Five-star commitment Cantwell pushes back on UM NIL narrative. And Canes personnel notes
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Wednesday:
▪ One of the tiresome aspects of this new-world college football era is fans of opposing schools asserting that players bypassed their school only because of an NIL payout from another school. (Not that there would be anything wrong with prioritizing cash.)
But even though UM gave Class of 2026 five-star left tackle Jackson Cantwell a big financial package, he pushed back on the narrative that NIL money drove his decision to commit to the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
“I think there’s a false narrative that’s why I’m choosing,” Cantwell said. “I think relationships won out with Miami. That’s kind of what did it for me. They spent the most time with me. They spent the most effort recruiting me. I’ve got a lot of skin in the game with all these schools, being represented by Drew Rosenhaus, making sure I’m going to be fairly compensated. Every school has done a good job with that. Anyone who would say otherwise about how I’ve done my recruiting has been misled.”
WSVN 7 sportscaster Josh Moser reported that UM will pay Cantwell $2.5 million next season. Georgia reportedly offered him $1.25 million per season. Oregon’s offer has not been reported by any credible media.
“I think Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal do a fantastic job of coaching up the offensive line and guys like playing for them,” Cantwell said. “They’re good teachers. I believe Miami is a good place to live and study.”
Rebecca Congdon, mother of four-star UM Class of 2026 offensive line commitment Ben Congdon, said on X: “My son, Ben Congdon, felt exactly the same way with the coaches [as Cantwell did]. Committed early & cancelled all other [official visits]. It’s about the relationship & the authenticity of these coaches. They’re special & they will develop these young men & watch over them. Not many people can understand.”
▪ UM was very pleased with former five-star prospect Justin Scott’s growth this spring, and he has emerged as the front-runner to start at defensive tackle alongside Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay. Ahmad Moten also is in the mix.
“He’s playing a lot of different positions right now; he’s explosive off the football,” defensive coordinator Cory Hetherman said of Scott. “He plays with really good pad level. Off a single block, he’s a guy we anticipate or expect to win. He continues to get better. And his movements, how twitchy he is” really stand out.
Scott, for his part, said: “I feel like I’ve gotten stronger, understand the game presnap, looking at little details to tell me whether it’s run or pass.”
UM did not add a veteran defensive tackle in the post-spring portal cycle. So Blay, Scott and Moten appear likely to be the top three defensive tackles, with ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor able to move inside when needed.
▪ How would impressive UM freshman receiver Malachi Toney describe his game if giving a scouting report?
“Malachi Toney on the field is a game-changer,” he said. “Just put the ball in his hands and just let him do what he does. He’s a team player. He’s going to do whatever’s best for the University of Miami. And that’s why I feel like it was a great fit for me to stay home and do what’s best for my city, my state, and just to put on and show out.”
Toney appreciates how offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has used him so far.
“I love coach Dawson’s offense,” Toney said. “He puts the ball in his playmakers’ hands and gives you a chance to make a play, and that’s what I love about his offense. It’s not about just one person, it’s about everybody. He gives everybody a chance.”
UM’s addition of Cincinnati slot receiver Tony Johnson in the portal will make the competition stiffer for Toney and Ray Ray Joseph. But Toney needs to get regular snaps if he looks as good in August as he did in UM’s spring game.
▪ Starting left tackle Markel Bell showed impressive growth this spring. There are challenges with pad level at his size (6-9), but he seems to be navigating them.
“From the first time Mirabal came to my house, he said coming to Miami I can make the city as loud as I want to, as quiet as I want to — meaning I can focus on my football, my technique, the playbook, or I can focus on everything else in Miami,” he said.
Bell chose door No. 2; he recently spoke with former Canes great Bryant McKinnie, another mountain of a man at left tackle.
“I take pride on focusing on things that will better me for football,” Bell said. “And you can see the progress I’ve made.”
▪ One of the most interesting battles will be for snaps behind Bain and Mesidor at defensive end.
Six players can make a strong case: Armondo Blount, Malik Bryant, Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett, Cole McConathy (who was injured during spring ball) and impressive freshman Hayden Lowe.
Who has particularly impressed Bell from going against this group in practice?
“Marquise Lightfoot is a good player,” he said. “I’d say Armondo Blount has one of the best motors I’ve seen for a defensive end. Hayden Lowe is a good player, too.”
Hetherman said Lightfoot is “explosive, he’s dynamic. He does some really good things off the edge. He’s playing much better with his hands, is grasping things really quickly. Every day when you watch him you can tell as he improves.”
▪ Any coach won’t tolerate lack of effort. But there’s something else that Hetherman also won’t tolerate: giving short shrift to the communication aspect of the game.
UM has had too many coverage breakdowns in the secondary in recent years, including far too many from mental errors resulting from players not communicating presnap. How many times have we seen a UM safety wave his hands at a UM cornerback after a breakdown, and vice versa?
Eliminating those issues have been a priority for the Canes’ new defensive coordinator.
“We can’t have two or three guys doing something over here and the defense doing something completely different on the other side,” Hetherman said. “You can hear it in meetings now, too — I want those guys to attack it.”
During meetings, Hetherman presents scenarios to his defense and expects his players immediately to say how they should respond.
“Right away they are setting the front, setting the defense, are communicating,” he said. “You can start to hear the confidence as we’re going through.”
Players, publicly and privately, rave about Hetherman’s defense and approach.
“It has been simpler; we’re able to play more free and fast,” Wesley Bissainthe said. “Just more freedom [than past years]. If we see something [that requires a different coverage] we’re able to check that [into another defensive look]. We have more freedom to check things. That will carry the defense a long way, lead to making more plays.”
Said Scott: “Coach Hetherman, he likes us to play fast and violent. He preaches that all the time, swarm and suffocating defense, make sure there isn’t any breathing room [for any offensive player]. And the playbook is simple.”
This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 11:04 AM.
