The transfer portal madness is mostly finished, and the Miami Hurricanes’ 2026 roster is likely close to complete.

The UM roster is filled out with most, if not all, of its key players for next season, so we can project who will be the crucial starting players.

Here is who will likely be the primary players for Miami this year:

Quarterback

Starter: Darian Mensah

Backup: Luke Nickel or Judd Anderson

Mensah encountered some legal difficulties when he decided to transfer, but the former Duke quarterback found his way to Coral Gables. Now, barring an injury or other strange circumstance, he will be the Hurricanes’ starting quarterback. He gives UM a high-level starter who can lead an offense.

Running back

Starter: Mark Fletcher Jr.

Backup: Marty Brown, Jordan Lyle, Girard Pringle Jr

The Hurricanes like to use a multitude of running backs, so while Fletcher will likely get the plurality of carries next season, Miami will also utilize several running backs. Brown was solid as a backup last season, and Pringle was explosive at the end of the season. Lyle has a lot of potential but was banged up for much of the 2025 season.

Wide receivers

Starters: Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, Malachi Toney

Backups: Josh Moore, Cam Vaughn, Daylyn Upshaw

Toney was the breakout star of the 2025 season; he slides right back into the same role as Miami’s slot receiver in 2026. Barkate followed Mensah from Duke to Miami after putting up a 1,000-yard season in 2025. Jacobs is also a promising transfer from South Carolina.

Behind the main receivers will be rotational players who will see the field often, like Moore, Vaughn and Upshaw. Moore and Upshaw looked promising as freshmen, and Vaughn had a solid season at West Virginia.

Tight end

Starter: Elija Lofton

Backup: Luka Gilbert

Loftson had highs and lows in his first season as a major player, and he will likely be Miami’s starter this season. Gilbert, a four-star prospect in the 2025 class, will likely move into a bigger role this season.

Offensive line

Starters: Matthew McCoy, Samson Okunlola, SJ Alofaituli, Jamal Meriweather, Jackson Cantwell

Backups: Ryan Rodriguez, Johnathan Cline, Joel Ervin, Juan Minaya

Coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal have a big task ahead of them this offseason. They have to rebuild an O-line that is losing four starters from 2025. McCoy and Okunlola are the two primary linemen returning, and either one can play guard or tackle. The rest of the line is less assured. UM signed five-star freshman Cantwell, who can fill Francis Mauigoa’s role at right tackle. Touted rising sophomore Alofaituli or veteran Rodriguez could play center, and transfer Meriweather could win the right guard spot.

Defensive end

Starters: Damon Wilson, Marquise Lightfoot

Backups: Armondo Blount, Hayden Lowe

Miami loses two stars in Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, but it has a lot of talent to replace them. Wilson is a transfer from Missouri, who was a second-team All-SEC selection last season. Lightfoot performed well when rushing the passer when spelling Bain and Mesidor. Behind them are other talented players, including former five-star Blount (who can play defensive end or tackle) and Lowe, who coaches raved about before he suffered a season-ending injury.

Defensive tackle

Starters: Ahmad Moten Sr., Justin Scott

Backup: Keona Davis, Jarquez Carter

Moten was one of the unsung standouts on Miami’s stellar defense last season, and he opted to return to the Hurricanes this year. He should anchor the interior of the line alongside Scott, a former five-star prospect who had a solid season in 2025. Davis transferred to UM from Nebraska and will likely play a key rotational role. Carter is an intriguing option, as well, after transferring from Ohio State.

Linebacker

Starters: Mo Toure, Kamal Bonner

Backups: Bobby Pruitt, Kellen Wiley, Chase Smith

Toure received another year of eligibility because of his numerous injuries earlier in his career. He performed well in the postseason and can anchor the linebacker corps. Bonner played sparingly in 2025 after transferring from N.C. State, but he could play a bigger role next year. UM lost a potential starter in Raul Aguirre Jr., but there are talented reserves like Pruitt and Wiley.

Outside cornerback

Starters: OJ Frederique Jr., Xavier Lucas

Backups: Ethan O’Connor, Damari Brown

Frederique has performed well since he arrived at Miami, and Lucas became a key corner for the Hurricanes after transferring before the season. O’Connor and Brown are no slouches either; both are capable of starting and playing at a high level.

Nickelback

Starter: Bryce Fitzgerald

Backup: Camdin Portis

Fitzgerald would have big shoes to fill in this position, as Keionte Scott excelled as UM’s nickelback in 2025. But Fitzgerald was the team leader in interceptions (six), showing off his ball-hawking abilities. Portis, a true freshman, has a chance to get onto the field early if he proves himself in practice.

Safety

Starters: Zechariah Poyser, Omar Thornton

Backups: Dylan Day, JJ Dunnigan, Chris Ewald Jr.

The Hurricanes will have Poyser back this season after a solid first year at UM, and they added Boston College safety (and American Heritage High alum) Thornton to the mix via the transfer portal. Day has been good as a rotational safety, and up-and-comers like Dunnigan and Ewald could see some playing time.

Kicker

Starter: Jake Weinberg or Jack Olsen

Miami added a pair of kickers via the portal for the second year in a row. Weinberg, an FSU transfer, has the bigger leg. He had a good kickoff grade from Pro Football Focus, but he was 12 of 19 on field goals. Olsen is stellar from short range, making 19 of 21 attempts. But his longest kick last year was from 41 yards out.

Punter

Starter: Dylan Joyce

Joyce returns for his senior year. The Australian punter has been good since arriving at Miami, and he proved his value by flipping the field at crucial moments during the Hurricanes’ playoff run.