Live from The Crib: Hurricanes commit flashes speed as Miami Central rolls, injured 4-star DB commit Amari Wallace shares latest

Miami (Fla.) Central three-star linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin , one of the Hurricanes’ three linebacker commits in the 2025 class, knew he wanted to get faster this summer as he prepares to enroll at The U in January.

He was able to showcase his offseason work in Friday’s season opening 32-0 win over Vanguard.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker from one of the Hurricanes’ biggest pipeline schools didn’t have the biggest statistical night going up against a Vanguard offense that wanted to establish itself along the perimeter rather than test itself against Central’s stout defensive front, but he was able to flash his speed in pass coverage between his work at Mike linebacker and occasionally dropping into a stand-up EDGE position.

Marcelin had plenty of success covering intermediate and short areas on different hooks and curls. He said developing as an open-field defender was a priority for him this offseason after proving himself as an impressive run-stopping linebacker last cycle.

“I wanted to get faster and be better sideline to sideline,” Marcelin told CaneSport. “Going through linebacker drills, cone drills, ladders, stuff like that. My (linebackers) coach, he’s been with me since ninth grade, took me in as a young (player) and has been with me since then.”

Marcelin has remained solid in his Miami commitment despite receiving continued recruiting pushes from Pittsburgh and Stanford. Marcelin took an official visit to Pittsburgh the weekend after his Miami official visit and was initially scheduled to visit Stanford in late June, but he ultimately canceled his Stanford visit and committed to Miami that weekend instead.

The No. 482 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking and No. 48 linebacker in the cycle has not shut down his recruitment but will be difficult to flip from Miami barring something unpredictable and unforeseen.

“I’m definitely feeling pretty good (about the Miami commitment),” Marcelin said. “I talk to those guys every day. They do a good job (maintaining) our connection.”

Other Miami recruits

4-star 2025 DB Amari Wallace | No. 262 overall prospect, No. 22 S
+++ Wallace is still solid in his commitment to Miami but is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a left leg injury he suffered late last month. He held more than a dozen offers to major Power Five programs when he committed to Miami in late June and was expected to star for Central’s defense this year before his injury.

Wallace still has full belief in head coach Mario Cristobal , defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and secondary coach Chevis Jackson , who all played roles in landing his commitment. He is not in communication with other programs and said he’s not considering other schools.

“I’m big on loyalty,” Wallace said. “My loyalty stays with my school. No schools are reaching out to me, and I’m not reaching out to any schools.”

3-star 2026 LB Karon Maycock | No. 575 overall prospect, No. 48 S

+++ While Marcelin has established himself as the leader of Miami Central’s defense, his linebacker running mate Karon Maycock may have stolen the show Friday evening. The 2026 prospect, who stands at 6-foot-1,180 pounds, may have had the best individual performance of the night for the Rockets.

The former safety who converted to linebacker looks natural in the box and looks poised to play a major role for Miami Central this season. The three-star prospect currently holds an offer from the Hurricanes and is in almost daily communication with multiple staff members, including linebacker coach Derek Nicholson as well as head coach Mario Cristobal.

“They text me almost every morning,” Maycock said. “Telling me to have a great practice, and I’ve been checking on them, too.”

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