Three-star Naples St. John Neumann defensive lineman Frederic Sainteus is the prototype prospect whom Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and defensive line coach Jason Taylor have signed during their tenures with the Hurricanes. Sainteus committed to Miami on Wednesday.
New DL coach Damione Lewis was the primary recruiter for Sainteus, with Taylor his secondary contact. Sainteus has only played football for two years after he moved with his family to escape extreme violence in Haiti, per Brian Dohn of 247Sports.
As a junior in 2024, Sainteus had 71 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 6.0 quarterback hurries per MaxPreps. Sainteus has 11 tackles, five QBHs, 1.0 TFL and a 0.5 sack in 2025. Sainteus previously played for Golden Gate High School before transferring to St. John Newmann in June.
Miami beat out Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida State, Michigan State, Syracuse and Football Championship Subdivision Western Illinois for the commitment from Sainteus per his 247Sports profile page. Dohn reported the recruitment of Sainteus developed quickly.
BREAKING: Miami beats out Florida, FSU, and Michigan State for fast-rising Naples (Fla.) St. John Neumann DL Frederic Sainteus.
— Gaby Urrutia (@GabyUrrutia247) September 25, 2025
The 6-4, 290-pounder spent the past two weekends around the Hurricanes, which sold him on the program.@BrianDohn247: https://t.co/RJSMJPcn1x pic.twitter.com/TTAP5Fe0uK
Florida hosted Sainteus for an unofficial visit for their season opener against Long Island. Sainteus took an official visit to Michigan State the weekend of September 13. Sainteus had been committed to FAU since June. Dohn reported Michigan State was thought to be in the drivers seat for Sainteus after his OV.
Sainteus waited for Miami as their interest picked up and visited the Hurricanes on consecutive Saturdays per Dohn. Those visits solidified the decision for Sainteus to commit to Miami. Sainteus is the 1,392nd prospect, 150th DL and 147th player in Florida in the 2026 class.
Sainteus has the upside to significantly outperform his recruiting rankings. Miami previously received commitments from four-star DL Anthony Kennedy from Little Rock Central and three-star Tyson Bacon from Hoover, Alabama, in the 2026 class.
Cristobal and his staff have frequently developed three-star players into key performers over the last four seasons. Ahmad Moten was a three-star signee with Miami in the 2022 class and has nine tackles, 2.0 TFLs and 1.0 sack in 2025. Sainteus could be a redshirt with Miami as a true freshman in 2026 as he continues to develop..