomore seasons.

He is expected to play an outside role for a Norland offense that threw for nearly 3000 yards last season with top-ten dual-threat passer Ennio Yapoor. Card has shown significant potential as a vertical threat on his new squad and has picked up interest from Miami, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Florida State. Miami may have the upper hand with three on-campus visits since February.

Jahmari Smith is a wide receiver-cornerback combo prospect with Power Five potential on either side of the ball. As a receiver for Jackson last season, he had over 500 yards and six touchdowns while also picking off two passes as a defensive back.

He is smooth as a route runner and patient in coverage. Georgia Tech took notice of his coverage chops and offered at a summer camp. He also has several 'Group of Five' offers under his belt but should be a player that earns significant interest with a good 2023 campaign.

Length and ball skills are the name of the game for Miami 2026 prospects Jordan Campbell and Darryl 'Tre' Bell III.

Campbell holds eight offers, including Miami, which came in a camp setting at the end of last month. He was a nearly 30-sack producer as an edge rusher in the previous two seasons but has wholly transitioned to wide receiver and safety heading into his sophomore year. He has the length (6'2") and physicality from his time as a trench defender to be a potent outside receiver threat.

Bell III is another two-way player who had an All-American-worthy freshman year. On offense, he contributed with 130 yards and two scores, but he shined as a safety, producing 56 tackles, five fumble recoveries, seven forced fumbles, and a blocked kick.

He fits the mold physically for next-level safety at 6'1" and 180 pounds. He will have strong production to add to it as the show's star offensively and defensively for Miami Barbara Goleman. Florida State and Louisville are the two most significant programs to offer so far.

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