Whether you’re an eighth-year “super senior” or a seventeen-year-old true freshman, Mario Cristobal will always put his best players on the field.
During the Cristobal era, several of Miami’s top performers have made an impact in their debut seasons. Standouts like Rueben Bain, Francis Mauigoa, Mark Fletcher Jr., Jordan Lyle, Bryce Fitzgerald, Girard Pringle Jr., and, of course, Malachi Toney come to mind.
Starting spots and rotational roles are given to those who earn it on the practice field. The Hurricanes’ true freshman Class of 2026 is loaded with talent. Some of them have already made strong impressions during spring football and offseason workouts.
Which of Miami’s rookies will become protagonists in their first year?
The list starts with five-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell. When Miami signed him out of high school, I expected Cantwell to come in and compete for a possible starting role at right tackle. My expectations were high, but not high enough. In reality, Cantwell has adapted so quickly and competed so well in practice that he appears to be in line to start at left tackle immediately. At 6-8, 330 pounds, Cantwell is physically dominant. He’s been soaking up new techniques from OL Coach Alex Mirabal like a sponge. Expect to see the Nixa, Missouri, native as a regular starter up front this year.
The next freshman who jumped off the page for me in spring is safety JJ Dunnigan. The 6-3, 192-pounder from Manhattan, Kansas, routinely made plays in every media viewing during spring ball. Dunnigan is a ball hawk with the ideal combination of coverage skills and hard-hitting physicality. He won’t necessarily hold a starting job this season, but I expect him to thrive in a rotational role the way Bryce Fitzgerald did in 2025. Dunnigan’s positional versatility can allow him to plug and play at multiple spots in the defensive backfield.
Dunnigan and Cantwell are my runaway picks for impact freshmen, but there are several others to keep an eye on.
Freshman tight ends Gavin Mueller and Israel Briggs have both shined in practice. Mueller already appears well-rounded as a blocker, which can definitely help him get into the rotation immediately. The tight end room was hit or miss last year and could use a spark. Upperclassmen Elija Lofton and Luka Gilbert will likely be at the top of the depth chart, but the young bucks can push them for playing time.
Imposing freshman OL Ben Congdon is a dude. The 6-8, 305-pound behemoth rotated between guard and tackle throughout the spring. Miami likes to have an eight-to-ten-man rotation on the offensive line, and I can foresee Congdon getting into the mix as a rookie. I will also keep my eye on OL Joel Irvin. He was nursing an injury during spring, but the hype is real for the former Fort Myers HS star.
Miami has four freshman receivers with high upside. The one who looks most ready to contribute immediately is St. Augustine, FL, native Somourian Wingo. Miami’s WR room is deep, with established players like Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate, Daylyn Upshaw, Joshua Moore, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Cam Vaughn already in the room. Taking snaps away from any of those won’t be easy, but I expect Wingo to push them.
The Canes have other talented freshman defensive backs in addition to Dunnigan. I saw flashes in practice from corners Brody Jennings, Jontavius Wyman, and Camdin Portis. I could see one of them playing a key backup role late in the season like 2025 freshman Ja’Boree Antoine did last year.
Miami has a freshman class full of hungry competitors. No matter how many of them play this year, you can expect all of them to push their teammates to be better each day.
