Miami Hurricanes make early cut for star safety Daemon Fagan, as does FSU, UCF

Miami is one of the teams still in the mix for a rising South Florida star.

American Heritage-Plantation four-star safety Daemon Fagan put the Hurricanes in his list of top eight schools, which he announced on Twitter on Monday.

Along with Miami, Fagan’s top eight includes Florida State, Georgia, LSU, N.C. State, Ohio State, Penn State and UCF. Fagan said his list of potential landing spots are the ones he is most focused on, and those are the teams where he sees opportunity and can fit in well.

“It is who I talk to the most, communicate the most with,” Fagan said, “but it’s also the ones I’m more focused on.”

Fagan, who is listed as the No. 24 safety and No. 246 player in the 2023 class in 247Sports’ composite rankings, said he thinks Mario Cristobal and the new Hurricanes staff are “dedicated (to) turning the U around.”

The American Heritage star already has connections to the Hurricanes and to some of the new coaches. Former high school teammate James Williams is a rising star in Miami’s secondary, and new Hurricanes secondary coach Jahmile Addae was the primary recruiter for another former American Heritage star, Marvin Jones Jr., while Addae was still at Georgia.

“I talked to James about the new coaches,” Fagan said. “He likes the energy. … He really feels the change going on. So I’m just really waiting to see what they can do this year.”

Fagan said he has not talked to new Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, but he is building his relationship with Addae, who he first got to know when the coach was with the Bulldogs. He said the Miami defensive staff views him as a free safety.

“I talked to Addae a few times already,” Fagan said. “I talked to him a lot while he was at Georgia, as well. I visited Georgia while he was there, and we talked to him a few times while he was at Miami.”

Fagan, who will be entering his senior season, said he wants to sign in December but he doesn’t have a timeline for his recruitment set it stone.

“I’m looking for just a family feel, the atmosphere outside of the school, like what I can do,” Fagan said. “Education is a big thing for me as well. I feel I’m one of the best, so I can play with the best, so really just competition and the best situation for my position.”

Although Miami is just one of eight teams that Fagan currently rates highly, he thinks the future could be bright in Coral Gables.

“Really, the potential that they have, what they’re capable of,” Fagan said. “Just got to put everything together. But I feel like they’re capable of being a national championship competitor.”