The Hurricanes are opening spring practice Tuesday after a 13-win season that ended one score short of a national title, and Mario Cristobal has already called this the most challenging offseason of his Miami tenure.
The program is losing stars like Carson Beck, Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr., Akheem Mesidor and Keionte Scott while also trying to compete for a national title. Spring ball matters, and for Miami, the standard is now College Football Playoff or bust. These are the Miami stars under the most pressure in the spring.
Honorable mention: OJ Frederique Jr.
1. QB Darian Mensah
The most obvious name under pressure is quarterback Darian Mensah. He transferred in as Beck's successor after throwing for an ACC-best 3,973 yards with 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions at Duke.
Those are big numbers, but the pressure in Coral Gables is different. Miami is coming off a title-game run and Mensah has to look like someone who can keep the offense humming with Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. already back in the fold. If he looks comfortable early, Miami will be a CFP team.
Also, the reputation Miami has built in the last few years with transfer QBs brings another bit of added pressure. Cam Ward elevated himself into the No. 1 overall pick and Beck has aligned himself to be drafted soon. The reward is high for Mensah, but so is the pressure.
2. DL Justin Scott
The second name is Justin Scott. Miami recruited him as a five-star defensive lineman and one of the elite players in the 2024 class. Now it is time for him to look like the next centerpiece up front.
Scott played in all 16 games last season, made nine starts and finished with 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack, with his best football coming late in the year when he posted impact games against Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh.
Those are good building-block numbers, but he will need to replace the weekly disruption Miami got from Bain and Mesidor. Spring is where Scott has to start looking less like a promising rotation piece and more like the next great Miami DL.
3. OT Jackson Cantwell
The third player under the microscope is Jackson Cantwell. The Hurricanes signed one of the crown jewels of the 2026 class in the 6-foot-8 offensive tackle from Nixa, Missouri. ESPN ranked him the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the cycle.
Cantwell is the most college-ready offensive line signee in the class and Miami lost several offensive line starters. Spring will be about whether Cantwell can look like an immediate answer at one of the most important spots. Cantwell is likely Miami's starting right tackle entering spring after Mauigoa's departure, and he will pretty much be following in Mauigoa's footsteps during his career with the Hurricanes.
The real pressure comes in the fall
Cristobal and his staff will learn a lot about their team during these spring practices but it won't define the fall. There is still plenty of time after the spring to work things out and at the end of the day it's all about the Saturdays in the fall. Those will be the defining moments.