Happy Monday, everybody. Hope your weeks have gotten off to a great start.
With college sports still in the dead period, there’s still plenty to sort through on the Miami Hurricanes front, and the biggest takeaway from the past few days is a play that already has its own place in program lore.
Keionte Scott’s pick six against Ohio State was the kind of moment that flips a game and sticks with a fan base. Scott raced past Jeremiah Smith, picked off Julian Sayin’s throw intended for Brandon Innis, and turned it into what was clearly Miami’s play of the year. It helped put a firm grip on the Hurricanes’ biggest win of the season and had everybody doing the full living-room celebration.
Scott broke down the play this week on the “Caps Off Podcast,” and what stood out was how he described knowing what was coming. He pointed to how often it was keyed on and how heavily the coaching staff emphasized it.
That part matters. Miami’s defensive staff had the defense ready, and that kind of preparation showed up at the biggest possible moment.
That’s also why Corey Hetherman and the rest of the defensive staff deserve a lot of credit. Miami was sharp last year from both a technique and fundamentals standpoint, and the scheme was right there too. For a program that has too often seen opposing quarterbacks decipher its defense and carve it up, that was a notable change.
And yes, there’s still the little detail of which Ohio State alum Scott was sticking his tongue out at. LOL.
On the recruiting side, Donte Wright picked up a nice boost when Rivals moved him to the top cornerback in the 2027 class. He’s now listed as the No. 4 overall player and the top player in California in their rankings.
In the industry rankings, he sits at No. 10 overall, No. 2 among corners, and No. 1 in California for 2027. However it shakes out, he looks like a player who should make a major impact once he gets to campus, and he appears likely to arrive as the highest-rated player in both On3 Sports/Rivals and 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
Miami baseball also had a busy draft with four players selected, and Daniel Cuvet was the first off the board. He went in the fifth round to the Washington Nationals, which is a little later than expected.
His future calling card is obvious: the bat, the power, and the kind of offensive profile teams will always find room for somewhere. Where he ends up defensively, whether that’s at third base or elsewhere, will be worth watching.
Alex Sosa went in the sixth round to the Athletics, Ryan Bilka was taken in the 10th round by Cleveland, and Rob Evans landed with San Diego in the 12th round. Evans going that late was a bit surprising, especially after the crafty lefty he showed for Miami last year.
In Other News...
New NCAA Rule Creates Clear Miami Roster Winners And Losers
The NCAAs new eligibility model is already reshaping how Miami has to think about its roster, even if the immediate effect is more subtle than dramatic. Under the new setup, athletes can play five seasons over five years, starting from full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday, which gives the Hurricanes a longer runway with a younger core and more time to develop players before they hit the front of the line.
For Miami, the clearest winners are the juniors and sophomores who now have extra breathing room, while only a small group of players is directly touched right away. The bigger roster wrinkle is at the other end of the spectrum, where the rule now limits how many long-tenured veterans can even stay on the team, and that kind of cutoff could force Miami to make some uncomfortable decisions as it sorts out who fits the new model and who no longer does. [Read more 🡒]
Samson Okunlola Vs Matthew McCoy Feels Like Miamis Biggest 2026 Battle
Miamis offensive line picture for 2026 is already getting a familiar kind of attention, and it starts with Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy. Okunlola arrived with the kind of pedigree that made him one of the more intriguing tackle prospects in the country, while McCoy has built his case through steady availability and a growing role up front. Between them, Miami has two linemen with different paths, different strengths and a shared chance to shape what the Hurricanes want to be on offense next season.
The real question is where each one fits best, and that decision could end up defining the lines balance. Miami has to sort out whether Okunlola is better protected on the outside or whether his frame and skill set translate inside, while McCoys experience gives the staff another option to consider at guard or elsewhere depending on how the pieces settle. However it plays out, this is the kind of battle that can quietly matter as much as any headline spot on the roster. [Read more 🡒]