The Miami Hurricanes are deep into the grind now, and Friday night’s first scrimmage gave the staff its first real chance to sort out who can be counted on when the lights come on in 2026.
That’s what camp turns into at this stage: less about raw talent, more about who keeps showing up, who handles the details, and who starts to separate from the crowd. UM gets another look at that on Friday with its second scrimmage, and there are a few spots worth watching closely.
One of the biggest is the WR3 job.
Miami already knows what it has in Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate. Both receivers finished 2025 with more than 1,000 yards, so the top of the room is settled. The question is who steps into that third spot and becomes a real part of the offense.
Joshua Moore has flashed big-time upside, but he still needs more consistency. Daylyn Upshaw can be trusted to do his job, though he may fit better in the slot than at X receiver.
Vandrevius Jacobs brings speed that can stress defenses vertically, but he still has to prove he can run the full route tree. Then there’s Somourian Wingo, a freshman with star potential who is still working his way toward steady first-team reps.
That role matters because whoever wins it should get chances. This offense is going to feature that receiver. The real question is whether that player can make enough plays against a Notre Dame secondary that is described as excellent, along with the other CFP-level corners Miami expects to face.
Another spot drawing attention is left guard, where SJ Alofaituli is trying to hold his own despite looking different from the rest of Miami’s offensive line. At 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds, he stands out next to the bigger bodies around him, including Samson Okunlola, Ben Congdon, Jackson Cantwell and Matthew McCoy.
Size is the obvious contrast, but Alofaituli has earned praise for his strength, power and movement skills. His quick feet help him climb to the second level in the run game, and they also allow him to stay effective in pass protection when he has to change direction.
Still, he would be an outlier in a Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal line room that usually favors linemen who are at least 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds. Miami now has to decide whether he can keep the job heading into the season opener against Stanford, or whether the staff will turn to options like Congdon, Cantwell or Max Buchanan.
The freshman class is another major storyline as camp wears on.
This is the stretch where younger players often start to fade, and the ones who keep pushing through begin earning real trust from the coaches. Miami’s freshmen have already made a strong first impression, and now they have to prove they can be dependable.
On offense, Congdon and Cantwell are pushing to contribute right away up front. Wingo has a shot to carve out a meaningful role at receiver.
Tight end Gavin Mueller showed intriguing ability in Friday’s scrimmage. Running back Javian Mallory keeps popping with explosive runs as he tries to crack a deep backfield.
The defense has freshman names to watch too. JJ Dunnigan has stood out for his physicality and football IQ in the secondary, while nickel Camdin Portis has flashed real playmaking instincts.
Miami doesn’t need to lean on a bunch of freshmen, especially with so many veterans on the roster ready to do their jobs. But when a young player can add talent and juice, it can matter in a season where the margins are thin.
Last year at this time, Malachi Toney and Bryce Fitzgerald were already making that kind of case. Toney kept showing he was the most consistent playmaker in camp, and Fitzgerald kept proving he was the best ballhawk in the secondary. They never hit the freshman wall.
Now the question is which newcomers will keep climbing through the dog days of camp.
In Other News...
Miami Just Took An Unexpected Hit In Its Receiver Room
Miamis receiver room took an unexpected turn this week when Mario Cristobal announced Cam Vaughn was no longer with the program. Vaughn had arrived in January as a transfer after stops at West Virginia and Jacksonville State, and he had been one of the more interesting newcomers to watch as camp unfolded.
His presence had added another layer of competition to an offense still sorting out its depth chart, and he had drawn praise from both coaches and teammates along the way. Vaughn had been working with the third-team offense while pushing for a bigger role, so his departure leaves Miami with one less option as fall camp continues to shape the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Is Already Making Tough Camp Cuts At A Key Position
Miamis camp has already turned serious at wide receiver, where the Hurricanes are still sorting out a crowded group ahead of the season opener against Stanford. Three players have been dismissed during camp, part of a broader push as the staff continues to evaluate effort and consistency in practice.
Head coach Manny Diaz addressed the situation on a radio show and made clear that the standard in camp is not optional. The message is aimed at a position group with plenty of competition, and the ongoing cuts show Miami is willing to make difficult decisions now rather than let camp drag on with unfinished business. [Read more 🡒]