Miami, Mario Cristobal Land Recruiting Win Over In-State Rival On Tuesday
The Miami Hurricanes are pushing for a top recruiting finish in the class of 2026 and landed another key win in that aspect on Tuesday.
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Head coach Mario Cristobal and Co. sit ninth nationally in the 2026 cycle with a group headlined by the nation's No. 1 player in five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
Previously holding 11 commitments, Miami added it's 12th pledge and the Hurricanes' sixth four-star recruit by landing four-star offensive lineman Canon Pickett.
Pickett (6-foot-5, 290 pounds) is an in-state recruit out of Tampa Bay (Florida) Tech, where he ranks as the No. 13 player at his position and the No. 37 player in the state, per Rivals.
Tampa Bay Tech offensive lineman Canon Pickett Jon Santucci/USA Today Florida Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The race came down to Miami, Florida and Clemson for Pickett, who visited the Tigers on May 30 before taking an official trip to the Hurricanes over the weekend.
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Head coach Billy Napier and the in-state rival Gators are expected to get Pickett on campus for an official visit this weekend, but it was Miami that received his commitment before that trip.
"I'm home!!!!!!!" Pickett wrote on X.
Hurricanes faithful will always take a win over their in-state rival, whether its on the recruiting trail or on the field. Most notably, however, is Cristobal and position coach Alex Mirabal landing another top offensive lineman.
Pickett joins Cantwell and four-star Joel Ervin in the class of 2026, a group that is shaping up to be one of the best in the country.
It remains to be seen if Pickett will take his previously scheduled visit to Florida this weekend. Additionally, he is slated to be back at Miami on June 20 to round out his summer schedule.
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Related: Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit
Related: College Football Fans Emotional After College GameDay's Announcement On Week 1 Location
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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