With the Portal closed and the #1 prospect in America committed to the Canes, it's time to turn to the rest of the class. Here is the latest on 2026 recruiting:
- On Jackson Cantwell, a source said Cantwell was the most physically powerful prospect he'd seen in 15 years. He also commented on Cantwell's intelligence and poise in answering NIL questions in the presser. "Whatever his ceiling is, he'll reach it." I'm told he has laser timed shuttles in the 4.7 range. Needless to say, the Hecht is jubilant about the commitment.
- Here are some names to know on the rest of the board. This is not an exhaustive list, but pretty close:
QB- Dereon Coleman (Orlando) is the guy. We visited him in spring and loved what we saw.
RB- Javian Mallory (West Boca) is committed. Jae Lamar (Colquitt County, GA) has major SEC interest but is from the same small town as transfer LB Kamal Bonner and WR Ny Carr. There is a full-court press on Derrek Cooper (Chaminade)- Miami is tired of this caliber of player leaving the state. This will be an aggressive recruitment until the end.
OL- Cantwell, Joel Ervin (Fort Myers), Ben Congon (south of Cleveland, OH) and JJ Sparks (Jacksonville) are committed. The name to watch is Canon Pickett
(Tampa). He is a priority target and there is momentum there.
WR- The Canes are making progress with Calvin Russell (Northwestern) and Vance Spafford (Orange County, CA). Other big names on the board are Tristan Keys (Hattiesburg, MS), Jasen Lopez (Chaminade), Brayden Robinson (Dallas-Fort Worth) and Messiah Hampton (Rochester, NY).
TE- Miami could potentially take three TEs- Izzy Briggs (San Joaquin Valley, CA), Zachery Turner (Dallas, TX), and Heze "Superman" Kent (Brunswick, GA). All bring a different skillset to the table and all have real interest.
DE- Some names on the board include Asharri Charles (Venice, FL), Anthony "Tank" Jones (Mobile, AL), Kosi Okpala (Houston, TX), Jaquez Wilkes (Wadley, AL) Daniel Norman (St. Thomas), and DeAnthony Lafayettte (Orlando, FL). Jason Taylor recently had a great visit with Wilkes, and Okpala is a name with big fans in the Hect.
DT- The names to monitor here are Vodney Cleveland (Birmingham, AL), Deuce Geralds (Suwanee, GA), Kendall Guervil (Fort Myers), James Johnson (Northwestern via Fort Myers), Lamar Brown (Baton Rouge), Keshawn Stencil (Raleigh, NC), and Bryce Perry-Wright (Buford, GA).
LB- Jordan Campbell (Northwestern) is committed. JaMichael Garrett (Baton Rouge, LA) is back in the picture. Justin "JJ" Edwards (Orlando) remains in the mix. Two new names that Miami loves- Julian Manson (Iowa City, Iowa) and Julian "JuJu" Burns (Monroe, Louisiana). The Canes are going to get a closer look at Adam Balogoun-Ali (Cardinal Newman) this week. They will make also make run at recent USC decommit Xavier Griffin (Gainesville, GA).
CB- Jaelen "Seatbelt" Waters (Tampa), Camdin Portis (Charlotte, NC) and Jontavious Wyman (Atlanta, GA) are committed. Samari Matthews (Charlotte, NC) will be a tougher pull, but he's an elite player who visited in spring. The Canes continue to love Michigan commit Brody Jennings (Jacksonville). Chauncey Kennon (Sarasota), CJ Hester (Cocoa) and Danny Odem (Orlando) are some more in-state names to know.
S- Devin Jackson (Orlando) remains a high priority. One name to track is FSU commit Tedarius Hughes (Northwestern). Local sources say he's in the midst of a major leap. Miami will get eyes on him tonight at Northwestern's spring game. Jacob Eberhart (St. Louis, MO) is being recruited as a safety, but has the potential to grow into a LB at 220+. He is a big-time athlete who visited in spring. Miami continues to communicate with Blake Stewart (Atlanta, GA).
A lot of this spring evaluation period is about just that- evaluating. Some names that stood out: DT Keshawn Stancil, CB Brody Jennings, QB Dereon Coleman, OT Joel Ervin, TE Heze Kent, DL Bryce Perry Wright, CB Jaelen Waters, CB Danny Odem, S Devin Jackson, WR Calvin Russell, S Blake Stewart, WR Vance Spafford, DE Asharri Charles and DE Jaquez Wilkes.
