Miami Football Recruiting: Hurricanes pushing for another elite class under Mario Cristobal

Miami has been acquiring talent at an elite level since Mario Cristobal’s arrival in Coral Gables, including the No. 5 overall class in the 2024 Rivals Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings. That work came to fruition last season as the Hurricanes won 10 games for the first time since 2017 and were within a few plays of the College Football Playoff conversation.

With proof of concept out there, Cristobal and Co. are looking to take advantage on the recruiting trail in 2026. They currently hold the nation’s No. 11 class nationally and the No. 1 group in the ACC, just ahead of Clemson. With football season approaching, the Canes now have a class that features 21 commitments.

At the top of that list is Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell of out Nixa (Mo.), who committed to the ‘Canes in May. In doing so, he spurned Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State and dozens of others to head down to Miami next year.

“Going into (the UGA visit) I figured I’d either go there or Miami,” he told CaneSport. “Those were kind of the two I was down to at the time. I got on the plane coming back from Atlanta and I remember telling myself, ‘Alright, by the end of this plane ride I’m going to know where I’m going.’ I just thought about it the whole plane ride. I was just kind of thinking about it, and by the time I got off I was like, ‘Well, I guess I’m going to Miami, guys.’”

Along with Cantwell, Miami has pledges from 14 other blue-chippers. Since the beginning of June, Miami has landed 10 commitments, the latest of which is four-star wide receiver Somourian Wingo, the nation’s No. 20 WR.

You can check out the Hurricanes’ full class below:

Miami commitments by position

Quarterback
Four-star Dereon Coleman, No. 210 NATL. (No. 15 QB)

Running back
Four-star Javian Mallory, No. 304 NATL. (No. 21 RB)

Wide receiver
Four-star Vance Spafford, No. 105 NATL. (No. 12 WR)
Four-star Somourian Wingo, No. 139 NATL. (No. 20 WR)
Three-star Tyran Evans, No. 482 NATL. (No. 74 WR)

Tight end
Four-star Israel Briggs, No. 138 NATL. (No. 8 TE)

Offensive tackle
Five-star Jackson Cantwell, No. 3 NATL. (No. 1 OT)
Four-star Ben Congdon, No. 284 NATL. (No. 23 OT)

Interior offensive line
Four-star Joel Ervin, No. 375 NATL. (No. 34 IOL)
Three-star Canon Pickett, No. 725 NATL. (No. 69 IOL)
Three-star JJ Sparks, No. 784 NATL. (No. 80 IOL)
Three-star Rhys Woodrow, No. 820 NATL. (No. 82 IOL)

Defensive line
Four-star Anthony Kennedy, No. 387 NATL. (No. 40 DL)
Three-star Tyson Bacon, No. 849 NATL. (No. 84 DL)

EDGE
Four-star Asharri Charles, No. 201 NATL. (No. 26 EDGE)
Three-star Justin Edwards, No. 682 NATL. (No. 53 LB)

Linebacker
Four-star Jordan Campbell, No. 185 NATL. (No. 24 LB)
Three-star Justin Edwards, No. 610 NATL. (No. 47 LB)

Cornerback
Four-star Jaelen Waters, No. 156 NATL. (No. 19 CB)
Four-star Jontavius Wyman, No. 273 NATL. (No. 26 CB)
Four-star Camdin Portis, No. 313 NATL. (No. 30 CB)
Four-star Brody Jennings, No. 365 NATL. (No. 34 CB)