Miami’s hot 2026 offseason continued with the addition of a five-star defender.
Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes are on a true heater, and the latest victory on the recruiting trail came at the expense of someone the Canes head coach knows very well: Lane Kiffin.
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Miami had been all in on Irmo, SC five-star defensive lineman Jaiden Bryant, who had committed to LSU back in January. Despite that pledge, Cristobal and his staff got Bryant to visit Coral Gables last weekend, and it’s safe to say the visit was a hit.
On Wednesday night, Bryant announced he flipped his commitment to Miami and that he is shutting down his recruitment.
5-star Irmo, SC DL Jaiden Bryant flips commitment from LSU to Miami after visit
Bryant checks in as a five-star in Rivals/On3 Sports’ industry rankings, who have him as the No. 29 overall player, No. 4 defensive lineman, and No. 1 player in the state of South Carolina for 2027. He held offers from Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Texas Tech, South Carolina, and many others.
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He becomes the second major flip from an SEC powerhouse for Cristobal in just the last month alone. Back in May, Cristobal and Miami secured a flip from five-star Long Beach, CA DB Donte Wright, who had been committed to Georgia.
Bryant becomes the third five-star recruit in Miami’s 2027 class, joining Wright and Miami Carol City WR Nick Lennear. The Hurricanes are now firmly in third place in the On3/Rivals team rankings and nipping on Oklahoma’s heels for second. They are one of just two teams (Texas A&M) to have more than two five-star commitments.
And with the way Cristobal is cooking right now, it likely won’t be the last this year.
