If you’ve spent any time on message boards lately, you know the vibe around Coral Gables is… well, it’s intense. Mario Cristobal just finished hauling in the Miami Hurricanes football recruiting 2025 class, and honestly, the reaction has been a wild mix of "we’re back" and "wait, why aren't we top five?"
It’s funny.
People see a ranking—say, #14 in the On3 Industry Rankings—and they start sweating. But if you actually look at the names on the paper and, more importantly, the guys already taking snaps, this group is a lot more dangerous than a spreadsheet suggests.
The Trenches and the "Cristobal DNA"
Mario is an offensive lineman at heart. You know it. I know it. He’s obsessed with the big guys.
The crown jewel of this whole cycle has to be Jackson Cantwell. He’s a massive 6-foot-7, 325-pound tackle out of Missouri. 247Sports has him as a five-star and the No. 7 overall player in the country. Watching his tape is basically watching a human bulldozer. But he isn't alone. He’s joined by SJ Alofaituli from Bishop Gorman—a kid who is already seeing minutes at fullback and on the line because he’s just that physically ready.
Who are these guys, really?
Let’s look at the numbers. Miami signed 30 players this cycle.
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- 16 on defense.
- 14 on offense.
- 7 defensive linemen.
- 6 offensive linemen.
Basically, Cristobal is trying to build a wall. He’s said it himself: he’s not signing guys just for "depth." He wants guys who can start. That’s why you see a guy like Max Buchanan or Demetrius Campbell coming in. They aren't just names; they are massive bodies designed to keep whatever quarterback we have in 2026 clean.
The Skill Players: Is the "U" Swagger Back?
Okay, let's talk about the flash. Malachi Toney is already a household name for Canes fans. He won ACC Rookie of the Year for a reason. He’s playing significant snaps—56 in the NC State game alone. He’s got that "it" factor.
Then there’s Girard Pringle Jr. out of Tampa.
He’s a consensus four-star back who chose Miami over Georgia and Alabama. That matters. When you beat out Kirby Smart and Kalen DeBoer for a Florida kid, you’re doing something right. He’s already established himself as a legitimate RB1 contender.
The Quarterback Situation
It’s kinda complicated.
Luke Nickel is the high school signee. He’s a four-star kid from Georgia who led his school to a state title. He’s got that Elite 11 pedigree.
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But we have to talk about the elephant in the room: the transfer portal. Miami has leaned hard into NIL to bridge the gap. They spent big on Carson Beck, the former Georgia star, to lead the ship. Reports from Sports Illustrated and others put his NIL deal in the $3 million to $5 million range.
Is it "buying" a team? Maybe. Does it win games? Ask the fans at Hard Rock Stadium who haven't seen a team this competitive since 2001.
Why the Miami Hurricanes Football Recruiting 2025 Class is Different
Most people get recruiting wrong. They think if you aren't #1, you failed.
But look at the impact. Bryce Fitzgerald is already a stud at safety. Herbert Scroggins III is putting heat on quarterbacks as a true freshman. These guys aren't sitting on the bench for three years waiting for their "turn."
The "Hidden" Transfers
While the high school class is the foundation, Cristobal just added Jarquez Carter, a defensive lineman from Ohio State. He was a top target in the 2025 high school cycle who went to Columbus for a year and realized he wanted to be home. Getting a "second chance" at a top-10 defensive lineman through the portal is basically like adding another five-star to the class.
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The strategy is simple:
- Lock down South Florida. (See: Chris Ewald Jr., Ezekiel Marcelin Jr.)
- Win the portal. (See: Carson Beck, Jarquez Carter)
- Dominate the ACC. Miami is poised to have the top class in the ACC for the fourth straight year. That’s never been done in school history. Not even under Butch Davis or Howard Schnellenberger.
What's Next for the Canes?
Recruiting never actually stops. The portal closes on January 16, and the "real" 2025 season is basically here.
If you're a fan, you should be watching the development of Josh Moore and Daylyn Upshaw. These wideouts are getting reps now, and by the time the 2026 season kicks off, they’ll be veterans.
The biggest takeaway? Don't get hung up on the national rank being #14 instead of #4. Look at the snap counts. Look at the size of the linemen. The "Jimmy’s and Joe’s" are finally back in Miami.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Keep an eye on the January 16 portal deadline for any last-minute interior defensive line additions.
- Watch the spring game specifically to see how Luke Nickel handles the speed of the first-team defense.
- Track Jackson Cantwell's early enrollment progress; he’s the type of player who could realistically start Day 1 in the 2026 opener.