With Miami on its bye week in the 2026-27 college football season, Mario Cristobal’s staff isn’t sitting still. While the Hurricanes’ players recover and keep training for the next opponent, several assistants are out on the recruiting trail checking in on some of the program’s top commits.
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is set to visit all three of his committed quarterbacks: Israel Abrams at Montini Catholic, CJ Cypher at Carrollton, and 2028 Knox Annis at Mandarin.
Up front, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal has a full slate. He’ll see four-star 2028 commit Kweli Fielder at Carrollton High School, watch 6-foot-5, 320-pound four-star commit Jatori Williams against Smiths Station, and stop by Gainesville High School to connect with three-star commit Tyler Ford.
Running backs coach Favian Upshaw will check in on four-star running back commit Ty Keys at Poplarville High School, while wide receivers coach Kevin Beard will make his way to see four-star commit Eli Woodard.
On the defensive side, coordinator Corey Hetherman is heading to Virginia to visit four-star Noah Glover at Battlefield High School, then will also see four-star AJ Randle at Garner High School in North Carolina.
Defensive line coach Damione Lewis will touch base with 6-foot-2, 265-pound four-star commit Ezekiel Ayanagbile and travel to Pearland, Texas, to watch three-star commit DeMarco Jenkins play against Alvin High School.
Defensive ends coach Jason Taylor will be seeing three-star Jayvon Dawson and five-star Jaiden Bryant.
At the back end, safeties coach Will Harris will circle back with five-star Donte Wright in Long Beach, California, and cornerback coach Terry Jefferson will be seeing four-star Ai'King Hall.
In Other News...
Malachi Toneys Viral Clemson Moment Has Miami Fans Debating The Coverage
After Miamis win over Clemson, wide receiver Malachi Toney found himself at the center of a moment that had little to do with the scoreboard and plenty to do with how it was framed afterward. Toneys postgame hug with Dabo Swinney stood out as a simple show of sportsmanship, and the clip quickly spread well beyond the usual reach of a victory recap.
What followed was a different kind of conversation, with Miami fans focusing on the sideline reporters comments as much as the exchange itself. The reaction also pulled old memories back into the picture, including previous criticism of ESPN reporter Holly Rowe during college football coverage, turning one brief postgame scene into a wider debate about how these moments get covered. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Has An Early Edge In A Recruitment Fans Will Watch Closely
Brysen Wrights upcoming trip to Coral Gables is another reminder that Miami has already done a lot of the early work in one of the most closely watched recruiting races in the country. The No. 1 prospect in the 2028 class is set to be on campus Oct. 17 for the Florida State game, giving the Hurricanes another chance to impress a recruit who has already been around the program multiple times more than any other school.
Miamis position has drawn notice beyond the usual recruiting chatter, including praise from Wrights father, but the competition is far from settled. Florida, Texas and Ohio State are still in the mix, which is why this visit matters so much for Miami as it tries to turn an early edge into something sturdier as the process continues. [Read more 🡒]
Malachi Toney Is Still Producing But Miami Has A Real Concern
Malachi Toney kept working against Clemson even as the Tigers made him earn everything, with cornerback Ashton Hampton helping keep the Miami receiver in check. He still finished with five catches for 40 yards, a line that fit the kind of day it was for the Hurricanes' passing game, but it also underscored how central Toney has become to Miamis offense even while hes clearly not at full strength.
Miami heads into the bye week with a few key players banged up, and Toney is one of the names worth watching most closely. He has continued to put up strong numbers on the season, but the reduced speed he showed against Clemson adds another layer to the Hurricanes' injury picture, especially with the stretch run approaching and the offense needing him to keep drawing attention every week. [Read more 🡒]