Canes add 4th commit for 2022 in CB Graves

Despite the big misses this past week, July is expected to be a big month for Miami on the recruiting trail, and it seems like we got the first taste of it on Friday afternoon.

It's all about THE U for @D1Chris239 🙌🔥

4⭐️ ATH Chris Graves is headed to @CanesFootball 🔥

(via @CBSSportsHQ) pic.twitter.com/6PktAkgfl3

— 247Sports (@247Sports) July 9, 2021

Coaches got great news from 4-star CB Chris Graves out of Bishop Verot (Ft. Myers, FL), who committed to the Canes over LSU, UF, and South Carolina. The 4th commitment in the 2022 class, Graves is ranked as the 288th-best player in the country according the 247Sports’ Composite and the 15th-best athlete.

I’m Home😎 @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/O6B6OCugwA

— Chris “CG1” Graves Jr (@D1Chris239) July 9, 2021

The 6’1″, 175 pound Graves, who doesn’t turn 18 until August 2022, is listed as an athlete because he is a converted wide receiver. Out wide, he totaled 500+ receiving yards as a junior.

But a couple of traits that DB coach Travaris Robinson coveted while recruiting him was his length and his physicality. 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins notes in his scouting report that he’ll likely fit in a system that likes to play a lot of press and/or bump coverage.

Another interesting tidbit that Ivins dropped was that another person who played a big role in bringing Graves to Miami is former South Carolina CB and recent NFL first-round pick Jaycee Horn of the Carolina Panthers.

Horn spoke to Graves Thursday night and convinced him that coach T-Rob could coach and develop him.

It’s no secret that cornerback was a huge position of need for Miami. Especially considering that with a sub-par performance from Miami’s corners in 2020, there was only one freshman newcomer in Malik Curtis, who happened to attend the same high school that Graves hails from.

Miami missed out on 3 big targets in the past week: CB Jacolby Spells (West Virginia), DL Zane Durant (Penn State), and LB Demario Tolan (LSU).

Tolan’s commitment especially hurt because Miami lost this battle to former Canes DC Blake Baker and some Canes fans have gone restless over the lack of excitement on the trail.

ICYMI… Are Canes fans worried about the slow start to recruiting.

We discuss the remaining Canes target that are committing in July.

Plus some more NIL thoughts. Don’t miss it! 🏈🙌🏼✴️✳️ @5ReasonsSports @5ReasonsUTube @TheUTubeNetwork

Watch Here: https://t.co/0ch1eUzU5c

— The Sixth Ring Canes Show on 5 Reasons Sports (@SixthRingCanes) July 9, 2021

But as we talked about on the latest episode of The Sixth Ring, it’s still early to get an idea of what Miami’s class will look like, especially when no games have been played yet.

Miami is still in play for a lot of big fish, including Jaleel Skinner, who is the #1 ranked tight end in the country, and five-star CB Jaheim Singletary, who is currently committed to Ohio State.

Believe me when I say this: if Miami wins games, recruits will take notice and it’ll be hard to ignore.

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