Ahmad Moten is the name on everyone's lips this offseason, and for good reason. The Miami Hurricanes' defensive tackle is coming off a stellar 2025 season that has set the stage for what could be a defining year in 2026. After showcasing his skills last year, Moten is back to cement his legacy and maximize his potential.
In a recent ESPN survey of 40 college football personnel staffers, Moten was ranked as the fifth-best returning defensive player in the nation. That's no small feat, considering the talent pool in college football.
"Disruptive, active, plays behind the line of scrimmage -- that's what you're looking for," said one ACC personnel director. Moten's knack for getting into the backfield and playing vertically has made him a standout.
A Big Ten director of player personnel even dubbed him a "freaking game wrecker."
Standing tall at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 300 pounds, Moten's stats from last season speak volumes. He recorded 31 tackles, 20 pressures, nine tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
His impact was especially felt during the College Football Playoff run, where he notched five tackles and one tackle for loss in the National Championship game against Indiana. And let's not forget his three tackles for loss against Virginia Tech.
Moten was part of a formidable defensive line in 2025, which included 2026 NFL Draft first-round picks Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. With those stars moving on, Moten is now tasked with leading a new-look defensive line.
He'll be lining up next to rising junior Justin Scott on the interior, forming what could be the best defensive tackle duo in the country. On the edges, the Hurricanes are counting on Missouri transfer Damon Wilson, who racked up nine sacks in 2025, and former five-star recruits Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount to step up and deliver in starter roles.
The Hurricanes' defense in 2026 will look different, especially after losing four players to the NFL Draft. However, expectations remain sky-high.
Miami is bringing back key players like linebacker Mo Toure, cornerbacks OJ Frederique and Xavier Lucas, and safeties Bryce Fitzgerald and Zechariah Poyser. With Corey Hetherman returning for his second season as defensive coordinator, the Hurricanes are poised to be one of the top defenses in the country.
As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Moten and the Miami defense. If his past performances are any indication, fans are in for a thrilling ride.
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 🡒]