Damon Wilson II was the Miami Hurricanes' most notable transfer portal acquisition on defense, and despite the fanfare (and the cost), one of the SEC's top sack leaders of 2025 was not in the starting lineup. Neither was five-star recruit Jackson Cantwell, the top-rated offensive lineman in the Class of 2026.
Wilson II lined up with second-team edge rushers, and Cantwell was on the second-team offensive line at right guard behind sophomore Max Buchanan. It goes to show you that Mario Cristobal means it when he says no spot is guaranteed. Both Wilson II and Cantwell played plenty in Week 1. Wilson played 44 snaps, the second most among defensive ends/edge rushers, and Cantwell came into the game on the third series to spell Buchanan and played 34 snaps, the most among backup offensive linemen.
Nice block from Jackson Cantwell pic.twitter.com/Ay1S7VoH6a
— Andrew (@98CanesFootball) September 5, 2026
Mario Cristobal makes surprising moves in Week 1 depth chart
The best way to describe the defensive end situation is that Marquise Lightfoot, Armondo Blount and Wilson II are all co-starters. Wilson played more snaps than Blount (44-for-28), but Blount was on the field first. It is what it is, and that alignment may change at various points during the season.
Cantwell is a case of Cristobal valuing the development over the rating. There's no question that Cantwell has talent and an incredible ceiling. He's also barely 18 years old and needs time to find his footing. Throwing him out on the field as an immediate starter would've been irresponsible for Cristobal if they had the opportunity to ease him into the game. Buchanan's emergence gave the coaches the opportunity to guide Cantwell through his first college game.
"It was a solid start for [Cantwell]. [He] had some really bright moments, other ones where you got to get better at and work on, but overall, to get thrown in there as a true freshman at that position, it's a solid job. [Buchanan] is a guy that we have high expectations for, and we're gonna push him really, really hard because he's got tons of ability, and in his first start, really played, he played a good game, and so, yeah, we're excited about him," Cristobal said on the Joe Rose Show (as dictated by Trinton Breeze or CanesInsight)
A lot of times, fans will see the ranking, and the expectations are unrealistic from the go. When Cantwell signed, there was talk of him being the starting left tackle out of the gate. There was no way that was going to happen unless Cantwell earned that spot. We've already talked about the process that Cristobal and Alex Mirabal do with their young linemen. It worked for Francis Mauigoa, and it's working for Samson Okunlola. It will work for Cantwell too.
Wilson II and Cantwell starting the season as "backups" was certainly going to open some eyes, but Cristobal wasn't trying to send a message or get someone's attention. Miami has a deep squad and a lot of guys that are trying to get on the field. Cristobal had a rotation for Week 1 and the opportunity to get more snaps is always on the table because no spot on the Hurricanes is guaranteed.
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