Miami legacy 4-star EDGE Booker Pickett commits to Hurricanes over Florida State & others
Tampa (Fla.) Wharton four-star EDGE Booker Pickett grew up plenty familiar with Miami as the son of a former Hurricane, but Thursday evening the On300 prospect let the world know he’ll become the second member of his immediate family to don the green and orange.
Pickett, the No. 19 EDGE and No. 221 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, committed to the Hurricanes Thursday evening over Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina. Pickett last visited Miami Sept. 9 for the Hurricanes’ win over Texas A&M, and On3’s Chad Simmons reported there was buzz indicating Miami became the frontrunner following the visit. Pickett announced his decision without taking any official visits.
Pickett’s communication with Miami appeared to cool this summer, but communication with the two parties picked up as fall began. The Hurricanes began trending heavily in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine shortly after his most recent visit to Hard Rock Stadium, which he made with his father.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound EDGE named Miami in his top five along with Georgia, Florida State, Ohio State and South Carolina at the start of August. He cited co-defensive line coach Jason Taylor as a major reason for his interest in the Hurricanes.
“We are similar players, he looked a lot like me at one time and I really feel he could help develop me,” Pickett told Simmons in early August. “Coach Taylor had great success in the NFL, so him being on that staff is big.”
Pickett becomes the 24th member of Miami’s 2024 recruiting class, the Hurricanes’ 10th four-star commit and 9th top-300 pledge in the cycle. Miami currently holds the No. 16 class in the On3 Football Industry Comparison and No. 2 class in the ACC behind Florida State, and while the Hurricanes won’t overtake the Seminoles for the top class in the conference, Miami is still positioned to jump back to No. 15 ahead of Auburn.
His commitment gives the Hurricanes three true EDGES in this year’s class along with top-50 prospect Marquise Lightfoot and No. 313 overall recruit Elias Rudolph. Miami also adds another member to its front seven to join defensive tackles Artavius Jones and Daylen Russell and linebackers Cam Pruitt and Vincent Shavers.
It also gives Miami its eighth high school EDGE or defensive lineman recruit in head coach Mario Cristobal’s two full recruiting cycles as the program’s leader.
CaneSport’s Take
With 10 blue-chip recruits now committed in this year’s cycle, it’s hard to call Miami’s 2024 class anything short of a success. The Hurricanes will still look to be active in the transfer portal for help in the interior defensive line, but with the talent Cristobal has amassed at Miami, it’s hard not to be optimistic about the Hurricanes’ future.