Waters and Ervin in particular were identified as potential Day 1 types after live evaluation.
- On Jackson Cantwell, a source said Cantwell was the most physically powerful prospect he'd seen in 15 years. He also commented on Cantwell's intelligence and poise in answering NIL questions in the presser. "Whatever his ceiling is, he'll reach it." I'm told he has laser timed shuttles in the 4.7 range. Needless to say, the Hecht is jubilant about the commitment.
- Here are some names to know on the rest of the board. This is not an exhaustive list, but pretty close:
QB- Dereon Coleman (Orlando) is the guy. We visited him in spring and loved what we saw.
RB- Javian Mallory (West Boca) is committed. Jae Lamar (Colquitt County, GA) has major SEC interest but is from the same small town as transfer LB Kamal Bonner and WR Ny Carr. There is a full-court press on Derrek Cooper (Chaminade)- Miami is tired of this caliber of player leaving the state. This will be an aggressive recruitment until the end.
OL- Cantwell, Joel Ervin (Fort Myers), Ben Congon (south of Cleveland, OH) and JJ Sparks (Jacksonville) are committed. The name to watch is Canon Pickett
(Tampa). He is a priority target and there is momentum there.
WR- The Canes are making progress with Calvin Russell (Northwestern) and Vance Spafford (Orange County, CA). Other big names on the board are Tristan Keys (Hattiesburg, MS), Jasen Lopez (Chaminade), Brayden Robinson (Dallas-Fort Worth) and Messiah Hampton (Rochester, NY).
TE- Miami could potentially take three TEs- Izzy Briggs (San Joaquin Valley, CA), Zachery Turner (Dallas, TX), and Heze "Superman" Kent (Brunswick, GA). All bring a different skillset to the table and all have real interest.
DE- Some names on the board include Asharri Charles (Venice, FL), Anthony "Tank" Jones (Mobile, AL), Kosi Okpala (Houston, TX), Jaquez Wilkes (Wadley, AL) Daniel Norman (St. Thomas), and DeAnthony Lafayettte (Orlando, FL). Jason Taylor recently had a great visit with Wilkes, and Okpala is a name with big fans in the Hect.
DT- The names to monitor here are Vodney Cleveland (Birmingham, AL), Deuce Geralds (Suwanee, GA), Kendall Guervil (Fort Myers), James Johnson (Northwestern via Fort Myers), Lamar Brown (Baton Rouge), Keshawn Stencil (Raleigh, NC), and Bryce Perry-Wright (Buford, GA).
LB- Jordan Campbell (Northwestern) is committed. JaMichael Garrett (Baton Rouge, LA) is back in the picture. Justin "JJ" Edwards (Orlando) remains in the mix. Two new names that Miami loves- Julian Manson (Iowa City, Iowa) and Julian "JuJu" Burns (Monroe, Louisiana). The Canes are going to get a closer look at Adam Balogoun-Ali (Cardinal Newman) this week. They will make also make run at recent USC decommit Xavier Griffin (Gainesville, GA).
CB- Jaelen "Seatbelt" Waters (Tampa), Camdin Portis (Charlotte, NC) and Jontavious Wyman (Atlanta, GA) are committed. Samari Matthews (Charlotte, NC) will be a tougher pull, but he's an elite player who visited in spring. The Canes continue to love Michigan commit Brody Jennings (Jacksonville). Chauncey Kennon (Sarasota), CJ Hester (Cocoa) and Danny Odem (Orlando) are some more in-state names to know.
S- Devin Jackson (Orlando) remains a high priority. One name to track is FSU commit Tedarius Hughes (Northwestern). Local sources say he's in the midst of a major leap. Miami will get eyes on him tonight at Northwestern's spring game. Jacob Eberhart (St. Louis, MO) is being recruited as a safety, but has the potential to grow into a LB at 220+. He is a big-time athlete who visited in spring. Miami continues to communicate with Blake Stewart (Atlanta, GA).
A lot of this spring evaluation period is about just that- evaluating. Some names that stood out: DT Keshawn Stancil, CB Brody Jennings, QB Dereon Coleman, OT Joel Ervin, TE Heze Kent, DL Bryce Perry Wright, CB Jaelen Waters, CB Danny Odem, S Devin Jackson, WR Calvin Russell, S Blake Stewart, WR Vance Spafford, DE Asharri Charles and DE Jaquez Wilkes.
Waters and Ervin in particular were identified as potential Day 1 types after live evaluation.
