Miami Hurricanes LB commit Ezekiel Marcelin joins Rueben Bain, Dalvin Cook in receiving coveted high school honor

What do Dalvin Cook , Rueben Bain and 2025 Miami three-star linebacker commit Ezekiel Marcelin have in common? All three have worn South Florida high school football powerhouse Miami Central’s coveted No. 4 jersey, which is awarded to Central players who exemplify themselves as leaders on and off the field.

The jersey is not worn in years the staff does not believe a member of the team has earned the privilege.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Hurricane commit learned in early August he’ll be the first Central player to wear the jersey since Bain, a current Cane Marcelin played with his freshman and sophomore years, after previously wearing No. 17. Marcelin has been a member of Central’s varsity team all four years of high school and emerged as one of Florida’s top 2025 linebacker prospects following his sophomore season, so Central head coach Jube Joseph felt he was ready to receive the same honor as some of high school and college football’s legends.

“When they wear No. 4 here, you know that there’s a certain standard and a certain criteria and a certain expectation that you have on and off the field,” Joseph said. “For us at Miami Central, it’s been a pleasure watching him for the last four years. Program kid. He’s not only a leader of the defense but a leader of the team, and he’s showcased it. He won (the Miami Herald’s) Defensive Player of the Year last year , and I just want to see him continue to grow into a better man. He’s doing a great job for us on a consistent basis day in and day out.”

Joseph did not award the jersey to a member of last year’s team, but Marcelin’s leadership, on-field productivity, time in the program and classwork made him a candidate for one of the team’s highest honors.

“Wearing that number is a big responsibility, right?” Joseph said. “There’s respect that he has amongst his peers. That’s the biggest thing for us, just showing that he can be an extension of the coaching staff. It’s a player-led team, it’s a championship team. He’s exhibiting that every day.”

Marcelin, who chose the Hurricanes over Pittsburgh, Stanford and others in late June, said he learned leadership and how to take control of a game on the field from Bain his freshman and sophomore years before Bain signed with Miami in Dec. 2022. He has his eyes set on a third state championship this fall after falling short last season, but his in-season goals didn’t take away from his excitement about wearing No. 4.

“I was just really honored to wear this number,” Marcelin said. “I just have to do my thing and keep being the ballplayer I am and continue to make plays.”

CaneSport’s Take

Huge congratulations to Marcelin for joining a group of legends at one of the country’s most storied high school programs. Now we get to wait and see what he can do at the college level once he signs in December.

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