Miami football is still playing meaningful games deep into December - and that’s changing everything inside the program. From recruiting to development to the culture in the locker room, the Hurricanes are finally operating like a program that expects to be in the national conversation. And for a team that spent years watching the Alabamas and Georgias of the world from the outside, this postseason run is more than just extra practices - it’s a signal that Miami football is back in the room where it happens.
On the December 27th episode of the CanesInSight Podcast, hosts DMoney and 50 from Category 6 Sports broke down exactly what this moment means for the Hurricanes. And if you’re a Miami fan, it’s hard not to feel the shift.
“This is what the big boys do,” DMoney said. “Jackson Cantwell, JJ Sparks, Somourian Wingo, JJ Dunnigan, Camdin Portis, Javion Mallory - all these incoming freshmen are already on campus practicing. That only happens when your season’s still going in late December.”
For years, Miami watched college football’s elite stack the deck with early enrollees getting valuable bowl prep reps. Now, the Canes are the ones building that edge - and it’s already starting to show.
Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell is turning heads before he’s even put on a game jersey. “I heard he looks good just walking around,” DMoney said.
“He’s standing next to Markel Bell and doesn’t look out of place.” That’s not just about size - it’s about presence.
And when you add in Cantwell’s background as a national champion shot-putter, it’s easy to see why the coaching staff is excited. “He’s got dynamite in his hands,” DMoney said.
“He’s not rolling through guys - he’s just pushing them.”
It’s that rare blend of raw power and mental makeup that gives Cantwell a real shot to make an early impact. DMoney drew a parallel to Bell, who came in with tools but needed polish - and is now a force up front. “Cantwell’s got that same combo of mind and size,” he said.
50 sees it too. “He’s got that walk-on mindset,” he said.
“He’s coming in ready to work. That’s why I feel good about him.”
And that’s the new standard in Coral Gables. It’s not just about having talent - it’s about developing it into something that can win in January.
DMoney put it plainly: “We’re not talking about a freshman making plays against Boston College. We’re talking about guys who Ohio State has to gameplan for in a playoff game.”
As for who could be next to make that leap, 50 rattled off names like Wingo and Dunnigan - but came back to Cantwell as the safest bet. “You just never know who’s gonna blow up,” he said.
“But that dude? He’s different.”
What’s making all of this sustainable is the culture the young guys are walking into. DMoney painted the picture: a freshman steps into the locker room and sees players like Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, and Malachi Moten already setting the tone.
“The players teach the players,” he said. “That’s how elite programs work.”
And that belief is spreading. “These kids believe now,” 50 said.
“Once a coach delivers on something he told you, it just goes up from there. That development stuff?
It adds up. The great character guys add up.”
That internal growth is already paying dividends on the recruiting trail. DMoney pointed to two major targets: DJ Jacobs, the top player in the Class of 2027, and Mark Matthews, the No. 1 offensive player in the same class.
“Both could be Canes,” he said. “And now you’re telling them, ‘You’re gonna go against the best every day.’”
And it’s not just a pitch anymore. It’s reality.
“We have the best defensive ends and tackles right now,” DMoney said. “Jackson Cantwell is already on campus practicing.
You’re not selling them a dream.”
50 put it even more bluntly: “That’s big-boy football now.”
The support structure behind the scenes has leveled up, too. DMoney pointed to a moment that captured it all - the university president standing behind Mario Cristobal at Kyle Field, with trustees and major donors right there with him.
“They’re all seeing what their investment is producing,” he said. “When you give and you get this, there’s no going back.
You can’t get cheap now.”
And the mentality inside the locker room is matching that energy. DMoney shared a story from a Kia-sponsored segment involving young defensive linemen Hayden Lowe and Armondo Blount.
When Lowe asked Blount who the greatest athlete of all time was, Blount answered, “Me.” Lowe didn’t flinch: “Then I’m the greatest athlete of all time, because I can’t let you have that.”
That’s the edge Miami has been chasing. “You’re not just paying five-stars,” DMoney said.
“You’re paying guys with the mindset.” 50 echoed that. “We’re not acting tough.
We really on that. We are the alphas.”
This isn’t about hope anymore. It’s about execution.
Miami isn’t trying to join the elite - it’s operating like it belongs. As 50 said, “It just feel good to be a real program again.”
And finally, after years of waiting, the Hurricanes aren’t just back - they’re building something that might last.