With the countdown to spring football shrinking, Miami and Mario Cristobal are going to be spending plenty of time in getting top 2027 targets in town for visits. However, that doesn't mean that Cristobal and his staff have forgotten about 2028 players.
Mike Norvell's seat already heating up is something Miami fans should enjoy
One prospect in particular who is looking forward to getting to Coral Gables to watch a spring session is elite offensive lineman Isaiah Whitehead. Recently, the lineman told On3's EJ Holland that he's planning to make his way to Miami and despite not having a Miami offer just yet, he made it clear what it would mean to him if Cristobal puts one on the table:
“They would instantly be a top school on my list. It would mean a lot.”
— "EJ Holland" (@EJHollandOn3) February 22, 2026
Top 300 2028 OL Isaiah Whitehead (@Whit45127Isaiah) is planning to visit Miami this spring & is hopeful an offer will come his way #GoCanes. https://t.co/JEWg8EUBs2 pic.twitter.com/HLb7Y9ugqY
Elite 2028 OL Isaiah Whitehead is hoping Mario Cristobal and Miami offer him
So, if Cristobal offers, Miami would 'instantly' become a top school for Whitehead? Yeah, that's something the Canes are definitely going to have to keep in mind moving forward. Despite only being a high school sophomore, the 6-4, 295-pounder is starting to see his recruitment take off.
As of this writing, the Chesterfield, Va. product has picked up scholarships from NC State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Delaware State. That's a solid list, but it's surely going to grow in the coming months.
The question here is will Miami add its name to the mix by offering the youngster? That's certainly what he wants, as Miami's most recent College Football Playoff run certainly turned Whitehead's head, while the success of offensive linemen at The U is something to be a fan of too.
Again, the priority for Miami and Cristobal is going to be on 2027 targets, as the hope is the Canes can add more commitments for the class sooner rather than later - there are four known verbal pledges on board. However, it's never too early to start thinking about '28 and Whitehead's recent comments hint that Miami could grab an early pledge from him if a tender is sent his way.