Four-star LB chooses Miami over other major programs

Gavin Nix, from IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida, seemed likely to stay in-state to play college football.

The four-star linebacker's top three schools were Miami and Florida State with one outlier thrown in, Oregon. The Ducks, now in the Big Ten, are a championship contender, so it was no surprise to see them high on the list for Nix, but with FSU and Miami also options, it certainly seemed like Nix wanted to stay in Florida.

Ultimately, that will be the case, as Nix just announced his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes.

“They fit all the things I valued throughout my process,” Nix told On3's Steve Wiltfong regarding his decision. “They’ve been super consistent for me. Their love for me never wavered. Throughout the whole thing Miami was always right there with me and made me and my family feel like a family.”

Nix will go down as a big commitment for Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff. According to 247Sports, he's the No. 11 linebacker recruit in the 2025 class. He's also a top-100 recruit overall, checking in at No. 88 .

Not only did Nix feel comfortable with the Hurricanes coaching staff and Cristobal's vision for the future, but the vibes at Miami and the strong and NFL-focused alumni base were impressive to him.

“What really shocked me different than any other school I’ve been to, the football alumni is always there,” Nix explained. “When you visit Miami you always see some type of NFL legend and they’re real people you can go up to and talk to them and soak up knowledge. Jon Beason, Jonathan Vilma, Rohan Marley, Calais Campbell, Edgerrin James. You can just go up and talk to them and that really stuck out to me.”

Nix will be looking to follow in those footsteps, and it's worth noting that he projects to be talented enough to do so. Last season, his junior year, he totaled 42 tackles (seven tackles for loss), five quarterback hits and one sack in eight games.