4-star commits to Miami over Ohio State, Michigan, others

Miami has secured its sixth commitment for the Class of 2025 recruiting cycle, as four-star tight end Luka Gilbert from West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West has chosen to join the Hurricanes. Despite offers from prestigious programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Kentucky, Gilbert opted for Miami. The decision follows extensive efforts by Cody Woodiel, who has actively pursued the 6-foot-7, 233-pound prospect with multiple visits, including one in January and another in the spring.

Expressing his satisfaction with Miami’s academic and football programs, Gilbert praised the campus, education quality, coaching staff, and head coach Mario Cristobal. He highlighted the positive experiences during his late March visit. Gilbert is set to return to campus for an official visit at the beginning of the summer cycle, coinciding with the visit of another highly sought-after tight end prospect, Brock Schott.

With Gilbert’s commitment, Miami climbs to the 17th position in the 247Sports Team Rankings, up from 23rd. In addition to pursuing Schott, the Hurricanes are actively recruiting Elyiss Williams, a highly ranked tight end from Kingsland (Ga.) Camden County, who has been committed to Georgia for a year. Williams has visited Miami twice during the spring.

He possesses a tall and lean frame, appearing every bit of his listed height of 6-7. There’s speculation about whether he might outgrow the tight end position and potentially transition to playing as an offensive tackle if he can add sufficient weight. Despite his size, he demonstrates surprisingly strong blocking skills, exhibiting physicality at the point of attack and maintaining a determined edge in his play. He’s known for finishing plays, exhibiting persistence through the whistle, and often overpowering defenders, occasionally driving them to the ground or even out of bounds. As a route runner, he tends to have elongated strides, and there’s room for improvement in his agility and change of direction. However, he presents a significant target with a wide catch radius, displaying the capability to make catches both low and high. Additionally, his background in basketball adds to his intrigue as a prospect worth keeping an eye on.