Miami is in pursuit of 2027 OL prospect that is built like he could play today

Chillicothe (Ohio) High School standout Conner Rutherford, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound 2027 offensive tackle, announced this week that he's picked up a scholarship offer from Mario Cristobal's Hurricanes after speaking with Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.

Miami offers 2027 OT Conner Rutherford

Rutherford is a multi-sport athlete who wrestles and is a two-way player with experience on the offensive and defensive lines.

Rutherford logged 19 total tackles and 1 sack in seven games during the 2025 season. He also earned recognition as an offensive lineman on the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Southeast District team.

Cristobal has made offensive line recruiting a year-round priority, and Mirabal's track record and reputation are a major part of that pitch. Mirabal is Miami's assistant head coach/offensive line coach and has been a central figure in how the Hurricanes evaluate and recruit the trenches.

Rutherford has offers from schools such as Arkansas, Boston College, Minnesota, NC State and South Florida, along with Miami.

Miami's OL has turned into a selling point under Cristobal and Mirabal

The front powered an explosive 2024 offense that finished No. 1 nationally in scoring (43.9 points per game) and total offense (537.2 yards per game). The Hurricanes followed it up with a 2025 run that included a trip to the College Football Playoff title game, and the protection stayed steady, with Miami only allowing 20 sacks while averaging 405 yards per game.

Individually, there are recent examples of Miami OL receiving recognition for their work in the trenches. Francis Mauigoa won the ACC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy and is projected to be a first round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

And on the recruiting side, Miami just signed one of the best 2026 prospect's in the nation, Jackson Cantwell. That is just another signal that the Hurricanes put their best foot forward when it comes to that part of the game.