Mario Cristobal sizes up Hurricanes’ 16 new additions on defense
UM worked to solidify its future on Wednesday with a 30-player signing class that was ranked in the top 10 by all major recruiting services.
Here’s how Mario Cristobal sized up the team’s defensive additions:
Defensive line
▪ Defensive tackle Tyson Bacon, Hoover (Alabama): He generated more interest than his recruiting class rating would suggest.
“He caught our eye right away; we offered him the moment we saw his film,” Cristobal said. “Had a great senior year before he got hurt. A lot of versatility.”
He was rated only the 138th defensive lineman by 247, but had offers from Georgia, Alabama, UF, Ohio State and many others.
▪ Edge player Asharri Charles, Venice: He delivered 28 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and four forced fumbles this season.
“Explosive; power cleaned 300; one of the most disruptive players in the state of Florida,” Cristobal said. “You know those videos of guys who jump out of pools and land on their feet? He’s one of those guys.”
▪ Edge player DeAnthony Lafayette, Orlando Lake Nona: He closed with 30 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks this season.
“One of two edge players that we took,” Cristobal said. “Orlando player of the year. He really impressed [UM defensive line coach] Jason Taylor. He had a lift session at 5 a.m., but he got there really, really early knowing Jason would show up. Slippery. Was committed to LSU. We loved him, never stopped recruiting him. He came to his senses and chose the right place.”
▪ Defensive tackle Logan Nagle, Wayne (New Jersey) DePaul Catholic: He produced 24.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
“Violent, big, strong, one of the best players from the state of New Jersey,” Cristobal said, mentioning Greg Marks and Danny Stubbs as standout UM defensive linemen from New Jersey. “He’s going to be an absolute stud.”
▪ Defensive tackle Keshawn Stancil, Clayton (North Carolina): 247 calls him the 72nd best prospect in the country; ESPN has him 239th.
Cristobal said Stancil, who was previously committed to Clemson, is “as a disruptive, explosive defensive tackle as anyone we’ve recruited here or anyone in the country this year. Big, nasty, powerful. These are three down players” that UM signed at tackle.
▪ Defensive tackle Isaac Chukwarah, Delaware: He flipped from Penn State to Miami after the Nittany Lions fired James Franklin.
“Big hands, explosive, unbelievable personality,” Cristobal said. “Had 39 tackles for loss in his final two seasons.”
▪ Defensive tackle Frederic Sainteus, defensive lineman; Naples: He had 10 tackles for loss and four sacks this season.
“Huge upside; originally from Haiti, moved to the States three years ago,” Cristobal said. “Long, strong, fast, explosive dude. He can flat out go. Speaks four languages; I can finally have some Spanish conversations.”
Linebackers
▪ Justin Edwards, Orlando Edgewater: He had 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in eight games this year.
“He really caught our eye in the spring time,” Cristobal said. “He had all the intangibles and tangibles that coach [Corey] Hetherman were looking for. It’s very important to coach Hetherman and his system to be involved in the body types and skill sets of guys to fit his defense.”
▪ Karsten Bursch, Louisville Xavier: The top ranked player in Kentucky was UM’s one new addition to the class on Wednesday. Bursch, who had 110 tackles last season, flipped from Louisville and picked UM over Wisconsin and Vanderbilt.
At 6-3 and 235 pounds, he’s a “ball-hawk, head-hunting type of guy,” Cristobal said, noting he was a bit late to his news conference so that he could wrap up Bursch’s signing.
▪ Jordan Campbell, Miami Northwestern: UM’s only Miami-Dade or Broward Class of 2026 addition on defense is rated by ESPN as the Canes’ third-best prospect (behind offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell and receiver Vance Spafford) and 150th best player overall in this class.
Cristobal raved about his physicality.
Safeties
▪ JJ Dunnigan, Manhattan (Kansas): 247 rates him the 92nd best player in this class; ESPN rates him 155th. Previously committed to Kansas, Dunnigan had four tackles for loss last season and also played receiver.
“That was one we were hoping to get in on and the timing just worked out,” Cristobal said. “6-3, 195 pounds. Fast, explosive, rangy. Can play man to man.”
▪ Cortez Redding, Jonesboro (Georgia): He had 113 tackles and four interceptions this year, and Cristobal called him a “smart, tough, physical, ball hawk. Defensive Player of the Year” in the Atlanta area.
Cornerbacks
▪ Brody Jennings, Jacksonville Mandarin: The former Michigan commitment had four interceptions last season.
“Unbelievable player,” Cristobal said. “A guy we expect to make an impact right away.”
▪ Camdin Portis, Charlotte (North Carolina) Myers Park: He’s the son of former Hurricanes star running back Clinton Portis and “we don’t take it for granted that he’s a legacy [player],” Cristobal said.
“He had one of the best seasons of anybody we saw on senior tape. He can do it all. He can play nickel, corner, can jump back at safety. One of the fastest risers in the class.”
▪ Jaelen Waters, Seffner Armwood: He’s ESPN’s No. 276 prospect in this class.
“One of the best players in the country,” Cristobal said. “Had an injury late but recovering well.”
▪ Jontavius Wyman, Jonesboro (Georgia): ESPN’s No. 255 overall prospect had 52 tackles and three interceptions last season.
He previously flipped from Georgia to UM. “Explosive, fast, ball skills, great man to man guy,” Cristobal said.
Here’s how Cristobal assessed UM’s 14 additions on offense.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM.
