Over the last 3 years, the Miami Hurricanes proved time and time again, they are as same level of threat as anybody in the country. No recruits are beyond their reach, and all thanks to their NIL collective. They even snagged the No. 1 OT Jackson Cantwell in last year’s cycle and finished 3 top 10 classes in the last 4 years. Now with the natty runner-up tag, it’s only getting easier. According to EJ Holland, Mario Cristobal and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman are going all-in on the secondary for the 2027 class in DB Mekhi Williams and Donte Wright.

Both players are currently committed to Florida State and Georgia, respectively.

Mekhi Williams is a 4-star safety from Ruskin, Florida, who has been committed to Florida State for about a year. Even though he’s the top-ranked commit for the Noles, he hasn’t been shy about keeping his recruitment open.

Miami’s coaching staff, including Cristobal and Hetherman, has been visiting him regularly, twice in January. They’ve already locked him in for an official visit on June 19 and also planned his spring practice visit on April 10th. Even though Wisconsin and Nebraska are trying to get involved, EJ Holland believes the Florida native will most probably shut down his recruitment in the second week of August. As things stand, Miami will be the team to beat.

Then you have Donte Wright, an elite 5-star cornerback from California who is currently a prized Georgia commit. He’s generally considered as a top 21 player and the third-best cornerback in the entire country for the 2027 class. While he says he’s still “fully committed” to the Dawgs, he’s definitely listening to other pitches, like Oregon and Miami, for example.

He is scheduled to visit Miami this coming weekend (March 28) and has an official visit set for June 5. Holland believes his relationship with Oregon Ducks’ Terry Jefferson and assistant Rashad Wadood could lure him away from Miami’s grasp. So, that’s why Wright’s decision might come down to who Miami hires as its next cornerbacks coach.

The X-factor in both of these recruitments is Corey Hetherman. After leading Miami to a top-5 scoring defense and a National Championship appearance in 2025, he’s a finalist for the Broyles Award and has a ‘pro-style’ system that elite DBs love. By targeting these elite players committed to powerhouses like Georgia and FSU, he’s showing he isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone.

If Hetherman and the staff can pull off these flips, not only will they be able to keep them in-state, but they will also secure the future for the next three to four years on defense.

Mario Cristobal’s elite recruiting heritage: 2026 class

Miami’s 2026 recruiting class might already be in the books, but this one is going to feed generations to come. With 30 recruits, the Hurricanes have, for the fourth year in a row, managed to sign the No. 1 class in the ACC.

The majority of fans believes this 30-player group is being called the “deepest” of the Cristobal era. It’s a perfect balance of 14 offensive and 16 defensive signees. The biggest move they made was pulling Jackson Cantwell with a $5.5 million, 3-year NIL contract. Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal are already expected to have him competing for a starting job next season.

True to the “Cristobal way,” this class was built from the inside out. Miami signed 14 total linemen, six on the offensive side and seven on the defensive side. Some of the best trench players they added are 4-star pass rushers like Keshawn Stancil (a major flip from Clemson) and local star Jordan Campbell from Miami Northwestern.

The Hurricanes signed an elite group of defensive backs, led by 4-star safety JJ Dunnigan and cornerback Jaelen Waters, who can see some snaps early and eventually take over. On offense, they added big-time playmakers like 4-star wide receivers Somourian Wingo and Milan Parris.

While the high school class is the foundation, Cristobal also hit the transfer portal to find an immediate replacement for NFL-bound Carson Beck. He landed Duke star Darian Mensah, a veteran “gunslinger” who threw for over 4,000 yards and is expected to lead the offense in 2026 on another natty run.