Mario Cristobal still has some more work to do on the recruiting trail and the right player could be the difference for the Hurricanes in 2026.
Saturday's loss to SMU puts this year's Miami team on the playoff bubble. The Hurricanes aren't eliminated, but they are no longer the sure thing they were a few weeks ago. There have been signs during the first five games of the season to indicate this couldn't last, but one thing that really sticks out is the lack of explosive plays in the running game.
The run game is primarily tackle-to-tackle. The backs can't stretch runs to the outside, and it's forced Miami into a predictable ground attack with some frustrating results.
All the #Hurricanes run is the WR screen and the RB up the middle. Most predictable offense I have ever seen.
— Brad Berkowitz (@BradBerkowitz) November 1, 2025
Mark Fletcjher is a solid back with good numbers (125 carries, 636 yards, 5.1 YPC), but he does not have breakaway speed. His longest run of the year is 38 yards against USF, and he hasn't broken a run longer than 20 yards since that game. Jordan Lyle was supposed to be the guy out of the backfield to provide those chunk plays, but he's been hampered by an ankle injury most of the season.
This recruit could change Miami's offense in 2026
The Hurricanes need a gamebreaker at running back, and luckily for Cristobal, the right guy is about a 20-minute drive from campus.
Four-star running back Derrek Cooper is committed to Texas and, despite many overtures from Miami, he's remained in the fold for the Longhorns. Cristobal and the Hurricanes staff have a little more than a month to change that. He is a player that can step in as a true freshman and provide the home-run threat Miami needs out of the backfield.
Cooper is a physical back — a necessity in Cristobal's offense, but he has the long speed that the Hurricanes currently lack. Watch this clip of Cooper taking a run to the edge and showing the long speed to outrun the defense.
A look at the game breaking ability that makes 5-star Texas commmit Derrek Cooper Jr. special 🤘@DerrekCooper80
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) August 15, 2025
The speed and burst off the edge from the No. 7 prospect in the ESPN 300 is next level. Homerun hitter.
(🎥: @GHamiltonOTF)
pic.twitter.com/LlPSf2MwmC
We've seen what Malachi Toney has brought to the offense as a wide receiver. He is a big-play machine. Now Miami needs to bring that element to wide receiver. Getting Cooper away from Texas isn't going to be easy, but Cristobal has to do whatever it takes to make sure he stays home.