On this installment of The Recruiting Pocket book, we meet a uber proficient EDGE rusher with unbelievable bodily items and famous person potential: Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian 4-star EDGE Hayden Lowe.
Within the effort so as to add elite edge speeding expertise to the roster, the Miami Hurricanes turned their consideration to and recruiting effort to Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian EDGE Hayden Lowe.
A dynamic edge rusher, Lowe is up round 6’5” 245lbs. Some initially had him smaller than that, however youngsters develop. No matter his precise measurements (which I guarantee you might be inside a half an inch and 10lbs of what I simply wrote), he’s a game-breaking defender who has lengthy been one of many prime gamers within the nation.
Lowe burst onto the scene for Oaks Christian as a freshman in 2021. 55 tackles, 9 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 3 Hurries, 1 Compelled Fumble, and 1 PBU. These are stable numbers for a senior, however the truth that Lowe had that type of manufacturing as a freshman on a really aggressive Oaks Christian group instantly put him on the radar as a possible famous person recruit. Arizona and Michigan had been the primary groups to supply Lowe after his freshman yr, however they might not be the final by any stretch of the creativeness.
Trying to comply with up that breakout freshman yr, Lowe began his 2022 season as a sophomore with a bang. With 16 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 sacks, 7 Hurries and a PBU by way of Oaks Christian’s first 3 video games, Lowe was on monitor for a large season. Sadly for him, nevertheless, he sustained a season-ending damage and missed the rest of the season.
Even with solely taking part in 3 video games as a sophomore, Lowe started amassing scholarship gives from groups all lover the nation. Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Texas, Cal, Arizona State, Washington, Utah, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, and Alabama all prolonged gives to Lowe by way of the winter and spring heading into his junior yr.
Once more, Lowe seemed to place his elite expertise on show as a junior. Early on, Oregon, Georgia, and Miami jumped into the fray with scholarship gives for the proficient defender. And Lowe seemed the a part of the large time recruit everybody billed him to be.
With 25 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 7 Hurries and three Compelled Fumbles by way of Oaks Christian’s first 3 video games, Lowe as soon as once more seemed each bit the famous person recruit he was billed to be. However, as soon as once more, damage woes curtailed his season. Lowe broke his thumb and missed the subsequent 6 video games earlier than coming again in opposition to Chaparral. Lowe then missed the ultimate recreation of the yr, a playoff loss to Mission Viejo. In whole, he had 29 tackles, 7 TFLs, 3 sacks, 7 Hurries, and 4 Compelled Fumbles.
At this level, Lowe was often called an enormous time recruit, even with 2 years of injury-shortened seasons. And, to that finish, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Ohio State all prolonged him scholarship gives to go together with the beforehand listed group (and several other others whose scholarship gives had been purely speculative for a participant of this caliber).
Within the spring of 2024, Lowe began to slim down his recruitment, and took a number of visits to groups throughout the nation. An Unofficial Go to to Miami, was adopted by Official Visits to UCLA, Georgia, Miami, USC, and Oregon. And, although Lowe mentioned he struggled with the choice and the draw of Miami, he dedicated to the native USC Trojans on June ninth.
Regardless of his dedication to USC, Miami continued to recruit Lowe all through his senior season. And, after 2 years minimize brief by damage, Lowe confirmed his talent and potential in equal measure. By means of the common season, he posted the next stat line: 52 tackles, 13 TFLs, 12 sacks, 10 Hurries, a PBU, a Fumble Restoration, and a pair of blocked kicks.
As I mentioned earlier than, Miami was undeterred by Lowe’s determination to decide to USC earlier than his senior season, and continued to recruit the elite expertise all through the 2024 season. These efforts paid off 3 weeks earlier than Early Signing Day when Lowe flipped his dedication to the Miami Hurricanes, giving Miami a brand new headline participant to the 2025 recruiting class.
