What the Miami Hurricanes are getting in their two latest commitments

The Miami Hurricanes continued to make a splash on the recruiting trail this weekend with a pair of verbal commitments.

It started Friday with three-star defensive lineman Mykah Newman, who flipped from NC State to make his pledge with Miami.

And it continued Saturday with the Hurricanes landing Miami Columbus four-star safety Bryce Fitzgerald.

Newton, listed at 6-2 and 255 pounds, enters his senior year at Newberry High in north Florida with 27 career sacks and 45 tackles for loss. As a junior last season, he led Newberry with 13 sacks and was second on the team with 26 tackles for loss while also forcing three fumbles and tallying 62 tackles overall.

247Sports’ scouting report of Newton notes that he “displays good initial quickness and can win with both speed and power. Shifts his weight well while rounding the corner and is frequently in control of his body. Has experience operating out of both a two- and three-point stance and should offer some alignment flexibility at the next level as he’s on the younger side and the body appears to be still maturing. Overall, projects as a potential multi-year contributor at the Power Four level.”

Fitzgerald, meanwhile, is ranked as the No. 12 safety in the class as well as the No. 21 prospect in Florida and No. 130 prospect nationally regardless of position according to the 247Sports composite ranking.

Fitzgerald had a breakout junior season in his first year at Columbus after transferring there from Miami Belen Jesuit. He recorded a staggering 10 interceptions (including five in the playoffs) to help the Explorers win their second consecutive state title. He is also a key contributor off the bench for a loaded three-time state champion Explorers basketball team.

In addition to his stellar defense, Fitzgerald also plays wide receiver. Fitzgerald said understanding how both sides of the defensive back-receiver battle think will only help him in the long run.

“Playing DB, you’ve got to think about what you would do as a receiver,” Fitzgerald said. “Like when they go over 10 yards, you’ve got to eliminate the route. As a receiver, I know the DB is going to put hands on you first, so you’ve got to be physical that way.”

Where Miami Hurricanes’ recruiting class stands

Pledges from Newman and Fitzgerald give Miami 22 commits in its 2025 recruiting class. That ranks No. 5 overall in the country by Rivals, No. 9 by 247Sports and No. 10 by On3.

Of the 22, eight have committed during the past two months. This includes Las Vegas Bishop Gorman four-star offensive lineman Seuseu Alofaituli, Bradenton IMG Academy four-star linebacker Gavin Nix, Jacksonville Mandarin four-star athlete Hylton Stubbs, New Iberia (Louisiana) Westgate four-star cornerback Jaboree Antoine, Phenix City (Alabama) Central three-star wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna three-star defensive lineman Donta Simpson, Newton and Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, five are from Miami-Dade and Broward: Miami Central four-star wide receiver Amari Wallace and three-star linebacker Ezekial Marcelin, Chaminade-Madonna’s Simpson and four-star cornerback Chris Ewald, and Columbus’ Fitzgerald.

Miami Hurricanes recruits in action this weekend

The Florida high school football season officially kicks off this weekend and a slew of UM’s commits will be playing at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas as part of the third-annual Broward Showcase.

It starts Friday, when Plantation American Heritage, which has Class of 2026 wide receiver commit Malachi Toney, faces Georgia powerhouse Milton and UM quarterback commit Luke Nickel. That game kicks off at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, St. Thomas Aquinas hosts Alofaituli and Bishop Gorman, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. That’s the first game of a doubleheader at Aquinas, with the nightcap featuring Chaminade-Madonna (with Simpson and Ewald) facing California’s St. John Bosco.

Elsewhere in South Florida, Fitzgerald and Columbus play Southridge on Thursday, while Wallace, Marcelin and Miami Central host Lakeland at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Traz Powell Stadium.

A loaded first weekend sees South Florida’s best hold its own vs. nation’s best | Opinion