Miami’s push for five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright still matters, but it no longer looks like the clean runway it once did.
The top-ranked pass catcher in the 2028 class has a crowded field around him now, with Texas and Ohio State firmly in the mix and Florida also hanging around near the front. Notre Dame, Alabama and LSU are in that group too, giving Wright the kind of national attention that comes with being ranked the No. 1 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite.
Wright, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 200-plus pounds, has the kind of frame that jumps off the screen. The source material makes it clear his play this season looks overwhelming against high school competition, and the fact that he is still just a junior only adds to the appeal.
He was recently in Austin for the Ohio State-Texas game, and that visit clearly left an impression. Wright said, “My favorite part about the trip was the game and stadium. It was crazy."
Miami still has a real angle here, though. Wright’s quarterback at Mandarin High School, Knox Annis, is already committed to the Hurricanes, and the two are close.
Malachi Toney has also been involved in the effort to bring Wright to Coral Gables. Wright put it plainly when talking about Annis: "He's recruiting me a lot [to Miami].
That's my dog."
The Hurricanes are expected to get Wright on campus for the FSU game on October 17, and he is also scheduled to be in Gainesville when Florida hosts Ole Miss on September 26. Those trips matter, but the recruitment does not sound close to a finish line anytime soon.
The read here is that Miami remains a major player, just not a solo act. The battle is shaping up to stretch deeper into the process, with January through June 2027 looking like the stretch when Wright gets back on campuses, hits junior day events and starts making official visits. That is when the picture should sharpen.
For Mario Cristobal, the mission is exactly what it has been with so many elite targets: stay in the fight, keep the momentum alive and try to close on one of the biggest prizes in the 2028 class.
In Other News...
Miami Is About To Face Its First Real Test Up Front
Miamis offense is about to find out a lot more about itself. After two games of easing into the season, Shannon Dawson and Mario Cristobal are focused on a step up in class next week, when the Hurricanes run into a Wake Forest defensive front that has already shown it can make life uncomfortable.
For Miami, the spotlight is squarely on the offensive line and the kind of communication that tends to get tested most when the opponent can win up front without needing much help. Cristobal and Dawson both pointed to Wake Forests early-season defensive work as a reminder that this wont be another dress rehearsal, and the Hurricanes will need cleaner timing and sharper coordination to handle a much tougher assignment. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Is Still In The Fight For A Massive 5-Star Target
Mark Matthews remains one of the biggest name recruits Miami is still chasing in the 2027 cycle, and the Hurricanes are not backing off despite his pledge to Texas A&M. The five-star offensive lineman from St. Thomas Aquinas has stayed in contact with Miami, and the staff continues to treat him as a priority target as it looks to keep stacking talent up front.
Matthews has shown appreciation for the Hurricanes' effort and the family atmosphere around the program, which at least keeps the door open as Miami pushes to strengthen its offensive line haul. With a highly ranked 2027 class already taking shape, landing a player of Matthews' caliber would be a major add, even if he has not suggested any change to his commitment yet. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Faces An Early Test That Could Change Everything
Miamis early-season path gets a quick reality check Friday night when the Hurricanes head to Wake Forest, a road stop that comes with more weight than the calendar might suggest. Around college football, Oregon is trying to steady itself after a loss to Oklahoma State and Houston is staring at No. 13 Texas Tech in Lubbock, so Miamis matchup fits into a busy night that could start shaping how teams are viewed before the schedule really settles in.
For the Hurricanes, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the conversation around where they stand and how far they have to go. Road games always bring a different level of scrutiny, and with standings and perception both still in flux, Miami has a chance to make an early statement while the season is still young and the margin for error is thin. [Read more 🡒]