ESPN named Hayden Lowe from Miami on its "2026 college football Top 25: Under-the-radar players for each team" posted on Friday. Lowe missed his true freshman season in 2025 with an undisclosed injury. ESPN ranked Lowe 237th in the 2025 class.
Lowe should be part of the edge rusher rotation for Miami in 2026. Miami is rebuilding its 2026 rotation at edge rusher. Lowe will compete for snaps with Armondo Blount, Marquise Lightfoot, Cole McConathy, Booker Pickett and Herbert Scroggins III.
At Westlake Village, California, Oaks Christian, Lowe had 159 tackles, 42.0 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hurries, 24.5 sacks, four passes defended, two interceptions, four passes defended, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in his high school career.
Lowe is part of an extremely talented 2026 Miami DL. Five of the top six returning players for Miami in 2026 are DL. Defensive tackle Justin Scott, Blount and Lightfoot were all higher-ranked high school prospects than Lowe.
"Lowe got to Miami last year as a five-star prospect, and within the first few weeks of practice, coaches thought he would be able to make an immediate impact. But he got hurt and missed the season, giving him valuable time to watch and learn from Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr...Outside of transfer Damon Wilson II, Miami doesn't have much in the way of proven talent at the position. But the early returns on Lowe are promising. "My expectations for him are through the roof," coach Mario Cristobal said. "Andrea Adelson, ESPN
Looking ahead
Miami has uncertainty on the DL entering 2026, despite the losses of first-round NFL Draft picks Bain and Mesidor. The Hurricanes were fifth nationally with 102.0 tackles for loss and first with 50.0 sacks in 2025. Bain and Mesidor were dominant during the Miami College Football Playoff run.
Lowe signed with Miami before defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman was hired during the 2026 offseason. Miami improved significantly defensively under the most aggressive style preferred by Hetherman. Hetherman wants his DL to get upfield. The Hetherman system should benefit Lowe and the other Miami DL.
Being mentored by Bain and Lowe should have helped Lowe learn what it takes to be an elite DL and the work it takes to become a first-round pick. Wilson II should become another mentor to Lowe and a relatively young Miami DL. Miami should continue to have an elite DL.
ESPN ranks Miami seventh in its updated top 25. The majority of the 2026 Miami defensive starters will be new. Miami returns starting DTs Ahmad Moten and Scott. Moten and Scott should help provide Miami stability on the DL with the edge rushers moving into bigger roles in 2026. Miami has become a DL destination.
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