ACC Media Days brought a few interesting Miami notes, and Mario Cristobal gave one of the more revealing answers of the day when he was asked about how the Hurricanes approach the quarterback market in the portal.
Cristobal made it clear Miami was willing to move when Darian entered the portal, and he explained why the staff went after him.
“Well, we were in the market for a quarterback,” Cristobal said. “We felt that the team was really set in so many areas.
When Darian hit the portal, we felt, you know what, this is a guy we would love to pursue. Watching crossover tape with so many opponents that we had faced, we saw his level of talent and play.
And what really took us by surprise in a great way is what an incredible young man he is. His levels of leadership, care factor, time invested in his craft, football IQ, just natural human IQ, just an elite person along with the guys beside him.
“And we found ourselves also in a situation like in previous years where it was time to take a portal quarterback. We feel going forward that now we are set in that room from a high school standpoint with what we have on the roster and with what we have coming in.
“ I’ll also say this: that every single year is different. Even though our foundation is the high school player, we’re never going to deny ourselves the opportunity to get better as a program if there is a player that we can pick up in the portal that can help our program elevate.”
That answer points toward a shift in how Miami is thinking about the future. Luke Nickel will have a full year in the system, and incoming five-star QB Israel Abrams from Arlington Heights, IL is also in the mix. Either one could grow into a real difference-maker.
At the same time, it’s hard to ignore the possibility that a more experienced, ready-made quarterback could still become available in the portal. Those are the kinds of players programs don’t pass on lightly.
But there’s also a point where young quarterbacks need snaps and runway, and Miami may be nearing that stage. If Abrams or Nickel turns into the guy, the Hurricanes could be in position to lean on that room instead of shopping for another portal addition.
Cristobal also got a lighter question about Miami alumni on the sideline, and he didn’t waste the chance to land a joke.
“It’s important that Michael Irvin never kisses me again on national TV,” Cristobal said.
That was a nod to Irvin kissing Cristobal on the cheek after Miami’s 10-3 win at Texas A&M in the CFP first round. If the tradeoff is another kiss from the Playmaker in Las Vegas on January 25 after a title run, Cristobal probably wouldn’t mind.
On the recruiting side, Miami commit Nick Lennear made some noise over the weekend at a 7-on-7 event at St. Thomas University that was put on by 305 Sports. The 5-star Miami Carol City wide receiver, one of the headliners in Cristobal’s 2027 class, ended up being one of the event’s biggest stories.
Lennear went up against Texas A&M CB commit Loia Valade in a one-on-one rep that drew plenty of attention. He created separation with a sharp stop-and-go move, then tracked the ball into the end zone. Valade stayed with the play and got a hand on it, but Lennear still came down with the catch in the corner of the end zone.
Lennear’s ceiling is obvious, and pairing him with Malachi Toney could give Miami a dangerous duo in 2027.
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Birdens appeal goes beyond simple size, which is part of why he could be easy to overlook in a crowded rebuild. His perimeter shooting gives him a chance to stretch the floor, and his ability to handle multiple frontcourt roles could make him useful if Miami needs depth or injury cover as the season unfolds, especially with a path to minutes still blocked by the players already ahead of him. [Read more 🡒]
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Miami also likes the fit of whats ahead for Lofton. The Hurricanes plan to involve him more heavily as they adjust to changes at quarterback and in how the offense wants to attack, and that could open the door for the kind of production fans have been waiting on. The question now is how quickly that expanded role turns into real volume once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
ACC Just Sent Miami A Loud Message About 2026
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FanDuel Sportsbook has Miami as the league favorite, and Lakes ballot leaned into that expectation with multiple Hurricanes landing on his preseason teams, including Darian Mensah at quarterback. The list also included key names across the roster such as Mark Fletcher, Malachi Toney, Damon Wilson, Ahmad Moten, Justin Scott, Mohamed Toure, Xavier Lucas and Bryce Fitzgerald, with Wilsons 2025 production at Missouri standing out as one of the more notable additions. Of course, these preseason forecasts are mostly for fun and have a long history of missing the mark, but they still offer a useful snapshot of how loudly the ACC is already talking about Miami. [Read more 🡒]