Miami's Mario Cristobal Secures Visit from Top 2027 Recruit Jalen Brewster

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Miami's Mario Cristobal Secures Visit from Top 2027 Recruit Jalen Brewster

The 2025 college football season was a successful year for the Miami Hurricanes and head coach Mario Cristobal as he aims to restore the U’s status among the best in the sport.

The Hurricanes concluded their second consecutive season with double-digit wins under Coach Cristobal, finishing with a record of 13-3 and earning their first appearance in the College Football Playoff. They achieved victories over the No. 7 seed Texas A&M Aggies, the No. 2 seed and defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels. However, they ultimately lost to the No. 1 seed Indiana Hoosiers in the national championship game.

Now Cristobal is hoping to carry that momentum forward in his recruiting efforts. One prospect he has his eyes on is the nation’s No. 1-ranked player in the 2027 recruiting class, defensive lineman Jalen Brewster.

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal takes the field.Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Brewster is 6-foot-3 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. He is committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. However, after the announcement that Zarnell Fitch would no longer be the defensive line coach in Lubbock earlier this month, Brewster expressed uncertainty regarding his commitment. That might have played a factor in Brewster announcing a visit to Miami on April 3 and an official visit for May 29.

The immediate opportunity for the Hurricanes is clear: capitalize on momentum. A 13-3 season and wins over elite competition established tangible proof of concept under Cristobal. Programs that break through to a national title game often see a recruiting surge the following cycle, especially along the defensive front, where development and exposure matter most.

Brewster’s situation underscores how fragile commitments can be in the modern era. With coaching turnover at Texas Tech Red Raiders, relational stability becomes a deciding factor. For a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman ranked No. 1 nationally, position coach alignment and scheme fit are critical. Miami’s ability to present continuity, NFL development pathways and immediate championship contention could outweigh prior ties.

Strategically, landing Brewster would signal more than a single recruiting win; it would mark Miami’s re-entry into the rarefied tier that consistently secures No. 1 overall prospects. Elite defensive linemen are foundational to championship construction, particularly in the expanded playoff era, where depth across multiple postseason games matters. If Cristobal can convert visits into a flip, it would reinforce that Miami’s resurgence is not a one-year spike, but the start of sustainable national relevance.

Related: Nation’s No. 1 2027 Recruit Reconsiders Texas Tech Commitment After Coaching Change

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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