Miami’s freshman class may not have to wait long to make an impact.
The Hurricanes opened last season with first-year players flashing all over the place, from Malachi Toney winning ACC Rookie of the Year to Bryce Fitzgerald leading the ACC in interceptions. That kind of instant production has raised the bar in Coral Gables, and Mario Cristobal made it clear that talent alone is not enough to get on the field.
"We have talented football players, and we have some that mature at a more accelerated rate than others, and in a world where you've probably seen the model out there that older teams have had a lot of success for right teams to have older players and whatnot, and we'd like to think that there is there's a lot of truth to that, but in those older players you find maturity," Cristobal said.
He pointed to Toney as the kind of freshman who handled that jump the right way.
"Because a great example is Malachi Tony. He was 18 years old, but Malachi Tony is mature like a 25-year-old pro. So that is one of our big focuses of making sure that where they just got here or have been here for a while, that their levels of maturity and professionalism are that we can trust them, right, and that their teammates can trust them."
Cristobal also said the program has leaned on some familiar Miami voices to reinforce that standard.
"We've had Calais Campbell, Jon Vilma, Jimmy Johnson, Greg Olsen stopped by the other day, and he talked about that," Cristobal said. "About how in the huddle everyone knows right who is put in the work and who can be trusted, and in our huddle and in our practices that trust is earned and everyone's tested on a daily basis. So I don't know if I answered your question, but I hope it gives you an idea of the way we view it and the way that we try to implement our principles and values to our processes."
A few freshmen have already separated themselves during camp. Offensive linemen Jackson Cantwell and Ben Cogden have drawn attention and are projected starters this season. On defense, JJ Dunnagan has kept stacking strong days and could earn a role in personnel packages.
Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has been especially vocal about Dunnagan’s camp.
"He's had a really good camp," Hetherman said. "He had, once again, another pick again today, three picks the other day.
He's a guy, you know, last year we talked about Bryce Fitzgerald early on in camp. He always found the ball.
He loves football.
"He competes every single play. The ball just seems to find him.
Today, he picked off, high-pointed a ball, picked it off, went and attacked, and he worked up the sideline. So he's a guy, he's had a really good camp.
I'm excited to see him get an opportunity on the field."
With Stanford coming to town Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET, Miami’s freshmen could get their first real chance to show whether all that offseason buzz carries over when the lights come on.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Could Finally Push Back If Jimbo Fisher Returns
Jimbo Fishers name is back in the coaching conversation after the former Texas A&M and Florida State head coach said he is open to returning to the sideline, and he has already shown interest in the Auburn opening. For Miami, the storyline matters because Fisher has long been a familiar figure in South Florida recruiting circles, where any experienced coach with SEC ties can still complicate the Hurricanes efforts to keep local talent at home under Mario Cristobal.
Fisher has also been mentioned as a possible fit at places like North Carolina, Maryland and UCF, but for now he remains in the analyst role with no new job lined up. Even so, the possibility of him re-entering the market adds another layer to a recruiting battleground Cristobal has been working to control, especially if Fisher lands somewhere that gives him a direct path back into the region Miami cares about most. [Read more 🡒]
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Bauman is also planning to enter the transfer portal, adding another layer to a situation that could ripple beyond one roster spot. For Miami, it is another reminder that the tight end room is still unsettled in the final stretch before the season begins, and the legal fight around Baumans future is now part of the backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Could Suddenly Have A Familiar Tight End Decision To Make
Former Miami tight end Alex Bauman is back in the spotlight after filing for a temporary restraining order in an effort to enter the transfer portal and pursue another season of college football eligibility. Bauman spent one year with the Hurricanes after transferring from Tulane, and his presence gave Miami a useful combination of blocking toughness and receiving ability at a position that often asks for both.
The timing is what makes this situation feel especially familiar and potentially complicated for Miami. The Hurricanes are past the drop/add deadline, which makes an immediate return to the roster unlikely even if the legal side of Baumans request moves forward, leaving the program to monitor a decision that could affect its tight end depth in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]