9 p.m. update: UM lands standout corner but loses out on two others, including top local WR
At least three major announcements involving Miami Hurricanes recruiting targets are coming today, with UM so far landing one player, hoping to land another (four-star Georgia-based defensive lineman Bryce-Perry Wright, who will pick among Clemson, UM, Texas and Texas A&M at 5 p.m. EST and five-star Miami Northwestern receiver Calvin Russell, who is reportedly set to pick Michigan or Syracuse at 9 p.m., per on3.com).
We’ve launched a live blog, and keep checking back for updates:
9 p.m. news: The Canes, for at least the fifth time in a decade, have lost out in their bid to land South Florida’s top wide receiver.
On Saturday, five-star Miami Northwestern standout Calvin Russell surprisingly selected Syracuse over UM, Michigan, Oregon and FSU. According to on3.com, the Wolverines and Orange were his two finalists.
Even though Russell’s mother, former Canes basketball star Chanivia Broussard, is in the UM athletics Hall of Fame, UM never gained serious traction with Russell, who is rated by on3.com as the No. 2 receiver in the country, the No. 4 player in Florida and the 32nd best player overall. ESPN rates him the 28th best player in the 2026 class. 247 Sports rates him the nation’s No. 3 receiver and No. 21 prospect overall for 2026.
Russell visited Syracuse’s campus at least three times in the past year but never took an official visit there. He told Rivals last week that his top three options were Oregon, Florida State and Michigan.
Landing Russell -- the commitment is non-binding -- is a huge get for Syracuse coach Fran Brown. The 6-5 Russell has won state championships in both football and basketball at Northwestern and has indicated a desire to continue playing basketball, as well as football, in college. He had 39 catches for 704 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior at Northwestern last season.
Russell announced his decision at his birthday party that included many family members and friends, including Syracuse freshman receiver Darius Johnson, Russell’s former Northwestern teammate.
Even though the Canes have had considerable recruiting success in recent years, they’ve been unable to snag South Florida’s top receiver prospects. They previously lost out on Amari Cooper (Alabama), Calvin Ridley (Alabama), Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) and Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State).
The Canes have two receivers in their 2026 class: four-star prospect Vance Spafford and three-star prospect Tyran Evans.
5 p.m. news: Georgia-based defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright selected Texas A&M over UM, Clemson and Texas; he said the fact that the Aggies are “DL university” influenced him.
Seconds before his announcement, he praised Mario Cristobal for “changing” UM’s program. He would have been a big get for UM; 247 ranks him the 32nd best player in the country in the 2026 class. Clemson was seen as the favorite for weeks before A&M made a strong late push.
1:35 pm news: Four-star cornerback Brody Jennings flipped his commitment from Michigan to Miami.
Florida, Auburn and FSU also pursued Jennings, who’s the younger brother of former UM linebacker Bradley Jennings. His sister, Britney Jennings, runs track at Miami.
The 6-1 cornerback from Mandarin High in Jacksonville had been committed to Michigan since last July.
247 Sports ranks him the 24th cornerback and 277th best player in the 2026 class.
On3.com ranks him the 29th best cornerback.
He had 29 tackles, an interception and three pass deflections last season and was named the defensive back MVP at the Miami Under Armour camp in March.
He visited UM on May 30 and told Canesport at the time: “This visit has been great, and I don’t know if any other school is topping this official visit.”
On Saturday he tweeted a photo of himself in a UM jersey and added the words: “Locked in. I’m home.”
He joins Charlotte-based Camdin Portis, Georgia-based Jonatavious Wyman and Seffner Armwood’s Jaelan Water’s as 2026 UM cornerback commitments. Rivals ranks Waters 17th and Wyman 21st among all 2026 cornerback prospects.
He’s UM’s 20th commitment in a class that’s rated sixth by 247 Sports.
This story was originally published July 5, 2025 at 1:36 PM.
