Where Miami Hurricanes' 2026 recruiting class stands. Updates on who's being pursued
For 2026, the Miami Hurricanes already have assembled one of the best offensive line classes in the country, a six-prospect group led by five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell, a consensus top five player nationally.
They already have secured a quarterback whose stock continues to rise (Lakeland's Dereon Coleman).
They have a nonbinding pledge from a coveted linebacker (Miami Northwestern's Jordan Campbell); a run-stuffing defensive tackle (Tyson Bacon); three well-regarded cornerbacks (Seffner Armwood's Jaelan Waters, Jonesboro, Georgia-based Jontavius Wyman and Charlotte, N.C.-based cornerback Camdin Portis), plus West Boca Raton running back Javian Mallory, who said he remains committed after a weekend visit to Alabama.
247 Sports' ranks UM's 13-player class eighth in the country so far.
But much work remains to be done to carve out another top-10 class.
With more than 40 prospects shuffling in and out of Coral Gables this month, updates on several positions:
Tight end
UM's top target is Visalia (California) Redwood's Israel Briggs, who is rated by 247 as the nation's No. 6 tight end and No. 70 prospect overall for 2026.
He visited UM for the third time over the weekend and called the trip 'pitch perfect' in a conversation with Canesport. He confirmed in that interview that UM and LSU are the front-runners; he will visit Michigan and Tennessee in the coming weeks.
Brunswick, Georgia-based Heze Kent, a 6-3, 300-pounder, visited UM earlier this month and is considering Miami, UF and Texas. He's a behemoth in-line blocker who could also play on the offensive line.
And Miami and SMU are battling for Duncanville, Texas-based Zachery Turner, a receiving threat and 247's No. 25 tight end prospect.
Receiver
Miami has been pursuing a handful of top prospects who visited Coral Gables in June, including Hattiesburg (Mississippi) five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys (an LSU commit who's also considering UM, Tennessee and Alabama), Miami Northwestern's five-star Calvin Russell (LSU, Oregon and UF also have hosted him), Mansfield (Texas) High's Zion Robinson and Charlotte-based Tyran Evans, an angular target at 6-4.
UM emerged from the weekend hoping it can flip Evans from Tennessee; he will visit the Volunteers' campus again next weekend before deciding.
As for Robinson... Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Stanford are all in the mix but the Canes aren't considered the favorite.
But the Canes appear to have gained some steam with the 6-5 Russell, who is rated by 247 as the No. 3 receiver and No. 21 overall prospect. He's the jewel of the local recruiting class.
'I definitely feel better about the program, Miami, everything about it,' Russell told On3.com after his UM visit over the weekend.
He will announce his selection July 5, picking among dozens of suitors. Oregon and LSU might be UM's stiffest competition; LSU remains the front-runner, according to several recruiting web sites.
California-based Vance Spafford, 247 Sports' No. 12 receiver, has lined up a UM visit next weekend and the Canes hope to flip him from Georgia.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame is considered the front-runner for Texas-based slot receiver Brayden Robinson, who visited UM this month.
Four-star St. Augustine prospect Somourian Wingo, the No. 22 receiver, visited UM this month and is considering the Canes, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina.
Running back
With Mallory already committed to UM but flirting with Alabama, the Canes could end up adding two other backs. (At least one other will be signed.)
Moultrie, Georgia-based Jai Lamar (247's No. 11 running back) and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna's Derek Cooper (247's No. 3 athlete in the class) have emerged as UM's top targets.
Lamar told Inside the U that his trip to Coral Gables this past weekend 'definitely changed a lot. Miami is high on my board.' He will visit Georgia next weekend, and Clemson also is a serious consideration.
247 has established UM as the heavy favorite for Cooper, rated by that service as the 39th best overall in the 2026 class.
