Miami's 10 most wanted: Where we think the Hurricanes stand with their 10 most-coveted 2026 prospects

Miami has seen a number of its top 2026 targets come off the board already with priority four-star recruits like Ben Congdon, Jaelen Waters, Jontavius Wyman and Javian Mallory and major three-star targets Joel Ervin and JJ Sparks committing since the start of March, but many of the Hurricanes’ most-coveted targets are still up for grabs.

Let’s take a look at where the Hurricanes sit with who we feel are Miami’s 10 remaining most-wanted targets. Note this is our subjective list of who Miami’s 10 most coveted targets are, not a direct list from the school. We compiled this list based on our analysis and our understanding of how badly the Hurricanes want different players and the efforts they’ve made for their targets.

There may be some subjective disagreements over where different players should sit on the board (i.e should Derrek Cooper be considered a bigger priority than Justice Fitzpatrick even though they play different positions and different sides of the ball?), but we feel generally confident these are the Hurricanes’ biggest remaining priorities.

1. Five-Star Plus+ OT Jackson Cantwell | No. 1 overall prospect, No. 1 OT
+++ Putting Cantwell at No. 1 was hands-down the easiest part of making this list. Miami is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the country’s top prospect with a commitment expected April 30 and, I feel, is in a very good position. Miami, Oregon and Georgia have been the three most-discussed schools for Cantwell over the last few weeks, but I feel best about the Hurricanes and Oregon heading into his decision. He’ll be at Oregon this upcoming weekend for an official visit the Ducks fought to get ahead of his commitment, which is understandably worrying for Hurricane fans, but what if he’s simply going to Eugene one last time to make sure he’s comfortable with his decision before committing to Miami? I think Hurricane fans should be cautiously optimistic.

2. 4-star OT Keenyi Pepe | No. 59 overall prospect, No. 6 OT
+++ If Cantwell wasn’t within reach for Miami, Pepe would probably be Miami’s most-coveted target this cycle. The Hurricanes are aggressively searching for offensive line recruits who could potentially play as true freshmen with stars like Francis Mauigoa and Anez Cooper likely off to the NFL next season and have coveted Pepe since the start of his high school career. It’s currently a battle between Miami and USC, both of whom he visited this spring including visiting LA this past weekend, but we like where the Hurricanes sit.

3. 5-star WR Tristen Keys | No. 3 overall prospect, No. 1 WR (LSU commit)
+++ Keys may have committed to LSU March 19, but little has changed about the effort Miami’s staff has recruited him with. Keys visited Miami twice this spring, including for the Hurricanes’ spring game last weekend, and is receiving an aggressive effort from receivers coach Kevin Beard, although Miami has clear work to do. He’ll be back on campus May 30 for an official visit.

4. 4-star RB Derrek Cooper | No. 34 overall prospect, No. 3 RB
+++ Cooper is definitely Miami’s top running back target this cycle and a recruit the staff will aggressively fight for until signing day regardless of whether or not he initially commits to the Hurricanes. The four-star prospect was on campus for two spring practices and will officially visit May 30, although we’re also keeping our eyes on Georgia and Ohio State, both of whom have made their own aggressive pushes. Miami has a strong recruiting connection to local powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna and has landed at least one prospect in two out of head coach Mario Cristobal’s three full recruiting classes in Coral Gables.

5. 4-star CB Justice Fitzpatrick | No. 59 overall prospect, No. 7 CB
+++ I entered an aggressive RPM back in January for Miami to land Fitzpatrick and still think there’s a chance the Hurricanes land St. Thomas Aquinas’ most coveted 2026 prospect, but he’s been careful not to show his cards. Cristobal recruited his older brother, Minkah, to Alabama as one of Nick Saban’s assistants and has maintained a close connection with his family over the last decade, although programs like Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Michigan have also shown interest. I still think Miami will have a good chance.

6. 4-star WR Calvin Russell | No. 43 overall prospect, No. 5 WR
+++ The fact Russell, whose mother, Chanivia Broussard, played basketball at Miami, whose family has a good relationship with Beard and lives within 20 miles of Miami’s campus, chose to visit Syracuse for the Orange’s spring game April 12 instead of the Hurricanes’ feels pretty telling. Miami will fight until signing day and values Russell as much as any local prospect and isn’t hitting the panic button, but I’m not excessively optimistic about the Canes’ chances at the moment.

7. 4-star CB Chauncey Kennon | No. 45 overall prospect, No. 5 CB
+++ Miami has stayed in the mix for Kennon and seemed to move the needle when he visited for the spring game, although schools like LSU, Florida, Florida State and Auburn are also making efforts. There was plenty of buzz around Florida State earlier in the year (his sister runs track at FSU), and if I were a betting man, I’d lean toward him ultimately ending up at one of the state’s three major schools. I very much feel like the Hurricanes are still in the picture.

8. 4-star ATH/TE Heze Kent | No. 78 overall prospect, No. 8 OT
+++ Kent is ranked as an offensive tackle but is being recruited as a tight end by each of his top six schools (Miami, Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Texas) and has been careful not to suggest he’s leaning in a certain direction. But we feel confident about Miami’s chances considering the job the staff has done with him so far and think the Canes will have a tremendous shot to land him July 12. I included him in my first mock class last month.

9. 4-star IOL Breck Kolojay | No. 293 overall prospect, No. 22 IOL
+++ Miami is as high on Kolojay as any interior lineman in this class and views him as an elite guard, although Tennessee, Georgia and Oklahoma are also making strong pushes. USC also hosted him this weekend. He’s seen each school already this spring and has already stated NIL will play a meaningful role in his decision.

10. 4-star RB Jae Lamar | No. 108 overall prospect, No. 9 RB
+++ I was very close to putting Vodney Cleveland or James Johnson here, or maybe even Blake Stewart, but I chose to list Lamar because of the consistent praise I’ve heard for the Georgia native. Make no mistake, you could absolutely make an argument for Cleveland, Johnson or Stewart in this last spot, but the staff has prioritized Lamar in a massive way and has a great shot to land his commitment in the coming months. I think the Hurricanes have as awesome a chance as anyone.