Soon enough, we're all going to see a spike in the number of 2027 commitments for Miami and Mario Cristobal, as there are four on board. Spring football could lead to some big-time gets from elite playmakers the staff has high on its board.
Mario Cristobal throwing Carson Beck-flavored shade at Kirby Smart has people talking
A player people are monitoring closely is no question 5-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews. The 6-5, 300-pounder from nearby St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale has made it more than clear he's got serious interest in potentially staying home to play for Miami. As things stand, EJ Holland of Rivals has pointed out that the Canes are in the lead for him. Will Cristobal pull this off?
It's so important for Miami to get this one over the finish line! https://t.co/RWPceX375i
— Alex Donno (@AlexDonno) February 23, 2026
Miami keeps pushing to land local 5-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews
So, you're saying there's a chance? More than that, it feels like Miami is in the driver's seat to keep the homegrown talent in the state. That's of course not going to be an easy task, as Matthews is one of the top players in the country for the '27 group.
Throughout his recruitment he has picked up 35 offers. In addition to Miami, teams like Ohio State and Texas A&M have also made him a top priority, with Matthews liking what Ryan Day and Mike Elko, respectively, have been selling to him.
Matthews is ranked five stars and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country - he's also the No. 2 prospect nationally per the 247Sports Composite. He's been dominant at the high school level and more of the same is expected out of him once he gets to college.
Will he be playing his college ball in the ACC? That's certainly what Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal are pushing for and they appear to have things rolling in the right direction. Despite no official visits set up, the expectation is that Matthews will make his way over to watch Miami during spring practices. Cristobal will keep working hard to land him, as Matthews could prove to be a massive get if the Canes can get this over the line.