Miami Hurricanes' CFP title run impressing top recruits in Florida
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FORT LAUDERDALE — Miami's run to the College Football Playoff national championship game has captured the attention of many, including some of the top recruits in the state.
Several of the players at Battle Miami, the prestigious 7v7 tournament on Jan. 17-18 at Mills Pond Park, talked about how the Hurricanes three playoff wins have made a strong impression.
Miami, the No. 10 seed, plays Indiana, the No. 1 seed, in the CFP championship game on Jan. 19.
"It’s definitely increased their profile," said Columbus five-star rising junior defensive back A'mir Sears. "Just watching what Mario Cristobal is doing with them guys since he's been there, really developing them and taking them to the national championship game. It really increased their profile."
Sears, who recently transferred from West Broward to Columbus, is now at the same high school that produced Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald, Cristobal and Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.
IMG five-star rising wide receiver Eric McFarland, who recently reclassified to the 2027 class, said Miami being in the national championship game matters to recruits.
"It's been big," McFarland said. "Especially just the past years, and who they had. Now they’re on a great run. They're in the natty (national championship game) right now, so it's good for everybody in the 305 for sure.
"It definitely impacts a lot of the recruiting in my class. Miami’s in the natty."
Miami's 2026 class is ranked No. 10 nationally on the 247Sports composite.
The headliner is five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell from Missouri, who became the first offensive lineman to be named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. The class also includes Venice edge rusher Asharri Charles, Armwood cornerback Jaelen Waters and St. Augustine wide receiver Somourian Wingo.
The Hurricanes have four commitments in the 2027 class: McArthur safety Jaylyn Jones, Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Ah'Mari Stevens, Cardinal Gibbons edge rusher Demarcus Deroche and Palm Beach Central offensive tackle Zaquan Linton.
"All they have to do is keep winning and they’ll have a better of chance at getting Nick Lennear at Miami," said Lennear, a rising senior five-star receiver who recently transferred from Miami Northwestern to Carol City.
Multiple recruits mentioned the clear impact that Cristobal has had on the program.
"They’ve had a great season," said Mandarin five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright. "All the love the coaches have shown to me, I can see the relationship that the teammates have with each other. It’s a great program they have right now. Coach Cristobal is really doing his thing."
Miami's identity in the playoff has been in the trenches, but that isn't deterring top receivers from considering Miami.
Both McFarland and Wright talked about the impact Hurricanes true freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney has had. Watching him is giving recruits confidence that coaches will find a way to get to their playmakers regardless of position.
"I just know they know how to use people like our size, with speed," McFarland said. "And they know how to get them the ball different ways."
Nick Wilson contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami football's run to national title making impression on recruits
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