The Miami Hurricanes battle the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers for elite offensive lineman Sean Tatum, with crucial summer visits set to decide his future.
The Miami Hurricanes are driven by winning matchups in the trenches. The offensive line was among the best in the nation last season, providing great protection for quarterback Carson Beck, having a unique combination of size and athleticism. They will lose four starters due to the upcoming NFL draft, including projected first-round right tackle Francis Mauigoa.
However, coach Mario Cristobal will have an opportunity to experiment with other talented offensive linemen. The program is becoming a hot destination for players at the position, including four-star recruit Sean Tatum. He's ranked ninth among interior offensive linemen and 17th in the state of Florida for the class of 2027, according to 247Sports Composite.
Three programs are among the finalists for Tatum: the Hurricanes, Florida Gators, and Tennessee Volunteers.
The four-star recruit currently attends John Carroll High School, a private Catholic institution, located in St. Lucie County.
Tatum received interest and offers from numerous notable programs, such as the Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Auburn Tigers, among many others.
Plus, he made the Navy All-American Bowl roster, playing for Team East.
The three finalists have an official visit scheduled with him during the summer:
- Hurricanes; May 29
- Gators; June 4
- Volunteers; June 12
Tatum made a couple of unofficial visits during the college football season, one of which was for the Seminoles in a home matchup against the Hurricanes, who secured a 28-22 victory. In that game, Beck wasn't sacked, completed 20 of 28 passes, 71.4 percent, threw for 241 yards, and scored four touchdowns.
Developing under the leadership of coach Cristobal, a former offensive tackle for the program, and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal could be intriguing factors in Tatum's recruitment.
A good official visit could go a long way for the Hurricanes in securing a high-caliber offensive lineman prospect. Tatum is listed at 6-3, 317 pounds, which fits the team's philosophy.
The program has an incoming five-star freshman in offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, who could start the trend for other highly-rated offensive linemen, such as Tatum, to join.
The Hurricanes are looking to compete for years to come, but with coach Cristobal, it all starts by dominating matchups at the line of scrimmage. If they manage to land a commitment from Tatum, it secures a brighter future.
The four-star recruit will have his official visits, evaluate each option, then make a final decision and announce a commitment.
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