Ahmad Moten is making waves in college football as ESPN's latest rankings list him as the No. 5 defender heading into the 2026 season. This Miami defensive tackle stands out as the sole representative from an ACC program in the prestigious top 10, a list brimming with players projected to be first-round NFL picks.
Topping the list is Notre Dame's cornerback Leonard Moore, who has secured the No. 1 position following a stellar All-America season. Right behind him are Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons and South Carolina's Dylan Stewart. Oregon's defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington rounds out the top four, just ahead of Moten.
Moten's ranking places him above some serious talent, including LSU safety Ty Benefield and Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles. Other notable names trailing him are Oregon cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles, and Georgia safety KJ Bolden.
Moore has earned his top spot with a consensus All-America season at Notre Dame, while Simmons boasts an impressive 21 career sacks at Texas. Stewart has made his mark with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles over two seasons at South Carolina. Meanwhile, Washington is widely regarded as a top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, especially among interior defensive linemen.
Moten's impact is a significant factor in Miami's defensive success. In 2025, Miami's defense was a force to be reckoned with, finishing No. 5 nationally in scoring defense, No. 12 in total defense, No. 6 against the run, and No. 4 in sacks under the guidance of coordinator Corey Hetherman. As Miami looks to fill some big shoes on their defensive line, Moten is set to be the cornerstone of their next defensive iteration.
In 2025, Moten's performance earned him second-team All-ACC honors, thanks to his 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. His presence on the field is a key reason Miami's defense is so highly regarded.
But Moten isn't the only Miami player gaining attention. Safety Bryce Fitzgerald is another standout, receiving recognition among top players at his position alongside Oregon's Koi Perich. Fitzgerald made a splash as a true freshman in 2025 with six interceptions, two of which came in Miami's CFP first-round victory over Texas A&M.
Additionally, edge rusher Damon Wilson II is also turning heads. After transferring from Missouri, Wilson has emerged as a reliable pass-rushing option, earning votes among the top defensive ends. Miami's defensive lineup is packed with talent, and with players like Moten, Fitzgerald, and Wilson, they're set to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
In Other News...
Miami Just Lost A Chaminade-Madonna Playmaker To A Bitter Rival
A familiar South Florida recruiting name came off the board with a choice that will sting plenty of people around Coral Gables. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Armani Strong, a four-star prospect in the 2028 class, is headed to Florida after drawing serious attention from Miami, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan, giving the Gators an early win in a battle that had plenty of local significance for the Hurricanes.
For Miami, the miss is especially notable because Strong has long been part of the South Florida talent stream the program works so hard to keep home. He enters the cycle as one of the more highly regarded receivers in the country and in Florida, while Floridas new staff under Jon Sumrall gets its first commitment of the 2028 class. Even this early, the recruiting board is already starting to show which battles the Hurricanes can afford to lose and which ones they probably cannot. [Read more 🡒]
EA Sports Just Sent Miami Fans A Clear Message About This Roster
EA Sports latest College Football 27 ratings offer a pretty clear snapshot of where Miami sits in the national conversation heading into the games July 9 launch. The Hurricanes come in at 88 overall, tied with LSU and Ole Miss and trailing a group that includes Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame and Texas, which is the kind of placement that suggests respect without quite reaching the sports top shelf.
The bigger takeaway for Miami fans is how much talent the roster carries beneath that team number. The Hurricanes have 15 players rated 85 or better, with the group split across both sides of the ball, a sign that this is not just a team built around a few headline names. Early access opens July 6 for eligible players, so plenty of fans will be getting their first close look at how the roster is stacked and where the game thinks Miamis strengths really lie. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Lost Ground In A Key 2027 Recruiting Battle
Miamis push for one of the countrys top 2027 tight ends hit a setback this week when Anthony Cartwright III came off the board after a recruiting process that had included a look at Coral Gables. The Detroit Country Day standout had taken official visits to Miami and Oregon in June, and his profile as a Rivals four-star prospect made him a priority name for a Hurricanes staff trying to build early momentum in the class.
Cartwrights decision matters for Miami because he had been one of the marquee targets on the board at his position, and the Hurricanes had spent June trying to make a strong impression on him. His final group also included Michigan, LSU and Michigan State, so the interest was broad and the competition was real, but Miami now has to turn the page and keep working a tight end board that was already starting to take shape. [Read more 🡒]