On the 247sports composite, Lowe is a 4-star prospect, the #17 EDGE nationally, #18 within the State of California, and #189 participant general on this class. 247 has Lowe a lot, MUCH greater on their particular person rankings, with the EDGE rusher checking in at #3 at his place, #3 within the State of California, and #44 general on this class, simply outdoors 5-star standing.
Lowe flipped his dedication to Miami after a earlier pledge to USC, and over a strong checklist of 29 scholarship gives from across the nation.
Whereas his measurements aren’t confirmed from a camp or recruiting service, Lowe has good dimension for and EDGE rusher. At 6’4”-6’5 with a constructive wingspan, he has the bodily traits you search for in an edge rusher. He’s already added some weight to his body, as much as someplace round 245-250lbs. Lowe might play at that weight, or he might add a bit extra dimension (and sure the accompanying energy) transferring ahead.
One factor that’s simply noticeable about Lowe is his quickness. He routinely splits double groups with velocity, or goes round OL with a pleasant first step and good bend across the edge. He’ll proceed to have impression and success with that as the inspiration of his go rush strikes, and including others alongside the way in which as he develops.
Lowe reveals stable traits as a run defender as properly. He units the sting properly, and is forceful on the level of contact with ball carriers. That is an space of his recreation that might want to see continuous growth to show him right into a 3-down defender on the faculty degree.
The comparability that just about everybody within the recruiting business is utilizing for Lowe’s construct, traits, and potential is Kayvon Thibodeaux. He, like Lowe, attended Oaks Christian earlier than taking part in for Mario Cristobal at Oregon, after which turning right into a prime 5 NFL Draft Choose. Lowe’s constructed the identical, performs practically the identical, and has related, if not equivalent, potential. Very like Penei Sewell was the blueprint for Miami recruiting and creating Francis Mauigoa, so is Thibodeaux the blueprint with Lowe.
For one more take a look at Lowe, right here’s an eval from 247sports Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins. Keep in mind that is from a few yr in the past:
Lowe is among the prime edge rushers within the ’25 class. He has a ton of long run upside and is a simple participant to undertaking. He has a prototype 6-4, 240 pound body and by way of his long-term potential, there’s loads to love there. He has lengthy arms, is a plus athlete and reveals the power to play nearly anyplace alongside the line of defense. He has the body to simply add one other 20-25 kilos with ease with out dropping any of his athleticism. He’s a naturally robust child who can tackle double groups and nonetheless rise up the sector. He’s equally robust taking part in the run or speeding the quarterback and has a pleasant edge in his recreation. He has an explosive first step and has the power to dip and switch the nook to beat most tackles with ease. He hails from the identical program that produced former Oregon and NY Big 1st spherical decide Kayvon Thibodeaux and his coaches at Oaks really feel his upside is simply as excessive.
Strengths
- Top/Size
- Velocity/Quickness
- Productiveness
- Potential
Weaknesses
- Wants so as to add dimension
- Wants so as to add energy
- Can develop extra go rush strikes
- Harm historical past
Notice: modified this up from only a freshman-season outlook to a profession outlook for every participant just a few years in the past and we’re persevering with that fashion this yr as properly.
If the apt comparability for Lowe as a prospect is Kayvon Thibodeaux, then extending that comparability to his collegiate profession additionally suits. If Miami is ready to get even 75% of Thibodeax’s profession and growth out of Lowe, that must be thought-about an unqualified win.
Miami is by no means averse to taking part in freshmen, particularly early enrollees like Lowe. He ought to problem for taking part in time as a freshman, along with his position on this group transferring ahead something from rotation participant to famous person.
At a minimal, I might count on Lowe to be a prime of the roster participant sooner or later, and problem for All-ACC honors. However, if Miami’s in a position to unlock the total breadth of his potential, then he could possibly be up for All-American and/or nationwide particular person awards earlier than his time in Coral Gables is over.
That’s it for this installment of The Recruiting Pocket book.