Report: Top WR dismissed by Syracuse Damien Alford

Leading receiver Damien Alford has been cut by Syracuse, according to a Monday report from ESPN. Syracuse.com received confirmation from the school that Alford was no longer a part of the program. According to a school official, Alford will be permitted to complete his studies this term. The dismissal was made without explanation. In November of last year, Fran Brown was appointed head coach of Syracuse. Last season, Alford tied for the team lead with 33 receptions for 610 yards and three receiving touchdowns in 13 games, leading the Orange. In his four seasons at Syracuse, Alford has 67 receptions for 1,291 yards and seven touchdowns.

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Miami’s At Under Armour Orlando, Their Entire Recruiting Campaign

The top prep football recruits from Florida are being recruited by the Hurricanes.

Miami’s recruiting classes for 2025 and 2026 will be shaped by the top Florida talent.

Important recruitment to talk about potential alternatives for Mario Cristobal and the Canes after Sunday’s Under Armour Orlando Camp. The most crucial piece of information is about a more general note before moving on to specific prospects.

Miami is doing a fantastic job at fostering connections. No matter if the prospect is in the class of 2025, 2026, or on the offensive or defensive side, the Canes are forming relationships with them based on the better part of 20 interviews they have had with both recruits and media covering the UA event.

Canes supporters should be aware that the entire Miami team is devoting significant time to recruiting, since it is a marathon rather than a sprint.

The following information on recruits and Miami, along with some observations regarding some of their performances, is presented in no particular order:

Orlando (Fla.) Jones WR Vernell Brown III – 2025

Brown’s explosiveness and exceptional direction-changing abilities are unmatched. His general athleticism and stop-and-start maneuvers are difficult for defensive backs to match. Seeing him run away from certain defensive backs and go after the deep ball needs to be taken into consideration, even though it’s difficult to determine what his strongest characteristic would be based just on the reps versus defensive backs.

Brown hasn’t even been able to reduce his list of potential schools to ten. It’s what he intends to do this spring. Brown acknowledges that he is trying to reduce the number of universities on his short list, although he is considering Miami, Florida, Florida State, Stanford, and Ohio State. Those five initiatives might receive official visits, at least a handful of them.

Don’t discount the Cardinal when it comes to recruiting Brown since he is a top student. All things considered, the recruitment of this elite receiver is far from over.

Juan Berchal, CB, Seminole – Sanford, Florida – 2025

During the one-on-ones, three interceptions jumped out, and the trifecta is unusual.

Although Berchal did a fantastic job and his name is probably starting to go around among college coaches, he’s not currently offered by Miami or many of the other colleges college football fans frequently talk about.

He’s got Georgia Tech, Liberty, Tulane, UCF, Illinois, and Iowa State.

Mandarin – 2025 Hylton “Drake” Stubbs, Safety, Jacksonville (Fla.)

Still a long way to go before Stubbs is hired. He’s thinking about a number of institutions, including Florida, the Canes, Florida State (his brother, Harold Stubbs IV, plays for FSU), and numerous others around the nation. This may turn into an intrastate competition for the gifted safety recruit.

One’s assessment of Stubbs, who stood out with two interceptions against Monarch High School in the Florida State Playoffs last season, is only strengthened by the way he is continuing to add lean muscle mass to his frame.

A wonderful young man who has been extended an official invitation to attend the Under Armour game.

Lamar Williams, Offensive Line, Gadsden County, Tallahassee, Florida – 2025 – Miami Dedication

Williams is an offensive tackle with lengthy arms. When you see him in one-on-ones, you can see why so many college football programs chased him. To be honest, the general framework cannot be taught.

Since Williams is still a raw talent, it will be interesting to watch how he progresses under Miami’s Alex Mirabal, one of the most renowned offensive line coaches in college football. Correct tackle? Left-handed tackle? Guard?

Based on his coaching record at previous places like Oregon, Mirabal thrives with this kind of young man. He’ll choose what’s best for Williams going forward. Williams seemed happy in Miami, but he will probably still make a few trips there. 

Ziyare Addison, Offensive Line, Sumner, Riverview, Florida, 2025

The recruiting process for Addison has accelerated. He might sign with Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, Florida State, Florida, and numerous other schools.

There are plans to visit Tuscaloosa in the near future, among other places. Addison has a chance to secure an official visit and has Miami on his shortlist. There is still a very long way to go with this major talent and his hiring.

Observing him compete against elite defensive prospects, Addison was a standout athlete at Under Armour. He moves smoothly and weighs a good 280 pounds. At the Power 4 level, Addison should play left tackle in the end.

Solomon Thomas, Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines, Offensive Line – 2025 – FSU Dedication

elite strength. That concludes the introduction to Thomas. The general build resembles that of a college redshirt freshman. Thomas looks fantastic in the role. At the contest, he prevented one defensive tackle from ever leaving the line of scrimmage. That’s the extreme rarity.

Thomas claims to be a future member of the guard. He enjoyed getting as many one-on-one reps as he could, which is fantastic for his future, and his personality matches that idea nicely.

Regarding his hiring, FSU is unquestionably the squad to contend with. He has a special bond with head coach Mike Norvell, and he truly likes him. He is still being pursued by UF and UM in addition to a number of other programs in the South and abroad.

Thomas is probably going to make official visits this summer. It will be a challenge for the Noles to retain him in their recruiting class.

Max Buchanon, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole, Offensive Line – 2025

Several universities, including Clemson, UCF, Florida State, Miami, and others, are vying for this outstanding talent. Before summer ends, he wants to finish his recruitment. Seek him to remain nearer to his hometown, if not farther south.

Buchanon possesses the quick feet, anticipation, and tenacity to play at either guard or center position at the collegiate level.

Buchanon has the disposition to lead his college team as a captain someday and he is a huge football fan.

Jabari Brady, WR, Chaminade-Madonna, Coconut Creek, Florida – 2026

Brady has the makings of a 5-star recruit. Even though he is only a sophomore in high school, his 6-foot-3 and 190-pound frame seems ready for college. He instinctively catches the football out of his reach. He’s already getting more and more recruits.

Brady acknowledges that Miami is very convenient and that he plans to return there. He also plans to visit a number of other colleges, including Ohio State and Florida State. Brady is a major addition to the Canes roster. Miami is undoubtedly a strong competitor right now, but Brady is being pursued by colleges from all around the country.

Quarterback Noah Grubbs, Lake Mary, Florida High School – 2026

Grubbs has a good Canes ranking. Though he won’t say when, he acknowledges that there’s a strong chance he’ll make another unannounced trip to Coral Gables in the spring.

Several additional universities that are anticipated to receive visits this spring include Notre Dame, Michigan, and North Carolina. While FSU has shockingly not made an offer yet and seems to be faltering with Grubbs’ recruitment, Florida is another school to keep an eye on.

His velocity and effortless throwing motion are impressive. He’s really great. In a year, Grubbs will have the opportunity to contend for 5-star classification.

This week, watch for additional information on a Locked on Canes episode.