Defensive line
James Johnson — rated the No. 13 defensive lineman and No. 90 overall prospect — has been a priority and UM is thought to have a good chance to land the 6-3, 285-pounder. Johnson — who's also being pursued by FSU, Florida, Georgia, Penn State and others — is transferring to Miami Northwestern former North Fort Myers High.
UM is a finalist for five-star defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright, who will pick among UM, Clemson, Texas and Texas A&M on July 4. 247 Sports predicts that the Buford, Ga.-based prospect will end up at Clemson.
Baton Rouge-based Lamar Brown, rated the nation's No. 1 defensive lineman, visited UM earlier this month, but 247 Sports projects he will opt for LSU.
And Clayton (North Carolina) defensive lineman Keshawn Stancil, 247's No. 34 defensive line prospect, remains in play; Clemson, Penn State and North Carolina State also have been under consideration, with the Tigers considered the favorite.
Linebacker
Baton Rouge-based inside linebacker JaMichael Garret decommitted from Auburn Thursday afternoon and will visit UM on Wednesday. LSU, Mississippi and Texas A&M are also in the mix.
Orlando Edgewater's Justin Edwards also visited last week after recently committing to Rutgers. A flip to Miami is considered a possibility.
Five-star Mobile-based edge player Anthony Jones visited UM earlier this month, but 247 says Auburn is the heavy favorite over UM and Alabama.
Safety
UM is in the mix for multiple top 35 safeties.
Devin Jackson, who attends The First Academy in Orlando, is considering UM — as well as LSU, Oregon, Penn State, and Nebraska — after decommitting from Florida. He's rated by 247 at the No. 22 safety in the 2026 class.
Jonesboro Georgia-Based Cortez Redding, 247's No. 20 safety, visited last weekend and is looking at UM, North Carolina State and Mississippi.
Atlanta-based safety Blake Stewart, 247's No. 33 safety, made his third visit to UM last weekend, and the Canes are hoping to beat out Michigan (his next visit) and Clemson.
Greensboro (North Carolina) based Kosci Barnes also visited UM last weekend. South Carolina, Kentucky and Rutgers are in play, too. Barnes can also play corner; 247 rates him as the 61st best cornerback. But 247 reports UM might not pursue him further.
Three-star Buford Georgia-based prospect Tyriq Green is considering UM, FSU and Georgia, among others. He can play both safety spots and nickel corner. 247 has the Bulldogs as the heavy favorite.
Cornerback
Jacksonville Mandarin's Brody Jennings, rated the No. 36 cornerback in the class,remains committed to Michigan, but UM has made a very strong push.
Cornelius, N.C.-based four-star prospect Samari Matthews, rated the No. 12 cornerback by 247, visited UM this month, but Clemson, South Carolina, Texas and South Carolina are formidable competition.
New note
Even with six offensive linemen already committed, the Canes aren't done. They are scheduled to host Bradenton IMG Academy four-star interior lineman Breck Kolojay next wekend and hope to beat out Georgia for him.
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He uses a big leg kick and an aggressive right-handed stroke to turn on pitches and launch them in the air, allowing him to get the most out of his solid raw power. He'll need to tone down his approach against more advanced pitching after his chase rate ballooned to 42% last year and he struggled against non-fastballs.... He fits better at second base, also can handle third base and profiles as a power-hitting utilityman. Mendoza, 21, has a 5.45 ERA in 10 games (four starts) at High A Beloit this season and had a 2.12 ERA in two levels of A ball for the Rangers last season. ranks Mendoza 30th among Marlins prospects and noted 'Mendoza's fastball sits at 91-93 mph and tops out at 95, standing out more for its low release height than its velocity or life.. Despite some crossfire in his delivery, he has had no difficulty filling the strike zone early in his pro career. His floor is much more notable that his ceiling but he could become a back-of-the-rotation starter.' Burger, demoted by the Rangers to the minors for a time earlier this season, is hitting .226 (.261 on base) with 10 homers and 28 RBI in 61 games. Here's part 1 of the series and what the Marlins got back for veteran pitchers during the past year.
