Miami Hurricanes Miss Out on Star Safety A.J. Haulcy as LSU Seals the Deal
The Miami Hurricanes are in a critical phase of their rebuild, and head coach Mario Cristobal has made some bold moves to bring “The U” back to prominence. Investing $4 million into quarterback Carson Beck is just one example of their aggressive strategy. Cristobal has already begun reinforcing the 2025 class, especially on defense, to fix the glaring holes exposed last season. The offense also received a major boost with the commitment of five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
But the recent recruiting loss of elite safety A.J. Haulcy to LSU is a significant blow.
Haulcy, a dominant force in the secondary with 259 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and 7 interceptions, had the potential to completely transform Miami’s defense. He took a late visit to Coral Gables on April 28th, and Miami looked like a serious contender to land him—thanks largely to new defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge. Etheridge, who previously coached at Houston, shared a strong bond with Haulcy. Their relationship even convinced the safety to take a second visit to Miami, despite originally planning only one official visit.
In an interview, Haulcy confirmed just how influential Etheridge was in the process: “He was trying to get me down there in Miami… the relationship me and him had, that made me take the second visit.”
However, despite the emotional pull and late momentum, Miami’s more conservative approach—particularly regarding NIL offers—proved to be the difference-maker. LSU, led by head coach Brian Kelly, pursued Haulcy with unwavering intensity. Reports suggest that Miami wasn’t willing to offer a major NIL deal unless it was for a generational talent. As Alex Donno bluntly put it: “Miami is not going to offer $2 million for a safety unless somebody cloned Sean Taylor.”
And so, LSU’s relentless recruiting effort paid off.
Haulcy, nicknamed “Mr. Give Me That” for his ball-hawking ability, joins a Tigers defense that just added NC State transfer Tamarcus Cooley in the winter. With Haulcy likely starting at safety, Cooley may now be freed up to play nickel, his more natural position—strengthening LSU’s secondary overall.
In choosing LSU, Haulcy spoke about the complete experience: “It’s LSU, man. It’s not going to get no better than this… You got the alumni; you got just the whole city of Baton Rouge… I’m just ready to show the world what I got.”
This loss will sting for Miami. Despite a well-planned push and the right staff in place, the Hurricanes may have simply played it too safe in an increasingly aggressive NIL-driven recruiting landscape. LSU, meanwhile, continues to reload and looks poised to benefit immediately from their assertive approach.