TOP of the Boards: ’27 Edge

January 13, 2025

In 2025, Miami completed it second straight 10-win season, while capturing another top ten recruiting class. The Canes are currently battling for the national championship.

Head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff have already begun to evaluate and offer scholarships to 246 prospective prospects in the 2027 class. To date, Miami has received FOUR non-binding verbal commitments.

2027 Recruiting Class:

COMMITMENTS:  4    

NATIONAL RANKING:  16     

ACC RANKING:  5     

AVERAGE PLAYER RATING: 90.18

EDG Demarcus Deroche | Cardinal Gibbons | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 8/19/25

WR Ah'Mari Stevens | Chaminade-Madonna | Hollywood, FL | 1/13/25

S Jaylyn Jones  | McArthur | Hollywood, FL    | 6/23/25

OT Zaquan Linton | Palm Beach Central | Wellington, FL | 7/8/25

In this edition of the CaneReports, we introduce the early targets at …

EDGE RUSHER:

NEED: 1-2   |  LOW PRIORITY

Scholarship offers at this position to date: 20  

OVERVIEW: Miami carried seven (7) DEFENSIVE ENDS (EDGE) (Rueben Bain, Marquise Lightfoot, Cole McConathy, Hayden Lowe, Akheem Mesidor, Booker Pickett, Herbert Scroggins) in 2025. Mesidor exhausted their eligibility after the 2025 season. True freshmen Asharri Charles, Jordan Campbell, DeAnthony Lafayette, and Isaac Chukwurah will be joining the group in 2026. Chukwurah will start his college career but his expected to grow into an interior tackle. There may be some attrition this spring. Miami prefers to carry 6-8 DE on the roster. Look for Miami to sign one, maybe two defensive ends in the 2027 recruiting class.

DJ Jacobs

Hometown: Roswell, GA

School: Blessed Trinity Catholic

HT: 6'-5" | WT: 225 | Offers: 36 | Rating: 99 | Position Rank: 1 | Overall Rank: 8

Status: COMMITTED | Top Tier: Georgia

UOV: UOV:

SUMMARY: Elite pass rushing prospect. Multi-sport athlete (football, basketball). Brings size potential, power and a ton of physicality. In 2024, 112 tackles (35 TFLs) and 12 sack. Projects as a multi-year high-major starter with NFL upside down the road. Committed but soft.

Demarcus Deroche

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

School: Cardinal Gibbons

HT: 6'-4" | WT: 205 | Offers: 11 | Rating: 92 | Position Rank: 10 ATH | Overall Rank: 231

Status: COMMITTED | Top Tier: Miami (8/19/25)

OV: UOV:

SUMMARY: Multi-sport athlete. (football basketball) | Two-way player | In 2024, 11 tackles (5 TFL), 5 sacks, 2 FR and 1 FF

Frederick Ards

Hometown: Orlando, FL

School: Jones

HT: 6'-5" | WT: 225 | Offers: 22 | Rating: 95 | Position Rank: 14 | Overall Rank: 96

Status: UNCOMMITTED | Top Tier: Florida, Tennessee, Miami

OV: UOV:

SUMMARY: Florida is the early leader with the Vols and Canes on the outside for now.

Desmond Malpress

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

School: Atlantic Coast

HT: 6'-3" | WT: 205 | Offers: 17 | Rating: 97 | Position Rank: 9 | Overall Rank: 68

Status: UNCOMMITTED | Top Tier: Miami, Florida

OV: UOV:

SUMMARY: ----​​​

Isaac Miller

Hometown: Waukesha, WI

School: Catholic Memorial

HT: 6'-5" | WT: 250 | Offers: 18 | Rating: 87 | Position Rank: 45 | Overall Rank: 587

Status: UNCOMMITTED | Top Tier: Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Miami, Florida, Notre Dame

OV: UOV:

SUMMARY: Building relationship with Miami's senior analyst Brett Holinka.

BOTTOM LINE:

Miami continues to stack blue chip talent at edge rusher under coach Aaron Taylor. The staff will be very selected in this room in 2027.

GO CANES!