Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney, Mark Fletcher Jr. and Damon Wilson II are going to get talked about constantly this fall, and deservedly so. But rosters are built by the names further down the depth chart.
Here are the names actually earning extra work in fall camp right now who could end up mattering just as much to how Miami's season goes, plus a few more worth keeping an eye on.
Armondo Blount and Marquise Lightfoot will be crucial on the defensive line
Bain and Mesidor combined for 22 of Miami's nation-leading 50 sacks last season before both left for the NFL as first-round picks. No single newcomer, or returner, is walking in to match that on his own.
Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II is the closest thing to a direct answer. He arrives after recording nine sacks for the Tigers last season, and he's expected to start on the line right away. But Wilson alone doesn't replace 22 sacks. The plan is depth, spread across a handful of returning linemen who each know how to do a specific job well.
Justin Scott, a former five-star recruit, and Ahmad Moten Sr. on the interior are the players that fans know will have a bigger role this year. But there are two other players that will also need to step up.
Armondo Blount is one of them. He played in 15 games last season and finished with 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup and six quarterback hurries. Marquise Lightfoot is the other one. He put up 25 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season.
Gavin Mueller and Israel Briggs could be important support for TE Elija Lofton
Miami already knows what it needs from Elija Lofton. The bigger question is whether the Hurricanes can build enough around him to keep tight end from becoming a one-man position. Luka Gilbert was expected to have a significant role before Mario Cristobal confirmed that a summer injury will keep him out for the entire 2026 season, leaving true freshmen Gavin Mueller and Israel Briggs with a path to playing time.
Mueller is the more physically ready of the two at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. He did not begin playing football until his junior year of high school, then became an all-purpose weapon as a senior. Mueller rushed for 669 yards and 20 touchdowns, caught 32 passes for 515 yards and 10 touchdowns and finished with 1,325 all-purpose yards. That versatility gives Miami plenty to work with while he continues developing the finer points of playing tight end at the college level.
Briggs is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound freshman who caught 56 passes for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior season. He comes to Miami with a much more receiver-like build and he may need time before Miami can consistently ask him to handle traditional in-line responsibilities.
Miami needs one, or both, to become reliable enough that the offense can use multiple tight endlooks and avoid putting every snap at the position on Lofton. That supporting role could make the freshmen far more important to Miami's offense than their final receiving totals might suggest.
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