Miami’s Presence on On3’s Top 100 Says a Lot About the 2026 Hurricanes
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The offseason hype surrounding Miami Hurricanes football continues to grow from within, and now with the latest rankings from On3, it only added more fuel to the conversation.
In On3’s recent list ranking the top 100 players in college football entering the 2026 season, Miami had five different players featured. The Hurricanes are viewed as one of the most talented rosters in the country heading into the year, and having five players on this list further cements that point.
The 2026 Miami Hurricanes have the potential to finish what the team started last year. An abundance of talent and now valuable experience, this upcoming season can be very special.
Despite the love the players received by earning a spot in the top 100, some Hurricanes may have been slotted too low, considering their production, impact, and what they could become this season.
Here are the five players ranked from Miami:
5. WR Malachi Toney
On3 are big fans of the young superstar Malachi Toney and has him as the fifth-best player in the country heading into his sophomore season.
The players ranked ahead of him are only Dylan Stewart, Leonard Moore, Dante Moore, and Jeremiah Smith.
You can make a real argument that he can be a bit higher, jumping over a couple of guys that are ranked ahead of him, but the Hurricanes having a top-five player will always be comforting to know.
Toney had an unbelievable freshman season last year, and he can have an even more impactful season this year.
He’ll continue to be the heart and soul of the Miami offense in 2026, but will have help around him to make things easier down the stretch, including his new quarterback, who has been gaining a lot of buzz.
Toney is undoubtedly one of the best players in college football and should have the Hurricanes back into title contenders again this upcoming season.
27. DL Ahmad Moten
Ahmad Moten was the player who didn’t receive as much love last year on defense due to the dominance of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, but if it wasn’t for him, Miami wouldn’t have had the success it had this past season.
On3 gave the respect Moten deserved and is the second-highest-ranked Hurricane listed on the top 100. He was ranked the fourth-best DL in the list, too.
Moten will be the headline name on the defensive line this upcoming season as he will continue to wreak havoc in the middle of the line of scrimmage.
If Moten continues to get better, he may hear his name called in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft next year.
44. QB Darian Mensah
This one was a bit surprising to me.
Darian Mensah was slotted at No. 44 overall despite being viewed as one of the most impactful transfer quarterbacks in the country entering 2026.
Considering the expectations surrounding Miami’s offense and the amount of talent around him, there is a real chance Mensah dramatically outperforms that ranking this season.
He is coming off an incredible season at Duke, where he led his team to the ACC title game and defeated Virginia. Mensah threw for nearly 4,000 yards, while throwing 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
On3 has him as the seventh-best quarterback in the country heading into this season.
The expectations around Mensah are big this upcoming season, as this Miami offense has the potential to do something very special.
54. EDGE Damon Wilson II
Another player that I thought was ranked unreasonably low was the new pass-rushing transfer, Damon Wilson II.
Wilson played two years at Georgia for Kirby Smart before transferring to Missouri and having 9.0 sacks last year. He was dominant in the SEC for the Tigers and caused consistent pressure on the quarterback.
Wilson has all the traits to become one of the elite edge rushers in college football this season. Miami’s defensive front is expected to be one of the strengths of the roster, and Wilson’s explosiveness off the edge could make him a nightmare matchup in ACC play.
If his production matches the flashes he has already shown, it would not be surprising to see him finish the year much closer to the top 25 than outside the top 50.
93. RB Mark Fletcher Jr.
You can convince me of the other rankings and why that player should stay at that number, but this one was the most puzzling.
Mark Flethcher Jr. being slotted at No. 93 overall is surely a bold choice.
After the dominant College Football Playoff run Fletcher just had last year, there is a very easy argument to be made that he should be a lot higher than where he currently sits.
On3 has him as the 10th-best running back in the country heading into 2026. They even have another ACC running back, Isaac Brown from Louisville, ranked a lot higher than Fletcher.
Fletcher continues to feel underrated nationally.
His physical running style and ability to wear defenses down became a major factor during Miami’s playoff push last season. Even with Miami expected to throw the football often again, Fletcher will remain one of the most important pieces of the offense.
Fletcher had double-digit touchdowns last season, and I expect him to do it once again this upcoming season.
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