Miami Hurricanes Recruiting Radar: Numbers and Wants in 2026

-


Joyful Monday, Canes followers!

Final week, I put a bow on the 2025 recruiting class by recapping the motion in keeping with The Recruiting Guidelines. In the event you haven’t checked that out but, it’s best to try this.

At the moment, as we transfer into a brand new week, we shift our focus to the following class for the Miami Hurricanes.

I’m nonetheless very firmly of the opinion that 85-95% of roster constructing needs to be performed by highschool recruiting and participant improvement, with the gaps being crammed by the switch portal. This has been the paradigm for Miami, and a lot of the high groups within the sport. Whereas the “free company” of the switch portal is nice for participant motion, groups can’t construct applications by the portal alone. They are often TEAMS — one season (possibly 2) outfits that may compete and win — however constant efficiency can’t be sustained by the portal alone.

Alright. Let me get off my soapbox and again to the intent of this text. Right here’s my view of what Miami wants/ought to add to the roster within the 2026 recruiting class to proceed to construct a championship caliber program.

Disclaimer: That is an annual reminder however value saying: issues can and do change over the course of a recruiting cycle. Whereas these numbers are a great guideline based mostly on depth on the place each on the roster and within the accessible expertise pool, they don’t seem to be the exhaustive or definitive. As we noticed final cycle (and each cycle, actually), recruiting is dynamic and these numbers will change barely based mostly upon varied components and occasions.

Now that we’re all on the identical web page, let’s get into it.

I’ve mentioned it 1,000,000 instances, and I’m saying it once more: Recruiting Rule #1 is that it’s a must to have a QB in each class. So sure, Miami must have a QB on this recruiting class. Stunning, I do know.

Prior to now, I’d have even thought-about Miami taking 2 QBs on this class. There are program gamers who must be recruited over, and there’s an opportunity that somebody from this room leaves by way of the switch portal as properly. Nonetheless, with Miami’s penchant and success in bringing in high of the listing switch portal QBs — D’Eriq King, Cam Ward, and Carson Beck within the final 6 years — I might simply see Miami going that route for extra depth heading into 2026 if mandatory.

Right here’s the place issues stand at QB: true freshman Luke Nickel is probably the most proficient participant who might be on the roster after this season. Emory Williams is a program participant at greatest except he has a yr of insane improvement. And Judd Anderson is an enormous, bodily participant however seemingly nonetheless wants years — plural — of improvement to be even backup high quality.

Miami has already gotten their QB for this class to commit (we’ll meet him tomorrow), so the work is to maintain him dedicated by the rest of this cycle. Including the blue chip sign caller presently dedicated would take the rely to 4 scholarship QBs for 2026. However, once more, relying on participant motion out of Coral Gables within the search of taking part in time at this place, it might grow to be mandatory to think about a 2nd QB and/or a switch portal QB for extra depth later on this cycle.

This place has been certainly one of Miami’s greatest, and probably the greatest within the nation if we’re being trustworthy. However, you may by no means have too many good gamers right here (or wherever, actually), so Miami needs to be trying so as to add expertise on this class right here as properly.

Miami’s RB room isn’t as deep as final yr, when the Canes had 5 gamers of beginning caliber. However, after seeing 2 gamers switch out seeking taking part in time — Ajay Allen and Chris Johnson Jr. — and 1 early departure to the NFL — Damien Martinez — the depth isn’t as sturdy as 2025.

So, to rebuild that power, Miami ought to goal a pair of RBs on this class. There are many high notch choices accessible this cycle, and RB coach Matt Merritt is quietly changing into probably the greatest recruiters and builders within the nation, so it shouldn’t be laborious for Miami to get the gamers they want. We’ll see who they prioritize and add to the roster in just a few months.

Miami is rebuilding their receiving corps after seeing the highest 6 cross catchers from 2024 depart from the roster. 4 of these departures have been receivers, with the trio of all-time main receiver Xavier Restrepo, Sam Brown, and Jacolby George heading to the NFL, and Isaiah Horton deciding towards being Miami’s #1 possibility this season and transferring to Alabama as an alternative. There was an NIL element to Horton’s transfer as properly.

To switch the outgoing expertise, Miami has loads of blue chippers within the receivers room. Nonetheless, since none of them have proven the power to be beginning caliber gamers but — a perform of the truth that there was a lot expertise in entrance of them — Miami could be sensible to proceed to inventory this room with as a lot expertise as attainable.

There are many nice choices at receiver this cycle, and Miami must get a few of them on the roster. A minimal of two, seemingly 3, blue chip receivers needs to be the goal for Miami on this class.

That is already a place of power for Miami, and this can get even stronger sooner or later. Miami must proceed to stack elite expertise right here, and recruit over some marginal gamers already on the roster.

