Four-star wide receiver commits to the Hurricanes

Mario Cristobal keeps rolling on the recruiting trail.

Miami Edison High fourstar wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph committed the Hurricanes on Tuesday, choosing Miami over Louisville. He announced his decision on social media.

“They came after me, they recruited me and they made me a priority since Day 1,” Joseph told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Since getting here, coach Cristobal made sure he made every coach on staff get after me, he made sure he came after me. That’s what you want from, especially the head coach, the guy who controls really everything. For him to really want you, you’re a priority to him.

“I just felt more comfortable. I felt ... that’s where I should be and that’s where I need to be. Be a motivation to these kids from my hometown and giving them somebody to look up to. I feel like it’s a dream come true I grew up a ‘Canes fan, so I’m a die-hard ‘Cane. The last staff didn’t do what it was supposed to do, but this staff came along and did what it was supposed to so it made it easy to come on back home.”

Joseph’s commitment comes on the heels of several other Miami pledges. Tight ends Jackson Carver and Reid Mikeska recently picked the Hurricanes, as did junior college wide receiver Colbie Young and quarterback Emory Williams.

The biggest splash was four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada, who picked Miami over Florida, Texas A&M and several other schools.

Joseph said he is starting to get to know his future quarterbacks.

“Keep packing that quarterback room out,” Joseph said. “There’s already some good guys there, but let’s bring some more guys. Miami’s got two committed quarterbacks, so just keep packing the room up.”

Joseph, a slot receiver, is rated the No. 16 wide receiver and No. 105 player in the 2023 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings. He is the Hurricanes’ second-highest rated commit, behind Rashada. Joseph had 632 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 33 catches as a junior. He also had two touchdowns on punt returns and one on a kickoff return.

Joseph said he has developed a close relationship with Cristobal and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.

“Even his gameplan for me is incredible,” Joseph said. “The vision that he has for me and what he sees and the ways he can use me. Me and coach Gattis built a great relationship. We talk all the time, too. He looks out for me and he teaches me stuff and helps me better myself as a receiver.”

Joseph, who is listed at 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, was originally a Clemson commit, picking the Tigers in September 2021. He stayed committed to Clemson through 2021 and into this summer, taking an official visit to the school in early June. But Joseph backed off his pledge on June 14 and took official visits to Louisville and UM before ultimately selecting the Hurricanes.

The local star said he started picking up on differences between Cristobal and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, saying Swinney didn’t talk much to Joseph’s parents and Cristobal did.

“On the official visit, it didn’t feel the same,” Joseph said. “And then some other little things that kind of stood out that I was blind to because I was so in love with Clemson because Miami wasn’t doing what it’s supposed to do. They made it easy for me to leave, so I fell in love with Clemson. I kind of was blind to some of this stuff, like coach Swinney not really ever talking to my parents or picking up the phone. He never talked to my parents on the phone, not even through text, even before I committed and even after.

“Certain things like that started to stick out to me because I’ve seen coach Cristobal reaching out to my family all the time, reaching out to me all the time.”

Joseph is part of a group of elite South Florida wide receivers that includes American Heritage’s Brandon Inniss (an Ohio State commit), Miami Gulliver Prep’s Jalen Brown (who is considering Miami), Stranahan’s Hykeem Williams (who is also considering UM) and Miami Palmetto’s Robby Washington (a Hurricanes commit), among others.

Joseph said he plans to start recruiting for Miami immediately. He said some of the players he wants to join him in the class are Brown, Miami Central defensive lineman Ruben Bain and Dade Christian wide receiver William Fowles.

“There’s a lot of kids, they really want to play with me so they’re waiting to see what I’m going to do,” Joseph said. “I know my commitment is going to have a big impact on Miami recruitment.”

The newest Hurricanes commit will get an early look at what Cristobal and his staff do in their first season at Miami. Joseph said he plans to be around the program a lot this fall.

“I just can’t wait,” Joseph said. “I’m going to be at every home game. I just cant wait to see what coach Cristobal [is] bringing to Miami. Like I said, I’m a fan anyway, so I’ll be definitely in the stands, screaming like I’m a coach.”