Miami’s recruiting board is still very much in motion, but the message coming out of the program is clear: the Hurricanes are not backing off their top targets.
The biggest immediate storyline is the decommitment of Jatori Williams, which caught people around the program off guard. Sources say Miami still views Williams highly as both a person and a player, and that there is no truth to the idea that he was simply dropped.
Instead, this looks like a Deep South recruiting battle with distance working against Miami. Even so, the expectation is that the Hurricanes will keep pushing hard for him just as they do for any priority recruit.
That same aggressive approach is showing up elsewhere on the board. Miami’s focus remains squarely on Plan A+ names, not fallback options, and the staff has not eased up in its pursuit of OT Mark Matthews, who is committed to Texas A&M.
The Aggies’ recent struggles are helping Miami’s case, but this is still expected to be a back-and-forth fight. Still, the Hurricanes believe they are in it to win it, and money was never the issue.
On defense, EDGE DJ Jacobs is the top priority. Miami already has five-star EDGE commit Jaiden Bryant, and Bryant’s senior season has been described as dominant.
The plan is to potentially pair Bryant and Jacobs as instant-impact pass rushers to help replace the premium talent Miami could lose. Jacobs and his brother, Dawson Jacobs, a big 2028 target, are set to visit for the Pitt game, and the expectation is that Miami will roll out the red carpet.
Another name generating real buzz is five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright. The feeling around Miami’s chances there is positive, and this weekend’s visit gives the Hurricanes a major opening to build on that momentum.
There could also be movement both into and out of the class as the staff continues to evaluate senior tape. Two players drawing strong reviews are Aston Whiteside, who is committed to Texas A&M, and Quinton Cypher, who is committed to Ohio State.
The portal is still far off, but Miami is expected to be in the mix for any NFL-type defensive tackle prospects when that time comes.
In Other News...
Miami Is Building Real Momentum In A Massive WR Recruiting Battle
Miamis pursuit of five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright has quietly become one of the more important recruiting battles on its 2028 board. The Hurricanes are viewed as a leading contender, and that standing comes with some real weight given the crowd of national powers also chasing him, including Florida, Ohio State and Texas. Wright has already made multiple trips to campus, which gives Miami a chance to keep building on familiarity instead of starting from scratch.
Hard Rock Stadium is set to be part of the next step in that relationship when Wright comes in for a game visit, a chance for the Hurricanes to lean on atmosphere, staff connection and the kind of in-person experience that can matter in a long recruiting fight. For Miami, the broader appeal is obvious: landing a player with this level of profile would be a major statement, especially in a race where the margin between contender and favorite can change quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Darian Mensah Is Keeping Miami In A Huge 2027 Draft Conversation
After Week 6 of the college football season, the latest look at the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback board brought a familiar mix of movement and uncertainty, with Dante Moore still sidelined by a concussion, CJ Carr turning in another strong outing for Notre Dame and Arch Manning coming off a rough loss to Oklahoma. The list also included several other rising names, but for Miami fans, Darian Mensah is the one worth watching closely as the early draft conversation starts to take shape.
Mensahs place in that mix matters because these early rankings are starting to separate the quarterbacks who are just flashing from the ones building something sturdier over time. With Julian Sayin, Drew Mestemaker, Trinidad Chambliss, Jayden Maiava and LaNorris Sellers also in the conversation, the board is crowded, and the next stretch of the season could keep reshuffling it. For Miami, Mensah staying in that discussion is the kind of development that can linger deep into the fall, especially with so much still to be decided. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Telling Rivalry Test At Miami
Miami comes out of its bye week with a prime-time ACC matchup at home, and the timing gives the Hurricanes a chance to reset before another rivalry game with real weight. Florida State arrives with some baggage after a rough stretch and a recent roster move that adds another layer of uncertainty, while both teams bring rushing attacks that can tilt a game quickly if one side starts dictating the line of scrimmage.
For Miami, the biggest development is on defense, where the extra time off is expected to help get key pieces back in healthier shape. That matters in a game like this, where discipline and physicality usually decide more than style points, and where the Hurricanes will try to protect home field against a rival that badly needs a response. [Read more 🡒]