Welcome to our channel, where we delve into the heart of sports stories that matter. Today, we’re going to unravel the intriguing tale of how Miami landed the five-star wide receiver, Joshisa Trader.
In the mid-90s, when Miami Hurricanes were in the throes of winning championships, a young man named Rod Mack signed with them. He chose Miami over Notre Dame and Florida, ignoring the naysayers who suggested he reconsider. Fast forward nearly three decades, and Mack, now the coach of the Miami Gardens Ravens, is helping Miami navigate through some challenging times.
Among the high school football players Mack has mentored is Joshisa Trader, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound dynamo who recently committed to the Hurricanes. Trader, a receiver and defensive back at Hollywood’s Chaminade-Madonna, has been under Mack’s wing since he was just nine years old. Mack’s son, Ryan, a three-star Miami cornerback commitment, is like a brother to Trader. This familial bond played a significant role in Trader’s decision to pledge his future to Miami, a program that hasn’t signed a five-star receiver since Lance Leggett in 2004.
Mack, who started at middle linebacker for Miami as a redshirt freshman in 1996, said of Trader, “He’s like my son, not a kid I coach.” He emphasized that while everyone must make the best decision for themselves, Ryan and Trader felt that Miami was a place they could win.
Interestingly, Mack never pressured Trader to commit to Miami. He’s coached many great players who have committed and signed elsewhere over the years. However, Trader’s commitment is a significant win for Miami, not only because he’s one of the best receivers in the country, but also because it could create a ripple effect, attracting more Miami Gardens Ravens.
The Hurricanes currently have five committed in the class — Trader, Mack, four-star receiver Chance Robinson, three-star cornerback Romanas Frederique Jr, and three-star linebacker Vincent Shavers. There’s also potential to flip five-star receiver Jeremiah Smith Jr. from Ohio State.
Trader and Smith have been teammates at Chaminade and the Ravens since they were 11. Smith has been staunch in his commitment to Ohio State, but Trader’s commitment might just be the interesting carrot Miami needs to dangle.
Trader, who is quiet and reserved by nature, has been passionate about football since he was a kid. He once said, “I’d like to make the crib great again for sure. It just feels like home. Representing my city, I’ve been doing that since I was a kid.”
In choosing Miami, Trader has indeed surprised many. Few, if any, really saw it coming. But that’s the beauty of sports, isn’t it? The unexpected twists and turns that keep us on the edge of our seats. Stay tuned for more compelling stories from the world of sports.
