What we’re hearing on UM’s offensive personnel in spring ball. And UM lands a QB
Some feedback from inside the building on the Miami Hurricanes’ offense heading into the final nine days of spring football:
▪ Former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah has been everything Miami expected, from a talent and leadership standpoint.
One UM official said he’s more similar to Cam Ward than Carson Beck but blends strong attributes of both. “He throws with excellent velocity, has really good accuracy and can throw the ball down the field,” was the assessment of the skill set.
Receivers coach Kevin Beard, speaking with Don Bailey Jr. on WQAM 560 this week, spoke of Mensah’s poise, adding “When things aren’t going right, there’s no chaos, no panic, in his demeanor.”
▪ Luke Nickel has emerged as the clear front-runner over Judd Anderson and Dereon Coleman for the No. 2 quarterback job.
Nickel’s accuracy could be more consistent, but as a UM person said: “Luke is elusive and probably is at his best when he throws the ball on the run. He lets it fly; sometimes he will throw across his body, which probably isn’t ideal… Coleman is very skinny, but he can really throw it; he’s got a great arm.”
▪ There has been no exhale, or feeling of contentment, from star receiver Malachi Toney, who remains the eighth wonder of UM’s world.
No surprise, but Toney made the best play of spring practice the other day, when he dove and caught a pass that was overthrown by five yards, summersaulted into the end zone and jumped up and spiked it.
He remains immensely self-driven, often arriving at the facility at 5 a.m., as coach Mario Cristobal said.
He changed his number from 10 to 1, but “I still call him 10,” Beard said. “I tell him, ‘10 would have done this. 1, I don’t know about this 1 guy.’”
▪ Receiver Cooper Barkate, who was Mensah’s No. 1 target at Duke, has impressed with his football intelligence and ability to get open. He was spectacular in one recent practice and the chemistry with Mensah is really starting to show.
▪ Despite their experience and talent, transfer receivers Cam Vaughn and speedy Vandrevius Jacobs are realizing it’s not going to be easy to beat out Joshua Moore, who hasn’t done anything to hurt his case to start alongside Toney and Barkate.
As one UM person said, “Josh Moore can be great.”
▪ Receiver Daylyn Upshaw, who came on strong as a freshman last season before missing the playoffs with an injury, looks healthy and “can really accelerate,” as one UM person phrased it.
Upshaw, Vaughn and Jacobs could start the season as receivers four through six, in whatever order.
But we keep being told to keep an eye on freshmen Milan Parris and Somourian Wingo. Parris, at 6-5, “has height and knows how to use it,” as one UM person put it.
▪ Running back Jordan Lyle is the reclamation project this spring; UM is happy he stuck around and still sees the same type of talent and explosiveness that he flashed as a freshman before last season’s ankle injury and limited production (3.1 average on 35 carries).
We hear Lyle has made progress this spring, but he needs to continue showing he can break tackles, which was lacking last season. There’s no question about the home-run speed.
▪ Matthew McCoy, who split a guard spot with Samson Okunlola last season, has done a good job at right tackle and seemingly has solidified his position there.
▪ Max Buchanan is the player who has emerged as the front-runner for the fifth (and the one open) starting job, at guard. UM also believes he has upside at center.
Multiple Canes people predict he will be a very good player.
▪ Five-star freshman Jackson Cantwell has done nothing to suggest he isn’t ready to step in at left tackle. But more practices in pads are needed to know that for sure.
▪ UM watched all of Jamal Meriweather’s 59 offensive snaps at Georgia and love his length and athleticism and believe he can be developed into a capable player at guard or tackle. But for now, he’s trying simply to make a case to earn playing time.
▪ UM is eager to see what Luka Gilbert can become as Elija Lofton’s backup; he has the most upside of the young tight ends because of his size (6-7, 255 pounds), length and ability to stretch the field.
Israel Briggs and Gavin Mueller are impressive freshmen from a receiving standpoint, and Jackson Carver’s return from last April’s serious knee injury gives UM another big and skilled in-line blocker. There’s a lot of work ahead for Cole McConathy in his attempt to move over from defensive end.
Quarterback commits
Four-star Jacksonville Mandarin quarterback Knox Annis committed to the Hurricanes on Thursday, becoming UM’s first pledge for the 2028 class.
Annis — who also has offers from FSU, Florida, Tennessee, Wake Forest and others — threw for 2,203 yards last season with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has averaged 11 yards per carry on 45 career rushing attempts.
Annis, 6-3, told Rivals.com’s Chad Simmons that “coaches tell me they like my frame, arm talent, and how the ball comes out of my hand. I try to build my game around studying players I admire: Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and watching how Cam Ward moves in the pocket. I want to learn from the best and develop my own style.”
UM recently landed a commitment from Illinois-based four-star Class of 2027 quarterback prospect Israel Abrams.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 2:01 PM.
