Hurricanes recruiting: QB commit Luke Nickel ‘locked in’ with Miami, trying to sway teammate Ryan Ghea to UM

DAVIE — Although Luke Nickel turned 16 earlier this year and still has two more years left in high school, he decided this summer was the right time to pick a college.

The Milton (Georgia) quarterback committed to the Hurricanes on Aug. 11. Although the decision was earlier than many in others in the 2025 class, Nickel is confident he made the right decision.

“I just wanted to get it over with,” Nickel said. “I thought it was the best fit for me, and I didn’t need to look at any other schools because that was the best fit for me, and I just wanted to get it done and help build the class and be the best teammate I can.”

Nickel received a scholarship offer from the Hurricanes in June, and he quickly began building a relationship with the coaching staff. He said he speaks to coach Mario Cristobal, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and offensive analyst Max Drisko the most.

Nickel said he thinks Cristobal is building a strong team culture, which was a major reason why he wanted to join the Hurricanes’ 2025 class.

“Just the atmosphere that coach Cristobal has with his players,” Nickel said. “His coaching staff is awesome, and I really want to be a part of that and that winning culture that he wants to bring to Miami.”

Nickel added that he thinks he will be a good fit in Dawson’s offense, and he plans to take “a couple” of visits to UM during this season.

“They throw the ball around a lot,” Nickel said. “I think that’s my skill set. He really likes an accurate quarterback with a strong arm who’s really tough. His demeanor, for me, is just perfect.”

Several schools are still recruiting Nickel despite his early commitment. Nickel, who is rated a three-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, is listed as the No. 26 quarterback in the class. Nickel said he still hears regularly from Florida State, Penn State and Stanford, but he does not think those coaches can sway him.

“I’m locked in with Miami right now,” Nickel said. “I’m 100 percent committed.”

Nickel got a chance to play in South Florida on Thursday night, facing off against Western High in Davie as part of the Broward Football Showcase. Although Nickel and the Eagles had a long drive late in the fourth quarter and appeared to score the go-ahead touchdown, the scoring play was called back on a penalty and the Wildcats won 14-10. Nickel went 18 for 30 for about 175 yards and a touchdown pass.

“Obviously, tonight didn’t go as planned,” Nickel said. “We’ve just got to take it in, get better, learn from it and all come together as one and just keep getting better.”

Four-star tight end Ryan Ghea considering returning ‘home’

Nickel’s teammate, Ryan Ghea, has been hearing from his quarterback nonstop about joining Miami’s 2025 class.

Ghea, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end, holds an offer from the Hurricanes, and Nickel wants to keep throwing to his teammate.

“We roomed together on the trip, and every hour, I want to say, he’s been on me about it,” Ghea said.

If Ghea were to play for UM, it would be a homecoming of sorts. Although he lives in Georgia now, he was born in Miami. His family moved north when he was 5 years old.

“I wasn’t here too long, but I claim this as my home,” Ghea said.

Ghea, who is rated a four-star prospect and the No. 13 tight end in the class, said he has a good relationship with Miami’s staff and frequently talks to Cristobal, tight ends coach Cody Woodiel and offensive analyst Nate Crutchfield. He said he plans to commit in the spring or summer next year.

“I talk to them daily, multiple times a day,” Ghea said. “Get on the phone, whether that’s text or call or FaceTime, anything. I talk to them basically every day.”

Ghea also said UM’s history of sending tight ends to the NFL appeals to him.

“It’s a great pedigree of tight ends,” Ghea said. “They put tight ends there. They put one in the league last year, and it was crazy. Coach Woodiel is developing the tight ends at a very high level.”

Koby Howard hearing from Hurricanes

Western wide receiver Koby Howard received an offer from the Hurricanes last year in a strange situation.

Then playing for Pensacola Catholic, Howard traveled to Coral Gables to participate in Miami’s Legends Camp. While trying to make a catch, he suffered a fractured tibia. Howard went to the hospital, and while he was recovering, Cristobal visited him and offered him a scholarship.

A year later, Howard is playing for the Wildcats and is still hearing from the Hurricanes.

“Coach (Kevin) Beard FaceTimed me this morning,” Howard said Thursday night. “Got me on the phone with coach Cristobal and we were just chatting it up, giving me good luck, told me that I was going to do good and just be great.”

Howard, who is rated a four-star prospect, said he has been hearing the most from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. When it comes to the Hurricanes, he said he likes how the staff is building a relationship with him, and he wants to see how the program progresses.

“They’re saying that they’re going to change their program around,” Howard said, “so I’m going to be watching them.”