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Six Hurricanes freshmen who could break out in 2026
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- Six Hurricanes freshmen who could break out in 2026
(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Mike Stocker)
The Miami Hurricanes start their 2026 season next week against Stanford , and freshmen could be key contributors to this year's team.
Last season, Miami got breakout performances from superstar freshmen Malachi Toney, who was an AP second-team All-American , and safety Bryce Fitzgerald, who earned a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-American team.
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Here are some first-year players who could have big impacts on the team this season:
Jackson Cantwell
Cantwell arrived at Miami as the nation's top offensive line prospect, according to 247Sports' composite ranking. The former five-star recruit was the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2025 and was a star track and field athlete, too.
The Hurricanes need reinforcements on the offensive line, as four of the six main linemen from last year departed for the NFL. Cantwell, who is listed at 6 foot 8 and 330 pounds, is not guaranteed a starting role, but he will likely get playing time at one of the guard or tackle positions.
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Ben Congdon
Like Cantwell, Congdon arrived when the Hurricanes needed offensive linemen. Congdon was not as highly touted as Cantwell, but he was a blue-chip prospect in his own right (He was listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 19 tackle in the class).
Congdon is also a huge lineman, listed at 6-8 and 330 pounds. He could also play guard or tackle for Miami this year.
"Him and Jackson are continuing to grow," Miami center Ryan Rodriguez said. "They're learning our system, they're learning how we do things, our standard, and they're just falling right into place. They're always excited to learn. They're eager to learn. They're great students of the game, and I'm excited to see them develop."
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JJ Dunnigan
Dunnigan, a safety, started turning heads after arriving for Miami's spring camp . The former four-star prospect is a Kansas native and was the No. 114 player in the 2026 class. He had 57 tackles with four tackles for loss and two pass deflections as a senior in high school.
He has gotten positive reviews from coaches and teammates through the offseason. The Hurricanes' loaded secondary might make it tough for Dunnigan to get consistent playing time — Omar Thornton, Bryce Fitzgerald and Zechariah Poyser are expected to play most of the snaps at safety. But if Dunnigan proves himself, he could force his way onto the field.
"I said from the start he's a hidden gem," Fitzgerald said. "JJ is one of the fastest kids on the team. Fastest guy I've probably seen. … He's just learning everything."
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Javian Mallory
The two-time state champion from West Boca Raton High initially appeared to be buried in a stacked running back depth chart. But the reigning South Florida Sun Sentinel Palm Beach County large schools offensive player of the year could get some time on the field this year.
The Hurricanes return star running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and backups Marty Brown and Girard Pringle Jr. Jordan Lyle's status with the team is unclear following his arrest earlier this month . If he is absent, Mallory could receive snaps as players rotate on and off the field.
"A thing that starts for young running backs is definitely the pass (protection), and he loves blocking," Fletcher said, "and that's what's going to get him on the field. "So he loves blocking, loves protecting the quarterback. We all know he could run, but that's the part that a lot of colleges … want to see with young running backs."
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Gavin Mueller
Luka Gilbert's season-ending injury weakened Miami's depth at tight end, opening up more playing time for two freshmen UM signed in the offseason: Mueller and Israel Briggs. Mueller's size (6-5, 255 pounds) likely makes him more suited for the blocking role the Hurricanes were hoping Gilbert would fill.
Mueller is not just a blocker, though. He was an electric athlete in high school, scoring 30 touchdowns as a senior while playing multiple positions. He was a four-star prospect.
Somourian Wingo
Wingo, a four-star prospect out of St. Augustine, could follow in Toney's footsteps as a breakout freshman wide receiver. Wingo was the No. 10 wide receiver in the 2026 class and has earned praise throughout spring and fall camps. He was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List on Wednesday.
But Wingo has to earn his way onto the field, as the Hurricanes are loaded at wide receiver.
