Hurricanes host ‘inspiring’ Legends Camp for high school prospects

CORAL GABLES — Hundreds of high school football players flocked to Miami’s campus Thursday for the chance to work out in front of Hurricanes coaches at UM’s Legends Camp.

More than two dozen Miami alumni, including Jon Beason, Andre Johnson, Duke Johnson, Bryant McKinnie, Gino Toretta and DJ Williams, were there to help coach them.

“It’s like inspiring because they did it before me,” Cardinal Newman 2025 wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery said. “So now I get to take what they’re saying — because I know they already did it — so I’m taking what they’re saying and adding it to my game.”

Several current Hurricanes players joined the alumni in helping coach during the camp. All-American safety Kamren Kinchens, defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor and linebacker Keontra Smith were among the players helping out at the camp.

Thursday’s camp provided Miami’s staff a key opportunity to evaluate high school prospects, especially underclassmen.

“I think it’s very important because in the NFL, we get an opportunity to go to the combine,” said Alonzo Highsmith, a former Hurricane and UM’s current general manager of football operations. “We get an opportunity to look at players. I can’t give a grade on a player unless I see him live. You always have to see players live. The more good players you get to come to these camps and be part of this and participating, you get an opportunity to get them to move around, see how they catch the football, see how they get off the ball, all those sorts of things. So you get an idea of who that player is.”

The camp comes near the end of a key recruiting month for the Hurricanes. Miami has hosted many 2024 prospects on official visits in June, and the Hurricanes will have more prospects on campus this weekend. UM has already secured commitments this month from three of the four top-rated prospects in its class, running back Kevin Riley, tight end Elija Lofton and linebacker Cameron Pruitt.

“One of the most important things for us at the University of Miami is getting players on campus,” Highsmith said. “June is a huge month in recruiting around the nation, and it’s big for Miami. Miami has a lot to sell in June. There’s a reason why people move to Florida. They want to be in Florida. By being able to showcase the university in June, it gives athletes a better picture of what Miami is.”

For the younger high-school prospects, the camp offers them a chance to get to know the staff and see the campus.

“These recruits are going to want to hear if they’re going to play right away, but they just have to know it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” McKinnie said. “Come here and we can help put you in the right direction. That’s what we have with 358 players that went on and had successful careers in the (NFL). So that’s something that they should know — that we do have a standard here and we’re able to get people to the next level and even graduate, as well.”