Miami will have no shortage of talent on hand next weekend when Florida State comes to Hard Rock Stadium.
The Hurricanes are set to host a long list of recruits and commits for the matchup with the Seminoles, spanning multiple classes and loading the stands with targets at just about every position group.
The headliners start in the 2027 class, where Miami will welcome running back Ty Keys of Poplarville HS in Mississippi, wide receivers Nicholas Lennear of Miami Carol City and Eli Woodard of Chaparral HS in California, and tight end Demarcus Deroche of Cardinal Gibbons. The defensive side brings in edge rushers Jaiden Bryant of Irmo HS and Jayvon Dawson of Santaluces, along with defensive lineman Josh Johnson of Key West.
Miami’s also expecting several linebackers and defensive backs from the 2027 group, including Noah Glover of Battlefield HS, AJ Randle of Garner HS, corners A'Mir Sears of Columbus HS, Sherrod Gourdine of Mcarthur HS, Ai'King Hall of Dothan HS, and Donte Wright Jr. of Long Beach Polytechnic HS. Safeties Andre Hyppolite of North Miami Beach and Jaylyn Jones of Mcarthur HS are also on the list, along with quarterback Israel Abrams of Montini Catholic HS, offensive lineman Sean Tatum of John Carroll Catholic, and Tyler Ford of Gainesville HS in Georgia.
The 2028 class is even deeper. Miami is slated to host quarterback Knox Annis of Mandarin HS, a stacked group of offensive linemen in Kweli Fielder, Jamarios Canton, Maui Tonata, Hunter Hill, Nijai Thigpen, and George Selvie, plus running backs Acely Brown, Kevin Hartsfield, and Xander Edwards.
Wideouts Tony Brown, Derrell Hines, Jaylen Addai, and Brysen Wright are also expected, as are tight ends Peter Pierre, Grant Bowen, Xevien Brinson, Tremont (Tre) Oiler, and J.C. Wessel.
That class also includes plenty of defensive talent: Malik Muhammad, Myles Tate, and Asher Ghioto at end; Prince Che, Jamarcus Johnson, and Caleb Tucker up front; linebackers Gabriel Player, Andre Alexander Jr., and Chris Morillo; defensive backs Nasir Richardson, Troy Bishop, Cyion Smith, Jalen Flowers, and Casey Barner; plus kicker Dima Petrov of Hanover HS in New Hampshire.
The 2029 group adds more local names and more depth across the board. Miami Carol City’s Ben McFadden Jr. is set to attend, along with Gulliver Prep defensive lineman Gabriel Ellis, Columbus linebacker Sekou Toure, and Carolwood Day Prep corner James Allen. The list also includes quarterback Christian Cypher of Carrollton HS in Georgia, running backs Ty Nolan, Zachary Watts, and Brian Wilson, wide receivers Tarrens Catul and Tihiem Hutchins, corners Jacorey Shockley, DeMarcus Van Dyke Jr., and Derrick Jones Jr., and safety Jamar Brinson Jr. of Miami Carol City.
For 2030, Miami will have another wave of young visitors, including offensive lineman Griff Harris of St. Thomas Aquinas, running back KJ Baker of Brentwood Academy, tight end Eli Knight of Jackson County HS, cornerbacks Braylon Bennett and Seth Griffin, and safety Donte Anderson of Miami Northwestern.
The youngest names on the list are 2031 running back Roderick Louis III of Carol City Middle School and ATH Mikel Leshoure Jr.
In Other News...
Miami Fans Have Several Bye Week Games That Suddenly Matter
Miamis Week 6 off date gives the Hurricanes a little breathing room, but it also turns the schedule into a scoreboard-watching exercise. With the ACC still sorting itself out and the national picture taking shape, a handful of games suddenly carry more weight for Miami fans than they might have a month ago, especially when they involve familiar league rivals and teams with playoff ambitions.
Florida State at Louisville and North Carolina at Pittsburgh are among the ACC matchups worth tracking, while Stanfords trip to Notre Dame adds another layer to the conference race and the broader postseason conversation. Beyond that, games like Indiana at Nebraska, UCLA at Oregon and Georgia at Alabama could matter indirectly for Miamis standing and for how the College Football Playoff debate unfolds, which is part of the fun of an open week when a teams path can shift as much on the field as it does from afar. [Read more 🡒]
JJ Dunnigan Just Forced A Bigger Miami Secondary Decision
JJ Dunnigans showing at Clemson gave Miami another reminder that its secondary picture is still very much in motion. Even with questions about his health hanging over him, he came away with a notable interception and flashed the kind of speed that makes coaches look for ways to get him on the field. On the latest discussion from David Lake and DMoney, Dunnigans athleticism kept coming up as the sort of trait that can change a defensive back rotation in a hurry.
The bigger question now is how Miami sorts out the rest of that group, especially with Omar Thornton, Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald all part of the conversation about fit and role. Dunnigans case for nickelback has only grown stronger because of the way he showed up in a high-profile road game, and the staff will have to weigh his impact against everyone else in a secondary that still seems to be taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Freshman May Have Changed A Key Offensive Line Battle
The left guard spot had been one of the quieter but more important questions for Miami heading into the Clemson game, and freshman Ben Congdon may have helped answer it. Congdon got the start and stayed on the field for 61 of 66 snaps, giving the Hurricanes a steady presence on the interior while the offense leaned on the ground game and found success running the ball.
Pro Football Focus gave Congdon a 54.7 pass-blocking grade and a 71.3 run-blocking grade, a decent snapshot of a young lineman who looked ready for a bigger role. Mario Cristobal praised both Congdons performance and his attitude after the game, which only adds to the sense that Miami may have found a real contender in a battle that was very much still open. [Read more 🡒]