Fall camp has reached the point where freshmen either start earning real trust or fade into the background, and Miami is getting a fresh look at that on Friday night with its second scrimmage.
That matters because the Hurricanes have already shown under Mario Cristobal that true freshmen can climb fast when they prove they can handle the daily grind. Last year, wide receiver Malachi Toney and safety Bryce Fitzgerald were turning heads at this stage of camp, and both finished as True Freshman All-Americans.
Miami also leaned on true freshmen in a big way in 2023 with OL Francis Mauigoa and DE Rueben Bain, then saw CB OJ Frederique emerge as a true freshman starter in 2024. The pattern is clear: if a young player can perform now, Cristobal won’t wait around.
So which freshmen have the best chance to make that kind of move this week?
RB Javian Mallory is one of the names worth watching. Miami’s running back room is already loaded, but Mallory keeps taking advantage of every chance he gets.
He may be RB5 on the depth chart, yet his runs keep standing out. He’s not the biggest or fastest back in the room, but he brings good vision and contact balance, and that fits well in UM’s duo rushing scheme.
He’ll bang into the A-gap and keep his legs moving for tough yards, but he can also press the hole and bounce it outside when there’s room for a bigger play. Running back is the most physical spot on offense, and Miami having five backs it can trust is a luxury.
Mallory keeps pushing to be one of them.
Somourian Wingo has a different kind of opening in front of him. With Cam Vaughn dismissed from the team and the outside receiver group not exactly locking down the WR3 job, Wingo has a real chance to step into the conversation.
At 6-feet-2 and 190 pounds, he already looks the part for a young receiver, and he shows a knack for attacking the ball in the air. He’s already one of the better 50-50 ball winners on the roster.
Just as important, he plays with the aggressive, competitive edge this Cristobal staff likes. If he keeps making plays with the opportunities he gets, Wingo could carve out a meaningful role in the 2026 offense.
The offensive line freshmen have also made noise, and Ben Congdon is hard to miss. At 6-feet-8 and 330 pounds, he’s a massive presence with rare strength and impressive balance for his size.
He’s competing for the starting job at right guard and is steadily building trust with the staff through consistently solid work. He doesn’t even look like a freshman physically, and it would be a surprise if he isn’t eventually a starter in 2026.
Jackson Cantwell is in the same category as a true freshman lineman who looks built for the next level. Listed at 6-feet-7 and 330 pounds, he brings natural power that already makes him one of Miami’s most effective run blockers.
The next step is sharpening the mental side - communicating better, processing assignments before the snap and getting his pass protection technique more consistent. He’ll get chances at both guard and tackle this season, and it feels like a matter of time before he puts everything together.
That time is expected to come sometime in 2026.
Then there’s JJ Dunnigan, another big-time athlete in the freshman class. At 6-feet-3 and 205 pounds, he brings size, speed and real physicality to the secondary.
Dunnigan can cover ground quickly, and he also brings violent contact when he finishes tackles. His athleticism gives him versatility, since he can work at safety or nickel.
Right now, he projects as a rotational safety who will contribute in a backup role on defense, but the upside is obvious. Dunnigan has the look of a future star.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Takes Miami's Game Night Frustration Straight To The ACC
Mario Cristobals latest gripe with the ACC has less to do with travel or television windows than with something deeply rooted in South Florida football culture. During an interview with ESPNs Rece Davis, the Miami coach made clear he would rather keep high school football on Friday nights, pushing back on the leagues recent habit of putting early-season Hurricanes games on Fridays and Thursdays.
For Cristobal, the issue is bigger than a scheduling inconvenience. Those weekday college games create a direct conflict with the high school matchups that help define Miami-Dade County, and they also keep the Hurricanes staff from getting out to see local prospects and community programs in person. His point was simple enough: he wants a balance that lets both levels of football matter, without college scheduling crowding out one of the regions most important nights. [Read more 🡒]
Francis Mauigoa Is Giving Miami Fans Another Reason To Brag
Francis Mauigoa is already starting to look like the kind of pro Miami fans love to claim as one of their own. The former Hurricanes offensive lineman, taken 10th overall by the New York Giants in the 2026 NFL Draft, has made a smooth early transition from college tackle to left guard, and it has shown up in preseason work that has drawn attention for all the right reasons.
What stands out most is how quickly Mauigoa has earned respect on both sides of the line. His athleticism has been a talking point, and Giants defensive tackle DJ Reader has singled out the rookies energy and the way he has affected the team, a strong early sign that Miami may have sent New York a player ready to make noise right away. [Read more 🡒]