The Miami football program flipped three-star edge rusher Cole McConathy from Louisville three days before they host the Cardinals on Saturday. McConathy is the fourth-edged rusher committed to the 2023 Miami class. Miami previously received commitments from Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett Jr. and Elijah Rudolph.
McConathy is the 1,085th-ranked prospect, 74th edge rusher and 44th player in Alabama in the 2024 Class. The flip from Louisville to Miami on Wednesday by McConathy occurred on the same day the Hurricanes offered him a scholarship per 247 Sports. McConathy took official visits to Louisville, Missouri and Virginia in June.
McConathy has 102 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, five passes defended, four forced fumbles and three blocked field goals for Spanish Fort High School in Alabama this season per Max Preps. McConathy originally committed to Louisville in July. Miami gains good size with McConathy at 6’5 and 230 pounds.
The 2024 Miami class remains 11th with the commitment from McConathy. Miami is 2.06 points behind Texas A&M. McConathy is the 26th commitment to the 2024 Miami class. McConathy joins four-star prospects, linebacker Cameron Pruitt and running back Kevin Riley as 2024 Miami commits from Alabama.
The ability to work with Miami defensive line coaches Joe Salave’a and Jason Taylor was a big reason that McConathy flipped to the Hurricanes per Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U. Taylor is currently the seventh-ranked recruiter in the ACC. There is no primary recruiter listed for McConathy.
Building depth on the defensive line has become critical for the Miami football program. Miami lost starters Nyjalik Kelly and Akheem Mesidor for the rest of the 2023 season. The Hurricanes will have a deep and talented group of edge rushers in 2024 built primarily from the last three signing classes.
Branson Deen and Jacob Lichtenstein are the only Miami defensive linemen without eligibility after the 2023 season. Miami could lose some DL to the NFL Draft and others to the transfer portal following the 2023 season. Expect the Hurricanes to add more DL through the transfer portal for 2024.