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3 Miami freshmen go into the 2026 season with expectations to contribute immediately

Two of the freshman made the 247Sports 2026 preseason true freshman All-America team.
ByPatrick Previty|
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Ben Congdon, left, celebrates a tackle with Hunter Witts during Tuscarawas Valley's 29-23 loss to Coshocton on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Stewart Field in Coshocton, Ohio. Congdon, a 6-8, 300-pound senior, is committed to Miami (Fla.) as on offensive lineman.
Ben Congdon, left, celebrates a tackle with Hunter Witts during Tuscarawas Valley's 29-23 loss to Coshocton on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Stewart Field in Coshocton, Ohio. Congdon, a 6-8, 300-pound senior, is committed to Miami (Fla.) as on offensive lineman. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

247Sports put out its 2026 preseason true freshman All-America team Friday, and Miami landed two spots. Offensive lineman Ben Congdon made the offense and Safety JJ Dunnigan made the defense.

One interesting omission was 5-star tackle Jackson Cantwell who projects to also be a starter for the Miami Hurricanes. Congdon, Dunnigan and Cantwell will be the main three freshmen to watch as Miami gets closer to playing its first game of the season.

247Sports releases 2026 preseason true freshman All-America team

Miami had a lot of turnover on the offensive line from this past offseason, but it is still surprising to see two true freshmen carve out a spot among the starters. Cantwell comes in with big-time NFL aspirations and Congdon, while not as highly ranked as Cantwell, looks to be in the same boat.

JJ Dunnigan was an Under Armour All-American in high school and has been very impressive through spring and fall camp. He is far and away the best true freshman on the defensive side of the ball and will be a great piece for a secondary that also had some turnover in the offseason.

Preseason true freshman All-America offense

  • QB Faizon Brandon, Tennessee
  • RB Savion Hiter, Michigan
  • RB Jermaine Bishop Jr., Texas
  • WR Chris Henry Jr., Ohio State
  • WR Kenny Darby, Kentucky
  • TE Mark Bowman, USC
  • OL Kodi Greene, Washington
  • OL Zykie Helton, Georgia
  • OL Darius Gray, South Carolina
  • OL Kevin Brown, West Virginia
  • OL Ben Congdon, Miami

Preseason true freshman All-America defense

  • DL Richard Anderson, LSU
  • DL Derek Colman-Brusa, Washington
  • EDGE Luke Wafle, USC
  • EDGE Ladamion Guyton, Texas Tech
  • LB Xavier Griffin, Alabama
  • LB Jack Murray, South Carolina
  • DB Jay Timmons, Ohio State
  • DB Jeron Jones, Washington
  • DB JJ Dunnigan, Miami
  • DB Nick Hankins Jr., Illinois
  • DB Tyriq Green, Georgia

Preseason true freshman All-America special teams

  • RET Jasen Lopez, Florida State
  • P Jasper Scaife, Notre Dame
  • K Jacobo Echeverria Lozano, Purdue
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