On3 scout breaks down rankings jump for major Miami targets
More than two dozen Miami 2025 recruiting targets were ranked in the latest On300 update, but a handful of recruits the Hurricanes are in particularly good standing with made significant jumps Monday morning.
Four-star running back Deandre Desinor (American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.), linebacker Tarvos “TJ” Alford (Vero Beach HS, Vero Beach, Fla.) and linebacker Elijah Melendez (Osceola HS, Kissimmee, Fla.) all climbed into the top 60 in Monday’s update, marking a jump of more than 20 spots for all three prospects as the trio solidified their positions as blue-chip prospects. Miami also now holds the No. 6 2025 recruiting class with its three commits.
On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire broke down what he’s seen from the three major Miami targets to warrant such significant jumps.
4-star LB Tarvos Alford | No. 47
Bellaire: “Alford was someone that we were able to see in person at the UA Future 50 camp and he was extremely impressive in that setting. From a frame perspective, he has the build to carry more weight. Plus, he has absurd length with a nearly 6-foot-10 wingspan. With our last update on the 2025’s being in May, being able to see him move around and check the box in terms of his ability to play in space was also huge in his evaluation. Off the film from his junior season, he’s been able to show that he’s still a monster in between the hashes. He plays downhill, he closes to the football quickly and he’s not afraid of contact. Ideally we’d like to see some improvement in his top end speed, but he’s got tremendous upside and a high floor.”
The latest intel: Miami’s recent losses haven’t decimated their chances with Alford, who has valued his close relationship with linebackers coach Derek Nicholson above a unique, flukey loss to Georgia Tech and a road loss at No. 12 North Carolina. Florida has also been a major player in Alford’s recruitment, but Miami has managed to consistently get him back to campus. Expect to see him back on campus again this spring, if not sooner.
4-star LB Elijah Melendez | No. 50
Bellaire: “Melendez is someone that can hop off the bus and step in between the hashes right now for a college program. He’s nearly 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and can get sideline to sideline with ease. He’s an explosive player on contact and isn’t afraid of physicality. In space, you see a bit of hip stiffness that limits him in the open field, but he’s more than functional in the passing game. Need to see more from him in space and in coverage, but he’s a menace as a run stopper that can fill an immediate role for almost any program in college football the second he shows up on campus.”
The latest intel: We’ve been hearing Melendez’s name for awhile, but Miam has ramped up communication with the four-star recruit since the start of August and brought him to campus twice this fall. Miami is high on Melendez’s radar and has only improved its position since the start of the fall, and we think there’s a strong chance he becomes a name Miami fans start to hear once the 2025 cycle steps into the spotlight.
4-star RB Deandre Desinor | No. 51
Bellaire: “Desinor is one of the most explosive backs in the 2025 cycle. Is he a bit smaller in stature than you’d like? Sure. But if you are going to be a smaller back you better have wheels, and Desinor has that. He ran nearly 11-flat in the 100m during his sophomore track and field season. He also ran 22.44 in the 200m and jumped over 20 feet in the long jump as a freshman. The athletic profiles is tremendous for someone his age. He’s just over 5-foot-9, 180+ pounds but he’s also on the younger side of the class, not turning 18 until the summer going into his freshman year of college. With that being said, his physical development is behind some of the other backs in the country, but his frame is one that should carry some substantial weight, especially after he gets in a college strength and conditioning/nutrition program. From a football perspective, he’s an excellent returner and that emphasizes just how dominant he is in making defenders miss in tight quarters. He’s shifty and has excellent footwork for the position. And even though he doesn’t have the size to deliver blows consistently, he’s not afraid of contact and finishes runs with physicality and violence. Without a doubt, his best football is ahead of him.”
The latest intel: It’s hard to say Miami is the frontrunner for Desinor, but it’s also hard not to say the Hurricanes aren’t in a tremendous position for the four-star running back. The interest between the two parties is definitely mutual, and we expect Desinor to make more than just a few trips to campus as the 2025 class starts to receive more attention. There’s reason to be optimistic at the moment, although he’s far from Miami’s to lose.
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