When Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton four-star quarterback Luke Nickelthinks about the Elite 11 Finals, what comes to mind are the best signal-callers in the country competing together while getting instruction from top coaches. He will be one of those players this week.
“It was special to get the invite,” Nickel told On3. “My whole life, I was seeing other guys get invited to the Elite 11 Finals. Seeing that and then it finally being my time, finally getting the invite was special.”
Nickel is ready to focus on being the best quarterback he can be in California. Yet the Miamicommit is also excited to spend time with his fellow participants and instructors off the field.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is looking forward to receiving feedback during film sessions and meetings about coverages and play concepts among other topics. He is already “really happy” to be named an Elite 11 finalist and plans to show what he is capable of under center.
“I’ve always believed in my capabilities,” said Nickel, the No. 146 prospect in the 2025 On300. “I believe I can match up with anybody in the country. Now I want to go out there and prove that. I want to show my work to not only myself, but also to everyone else around me.”
Nickel is ‘locked in’ with Miami, but other schools have not stopped recruiting him
Nickel, who pledged to Miami on Aug. 11, chose the Hurricanes relatively early in his recruiting process because he believed in what head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff were building in Coral Gables. He still feels the same about Miami’s “bright future.”
The Hurricanes’ coaches are a key reason why Nickel committed to the ACC program. This fall, Nickel hopes to see Miami grow on the field. He is confident that the Hurricanes will improve in upcoming seasons.
“I like the culture that coach Cristobal has built there and the winning culture that they’re going to be starting there,” Nickel said. “Being on my official visit earlier this month with all the players proved it even more. It was a really good visit getting to know all the players.”
Nickel considers himself a “pretty active” recruiter to Miami’s 2025 class. The four-star has been bonding with multiple players to learn more about them, as well as how they would fit into the Hurricanes’ program.
Three of Nickel’s top targets are Tampa (Fla.) Tampa Bay Tech five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson – who is committed to Oregon– Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin five-star wide receiver Jamie Ffrench and Orlando (Fla.) Jones four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III. While he is hoping they choose Miami, two other schools – Florida Stateand South Carolina– are trying to get Nickel to flip from the Hurricanes.
These programs are working to contact Nickel weekly. Yet he is not considering them at this time or planning to take any more visits, as he feels good about his commitment to Miami.
“I feel like I’m locked in with Miami,” Nickel said. “I’m only interested in Miami right now and that’s why I committed so early. It was because I had my head on straight with Miami and I feel like that’s where I wanted to be all along.”
The post Competing in the Elite 11 Finals will be a ‘special’ experience for Miami 4-star QB commit Luke Nickel appeared first on On3.