Former Seminole star Max Buchanan enjoys Hurricanes’ ride | Football Insider
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Even though he hasn’t been on the field during the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff run to the national championship game, Max Buchanan is having the time of his life.
The backup offensive guard, a freshman from Sanford Seminole High School, has played in five games this season, one game over the redshirt limit, but none of that matters to him right now. His Miami teammates are one step away from the Hurricanes first national title since the 2001 season.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve been here a year now, and the way everything has developed it has just been amazing,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan said it’s a ride he never imagined happening so quickly when he first stepped on campus last January.
“I would have said we were a long ways away. I would have said it was possible, but I would have said we’d need a lot of work to be able to do this,” he said.
Buchanan said it finally hit him after the plane ride home from the Fiesta Bowl, where Miami clinched the spot in the title game against Miami next Monday night by defeating Ole Miss 31-27 in a semifinal.
“I think it kicked in probably after we landed. It was like, ‘Wow, we’re practicing still in a few days. We’re still here,” he said. “We’re one of two teams that’s left after like 158. We’ve done it.”
He said there is still work to be done.
“We’re all focused on what’s next. One day at a time,” Buchanan said. “What has happened has happened. We’re gonna keep going and do what’s best for us.”
It’s a ride that many didn’t figure the Hurricanes would be taking. Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs. After playoff wins over Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss, the ‘Canes are in the championship and will play for the title on their home turf at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I attribute it to us being able to adapt and overcome. We’ve had some losses. We’re not a perfect team, but we’ve learned from those,” Buchanan said of the 12-3 ‘Canes. “And with the doubters and the negative side of us making it into the playoffs, everyone just used that as fuel to the fire and it just encouraged us even more.
“We didn’t get complacent once we got in. We were hungry and ready to keep going.”
Miami has won seven straight games. The spring semester started Monday with students returning to campus and Buchanan said championship fever was in the air.
“It’s been awesome. Everyone is super happy. There is just a great energy from it,” Buchanan said. “For most of the playoffs, everyone was on Christmas break, but now that we have started school back, anyone who is wearing any type of Miami football gear is getting a lot of fist pumps and hive fives and everyone is trying to talk to us about it.
“They’re all very encouraging and everyone here supports us.”
The ‘Canes are excited to be playing at home and Indiana is bringing a load of fans.
“Being at home is insane,” Buchanan said. “It’s awesome and it’s gonna be amazing.”
CJ Baxter moves on to Kentucky
Former Edgewater star CJ Baxter, a 6-foot-1, 227-pound running back who was the No. 1-ranked player in the Sentinel’s 2023 Central Florida Super60 and signed with Texas out of high school, has signed with Kentucky out of the transfer portal.
Baxter was selected honorable mention All-Big 12 as a freshman in 2023. He started six games in his first season and rushed for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns. He blew out his knee in preseason practice in 2024 and missed the entire season. This past season, Baxter tried to work his way back, starting in three games. He rushed for 196 yards.
At Edgewater, Baxter was ranked as the No. 1 running back in the country in 2023 by 247 Sports composite rankings. He rushed for 3,759 yards and 42 touchdowns as a high schooler.
Jordan Castell goes from UF to Kentucky
Kentucky gained another former Central Florida star out of the transfer portal in adding West Orange product Jordan Castell, a safety who started 35 games for Florida over the past three seasons.
Castell, 6-2, 213, will be a senior at Kentucky. He made 168 tackles at UF and had 3 interceptions. He was the No. 7-ranked player in the Sentinel’s 2023 Central Florida Super60.
UCF star John Walker to Ohio State
Former Osceola High standout defensive tackle John Walker, who started all 12 games this past season as a sophomore at UCF, has signed with Ohio State out of the transfer portal.
Walker, who was the No. 4-ranked player in the Sentinel’s 2023 Central Florida Super60, played in 25 games in two seasons at UCF, making 64 tackles. The 6-4, 300-pounder accounted for 8 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He will be a junior at Ohio State.
Jones alum JaQuail Smith to Colorado
JaQuail Smith, the No. 15-ranked running back in the 2025 Sentinel Super60 at Jones High, has signed with Colorado. Smith, 5-11, 171, who signed with Sacramento State out of high school, played in eight games this past season and rushed for 511 yards and five touchdowns. He will be a sophomore at Colorado.
Other transfer portal signings:
Cai Bates, Edgewater, FSU, DB, RS-sophomore, to Wisconsin
Trey Butkowski, Lake Nona, Pittsburgh, K, sophomore, to Michigan
Mykel Calixte, Dr. Phillips, FAU, WR, RS-freshman, to Mercer
Kaven Call, Apopka, UCF/East Tennessee, DL, sophomore, to Middle Tennessee State
Semaj Fleming, Edgewater, Boston College, WR, RS-freshman, to Appalachian State
Jayden Gibson, West Orange, Oklahoma, WR, senior, to South Carolina
Jermane Hayes, Orange City University, Southern Miss, WR, RS-freshman, to Middle Tennessee State
Ja’Cari Henderson, Seminole, UCF, DB, RS-senior, to Appalachian State
Evan James, TFA, Furman, WR, sophomore, to Iowa
Derrick LeBlanc, Osceola, UCF, DL, RS-sophomore, to Maryland
Ja’Torian ‘Duke’ Mack, Edgewater, Appalachian State, DB, freshman, to Western Carolina
Bo Mascoe, Osceola, Rutgers, DB, junior, to Texas
Jimarion McCrimon, Osceola, East Carolina, OL, senior, to NC State
Aidan Mizell, Boone, Florida, WR, junior, to UCLA
Lorenzo Payne, Apopka, West Florida, DL, junior, to Liberty
Kevin Roberts, Apopka, West Florida, DL, junior, James Madison
Javan Robinson, West Orange, Washington State/Arizona State, CB, RS-senior, Wisconsin
Mark Robinson, Lyman, Southeastern/UTEP, OL, junior, to Kentucky
Drew Spinogatti, Bishop Moore, Holy Cross/James Madison, LB, senior, to UCLA
Quentin Taylor, Lake Minneola, Iowa State, CB, RS-sophomore, to Mississippi State
Ahlston Ware, Ocoee, Ferris State, DB, junior, to FAU
Asaad Waseem, Wekiva, Colorado/FAU, WR, RS-senior, to Purdue
Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.
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