When the conversation around Miami’s linebackers turned to Wesley Bissainthe, the answer from people around the program came back pretty quickly: no. After the news broke about Bissainthe receiving a TRO, the debate among fans picked up fast, but after checking in with sources and weighing it over the last few days, the sense is that a reunion is not expected - and probably shouldn’t be.
That matters because the real story in this room is not one former name. It’s the group Miami already has.
At the top are Mo Toure and Chase Smith, two veterans who have already lived through the grind of college football and come out the other side. Toure, now an eighth-year player, has the simplest storyline in the room: health.
When he’s right, he’s one of the best defenders on the team, and his strongest stretch last season came late as he got healthier. Smith, a sixth-year player, is in a similar spot after his own injury history, and he looks noticeably better physically.
Both are listed around 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, and both are moving with more burst than they did a year ago.
Former Hurricanes wide receiver Ahmmon Richards has noticed the change in Smith, especially the way he’s carrying himself as a leader. “I haven't heard him speak this much on Greentree more than I think I've ever heard from him ever out there ... trying to be vocal, be a leader.”
Those two give Miami a sturdy foundation. But the ceiling of the linebacker room is going to be determined by the next layer.
That’s where Cam Pruitt and Kellen Wiley Jr. come in. Pruitt is up to 210 pounds now and has moved beyond being just the guy people remember from the safety conversation that followed him from his earlier days. The staff trusts his speed and his versatility, and now that he’s wearing No. 4, he brings a coverage element that stands out in this group.
Wiley is the type of player coaches love to keep finding ways to use. He has the size, speed and athleticism that can make him valuable whether he’s lined up off the ball or pushed up to the edge. If Miami’s linebackers are going to be more than solid, it’s because players like Pruitt and Wiley force that conversation.
Richards sees Pruitt as the obvious next man in line behind the veteran starters. “I see Bobby Pruitt as really that next guy up ... he's that third linebacker.”
Behind that top group, Miami has more bodies with enough traits to matter early. Ezekiel Marcelin and Kamal Bonner sit in the next tier, and both are already stronger against the run than they are in coverage. Even so, they can help right away on early downs.
Then there’s the freshman class, which brings a different kind of intrigue. Karsten Busch, Jordan Campbell and JJ Edwards have all flashed during camp.
Edwards stands out as the most athletic and the lightest of the three, which gives him the best chance to make a big jump because of what he can do moving. Campbell is making a bigger position shift, going from an edge role in high school to full-time linebacker, and that kind of transition takes time.
The tools are there, though.
Camp reps tell part of the story, but the real test comes later. “Ultimately I think with these young linebackers, it's who's going to do their thing when it's actually time to play.”
Zoom out, and Miami’s linebacker room looks less like a collection of marquee names and more like a group built on development, physical growth and upside. Corey Hetherman and his staff have pieces they can work with, and they’re doing it without needing a portal fix or a veteran comeback to hold everything together.
With Toure and Smith healthy, Pruitt and Wiley raising the ceiling, and the younger players showing real traits, this room looks better than its name value suggests.
In Other News...
Miami Landed A'Mir Sears But One Recruiting Fight May Just Begin
Miami added a major piece to its future with A'Mir Sears, the five-star prospect who reclassified from 2028 to 2027 and quickly chose the Hurricanes. The move gives Mario Cristobal and his staff an elite top-20 recruit with a long list of scholarship offers from major programs, and it reinforces the idea that Miami is trying to stack premium talent early rather than wait for the cycle to unfold.
Sears is also expected to be more than just a headline commitment, with the Hurricanes viewing him as a possible two-way contributor and a centerpiece for what could become a strong 2027 class. But landing him is only part of the challenge, because reclassified prospects often bring a new layer of attention right away, and Miami may have to keep fighting to hold off the rest of the sports heavy hitters until signing day. [Read more 🡒]
A'mir Sears Already Looks Like A Miami Weapon Everywhere
Amir Sears is already making the kind of all-around impression that gets Miami fans thinking beyond the recruiting rankings. The 2027 Hurricanes commit has been everywhere for Christopher Columbus against Bishop Gorman, finding the end zone twice and coming up with an interception in the first half while playing nearly every snap against a roster loaded with college prospects.
What stands out is not just the production, but how many different ways Sears is affecting the game. Miami has reasons to like him as a future piece because he keeps showing the versatility to line up, move around and impact a game in multiple phases, the sort of profile that can translate to a few different roles once he gets to Coral Gables. [Read more 🡒]
Miamis Week 1 Offense Still Has A Few Spots To Settle
Miami is heading into its season opener against Stanford with most of the Week 1 offense taking shape after training camp, and the projected depth chart gives a decent snapshot of where things stand. Darian Mensah looks lined up to start at quarterback, Mark Fletcher Jr. appears set to lead the backfield, and Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate are positioned as the top wideouts as the Hurricanes try to get the unit settled before the first snap.
Even with those key spots largely mapped out, there is still some sorting to do up front and at tight end, where the staff has continued to work through battles and projected starters. Coaches are expected to finalize the lineup soon, and for Miami, the real intrigue is whether those last few decisions are simply about matching practice performance or about finding the combination that best holds the offense together in a Week 1 test. [Read more 🡒]