Five key Hurricanes freshmen to watch during spring practice

Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal and his staff brought in another strong high school recruiting class at the end of last year.

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UM’s 2026 class was ranked seventh in 247Sports’ composite rankings, and it features some of the nation’s top players.

Nearly all of the Hurricanes’ class arrived on campus in time to practice this spring. Here are five players to keep an eye on:

Jackson Cantwell

Cantwell is the gem of the Hurricanes’ class. Cantwell was the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in the class. Cantwell arrived on campus in time to practice with the team during its College Football Playoff run, and even among offensive linemen, the 6-foot-7.5, 325-pound freshman stands out.

“His numbers now are that of an NFL combine offensive lineman at a very young age,” Cristobal said of Cantwell in December.

Cantwell appears poised to fill the void at right tackle left by Francis Mauigoa, who was also a five-star tackle who arrived with a lot of hype. Mauigoa lived up to his potential, growing into one of the nation’s top linemen. He is set to cash in on that success in next month’s NFL draft. Cantwell’s journey on a similar path starts this spring.

Milan Parris

Miami brought in several talented wide receivers in this year’s class. Parris stands out in part because of his size. Listed at 6-5.5 and 205 pounds, he is the tallest wide receiver in the room (the next tallest is Josh Moore, who is 6-4).

Parris, a four-star prospect, offers an impressive combo of speed and size. Although the Hurricanes’ receiver room is crowded, Parris could work himself into the rotation — especially in goal-line situations where his size would be an even bigger advantage.

Keshawn Stancil

The Hurricanes lost depth at defensive tackle this offseason. David Blay Jr. is out of eligibility, and Artavius Jones, Daylen Russell and Donta Simpson all transferred.

UM returns starter Ahmad Moten Sr. and promising rising junior Justin Scott, but teams need depth to run a rotation at the position. Stancil, who Miami flipped from Clemson, could work himself into that role as he prepares for his freshman year.

Stancil, a four-star prospect, is listed at 6-2.5 and 267 pounds. He was the No. 14 interior defensive line prospect in the class.

 Camdin Portis

The first thing that will catch UM fans’ eyes about Portis is his last name. Portis is the son of Miami’s great running back, Clinton Portis. It was not a sure thing that the younger Portis would sign with his father’s alma mater, but he could play an early role after arriving at Miami.

The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is a versatile defensive back, but he could slot in at nickelback quickly. Miami lost standout nickel Keionte Scott to the NFL this offseason. Portis, a four-star prospect, is one possible option to fill the hole he left.

Gavin Mueller

The Hurricanes’ depth chart at tight end is open. Rising junior Elija Lofton is poised to be the starter again, and rising sophomore Luka Gilbert is promising. But UM lost Alex Bauman, who was out of eligibility, and Brock Schott left for Indiana via the portal, opening up a spot for more playing time.

Mueller, a four-star prospect, was a versatile playmaker in high school. He racked up 30 touchdowns as a senior. The 6-5, 255-pound tight end could play himself into becoming an option for Miami this year.

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