There’s a little bit of a line change taking place at TE for Miami proper now. Gone are seemingly high 60 NFL draft decide Elijah Arroyo, Cam McCormick (commencement after a 9 yr school profession), and Riley Williams (switch to Oregon State). Incoming to the roster are Alex Bauman (Tulane), Jack Nickel (UAB, brother of QB signee Luke), together with HS signees Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert.

While you see these 4 additions, plus returning scholarship gamers Elija Lofton and Jackson Carver, Miami has a stable 6 man TE room. Nonetheless, they might be sensible so as to add one other TE this class to beef up the group and canopy for future departures.

Underneath Mario Cristobal, Miami has accomplished reshaped the offensive line room. With a daft mixture of elite recruiting, elite evaluations, and elite participant improvement, what was as soon as among the many worst items on the roster has grow to be an perennial power for the Canes.

The principle factor Miami must do on this class is add an elite deal with (or two). With the beginning duo of LT Markel Bell and RT Francis Mauigoa each probably leaving for the NFL Draft after this season, there’s a have to restock the expertise at Sort out.

Miami has performed properly to futureproof the guard and middle positions, and there are alternatives at deal with, however these are developmental gamers whose improvement continues to be ongoing.

In my good world, Miami provides 2 blue chip tackles, 1 blue chip guard, and a developmental participant with potential of their eyes. That will be an ideal haul, and that’s one thing Miami has performed prior to now, and might replicate this yr as properly.

I believe this can be a good goal quantity for Miami this yr. After signing 4 DL final cycle, they’re in a great spot general, however bump that up by one with some departures seemingly on the horizon.

That is principally the identical factor because the Offensive Line. A number of high degree gamers, together with Rueben Bain, Ahmad Moten, and Akheem Mesidor, may very well be departing the roster after this season. And, when you think about the truth that there are probably others who might elect to depart by way of the switch portal and the necessity for a great quantity on this class is obvious.

For the breakdown, I’d want 3 DTs and a couple of EDGE rushers on this group. However, I’m open to no matter group this workers believes is Miami caliber to proceed to develop this place each now and sooner or later.

Miami has performed a great job of reshaping the LB room in recent times. There’s a good mixture of measurement, size, velocity, talent, and potential, and a number of other gamers from previous lessons have flashed moments of excellence alongside their developmental paths.

Miami added 2 LBs within the final class, however would have appreciated to have 3. So, this yr, I believe both 2 or 3 LBs, together with an All-American who’s already dedicated, could be a good way to proceed to construct the depth and expertise at this place.

The DB group is among the stronger and deeper teams on the roster, notably after a close to wholesale turnover following final season. Miami added 4 HS recruits and 5 transfers to the roster, whereas dropping 4 transfers, and 1 participant to the NFL Draft (S Meesh Powell).

Full transparency right here: there have been one other 2 DB’s listed as outgoing transfers, however one was a former walk-on who was by no means in competition for significant snaps in something apart from blowout conditions, and the opposite was a transformed WR who transferred elsewhere to return on offense, one thing that wasn’t an possibility right here at Miami.

In any occasion, including extra elite expertise on this recruiting class is a necessity. Miami has been ravaged by accidents and poor efficiency within the secondary for years, so the necessity to proceed to restock expertise right here may be very evident.

Miami is ready in any respect the particular groups spots. P Dylan Joyce is among the many greatest in America. Okay Abram Murray steps in for Miami after the top of the Borregales kicking dynasty. If he’s less than snuff I might see Miami searching for a Okay on this class. However, Murray carried out properly within the alternatives he received final yr, was a high 5 kicker in his class 2 years in the past, and may be capable of be a stable participant for the Canes.


In any case that narrative, right here’s the chart on how I see Miami’s scholarship wants for the 2026 recruiting class: (once more, basing this off a standard 25-man recruiting class)

Miami Hurricanes 2026 Recruiting Class numbers

QB RB WR TE OL DE DT LB CB S ST Greatest Obtainable
QB RB WR TE OL DE DT LB CB S ST Greatest Obtainable
1+ 2 2+ 1 4+ 2 3 2 2 3 0 (any remaining)

I do know a number of of you’ll say “there isn’t a have to challenge 25 HS recruits in a category”, and also you may be proper. There are solely 23 spots assigned above, with 2 “greatest accessible” spots to get to 25. So, there’s flexibility available.

Now that we’ve regarded on the numbers and desires, we’ll meet the present group of commits. This group is small however mighty at this level of the cycle, with loads of room to develop right into a high 10, hopefully high 5, class.

Agree with the numbers as I see them? Disagree and assume we’d like extra (or much less) of (insert place right here)? Hop within the feedback and let me know.

Share this article

Recent posts

Popular categories

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recent comments