Loyalty keeping Miami in the mix for LSU 4-star CB commit Jaboree Antoine

Miami kicked off spring practice on Monday as the Hurricanes seek a successful 2024 season. Monday also signaled the end of the February dead period in recruiting, meaning prospects are once again free to take visits as spring nears.

New Iberia (La.) Westgate four-star cornerback and LSU commit Jaboree Antoine wasted no time, as he opted to take a visit to open the week. It wasn’t to the in-state Tigers, however.

After being the first program to offer the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder, Miami finally got Antoine on campus for a visit. Now, the Hurricanes are hoping to dive further into his recruitment and try to flip the elite defensive back.

“Miami was really the first school to give me an opportunity, with them being my first offer, so I wanted to give them a chance and see what they had in store,” Antoine told CaneSport.

According to Miami recruiting insider Stephen Wagner, Antoine’s trip to Coral Gables should be looked at as more than a courtesy trip from the LSU pledge.

“I do feel like Miami is going to be a contender here,” Wagner said on ‘The Inside Scoop’. “It was really, really big for Miami to get him down to campus for that first visit of the spring. I just have a hunch that he’s going to come back again. I could see him eventually taking an official visit to Miami. Obviously he’s been committed to LSU and LSU does still feel like the team to beat, but I would not overlook Miami at all in this one.”

Canes coaches have relationships with Antoine

Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry offered Antoine on New Year’s Day last year. Despite Monday being just the first time that Antoine made an in-person visit, relationships have long been built between the two parties.

“I think defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and new secondary coach Chevis Jackson — Jackson was only hired a few weeks ago, but he’s already made a pretty good impression on Jaboree, and Lance Guidry has been on him for a while. Miami was actually the first school to offer Jaboree … he wants to continue considering Miami,” Wagner said.

Antoine is currently an important piece to LSU’s top-ranked 2025 recruiting class and has shown no signs of backing off of his commitment to Brian Kelly and Co. However, Mario Cristobal and the Miami staff have made it clear that he is a priority in the 305. If acted upon, that could play dividends down the road for the Canes, according to Wagner.

“I do think that loyalty is kind of a factor here and as long as Miami is staying loyal to him, continuing to show this real interest in him, I do think he’s going to continue showing that interest in Miami,” Wagner said. “Quite frankly, I think as long as he keeps wanting to return to Miami, I think it’s hard to say that Miami is not a contender.”

Antoine is the No. 51 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 7 CB and No. 2 player in Louisiana.