Just another day in the recruiting game, the same old song and dance, trying to woo those top prospects. While LSU and USC are usually hogging the limelight, Miami’s Hurricanes are suddenly stealing the show, winning hearts left and right. And the reason? A local offensive lineman, the apple of everyone’s eye, singing praises after his visit to Mario Cristobal’s crew. This is a major score for Miami, especially since those ACC and SEC bigwigs were all over this 2026 Florida 3-star at the start of the year. Now that Miami’s got him buzzing, you just know some Big Ten head coach is sweating bullets.

The player in question is the local 2026 offensive lineman Ryan Miret. The young chap from Miami Southridge High School is not only known for his football talents. Rather, he did earn a lot of recognition after completing an undefeated wrestling season and topping it up with a state championship victory. Miret has got that fighting spirit within himself as he kept working hard after getting defeated by West Boca in the state semifinals. With his winning streak this season, being his top pick is a serious flex. So, what exactly did Cristobal’s crew do to win Miret over?

The offensive lineman made a visit to Miami on Tuesday, March 18. Post which, in an interview with Rivals, he said, “Their tempo, that’s the biggest thing they said they are working on. Getting as many reps possible, because at the end of the day watching and listening, that’s good, but Coach [Alex] Mirabal said just actually doing it is what is going to get you better.” Miret also got lucky to attend a position meeting with Cristobal’s offensive line, and he raved about the “good stuff” he learned about inside zone, counterplay, and freeze play. But it’s OL coach Mirabal who really caught his attention.

“He actually used to be a history teacher. So that definitely helps. It feels like he’s a teacher while he’s there. It feels like I’m actually learning,” Miret said. Sounds like Mirabal’s teaching style is a game-changer. If Miret ends up with Cristobal’s squad, Mirabal’s definitely the secret weapon. And get this: Mirabal’s on it, like, daily. “They text me every day…send me clips. I tell them how I’m doing. They continue to have a daily check-in with me.”

Another big reason is the location factor. As Miret shared, “It would be amazing to be able to stay home with my and my friends. Staying here, people would know who I am; it would be cool.” Now Miret still has one OV with Miami set for June 20th. 

Cristobal’s program is in constant touch with the Southridge star, but Miret is yet to make the final decision. “I still want to visit at least two or three more schools, but I feel like I’ll have a decision before the regular season starts for high school.” Meanwhile, Matt Rhule must have already lost his goodnight’s sleep. 

Will Nebraska lose their edge in Ryan Miret’s recruiting battle? 

So finding big-bodied centers? That’s like finding a needle in a haystack on the recruiting scene. But Miret is a whole different story. This 6’4″, 290-pounder is not just big, he’s versatile. He can play either guard spot, and he was snapping for the Spartans during their killer 12-3 junior season against some serious 6A Florida competition. He has played center, defensive tackle, and both interior line spots. But, yeah, he’s had his share of bumps in the road, too.

“Playing on the offensive line, I’d rather go against the biggest-scariest guys than the fast little guys. Against Edison, I went against an undersized guy. He was probably under 200 pounds and shifty; that threw me off,” he said. But the fact that he reads defenses like a book, and that size is a straight-up advantage for a center. That’s why he racked up 14 offers, with Ole Miss, Florida, UCF, Wisconsin, and Charlotte all throwing their hats in the ring. However, Rhule’s Nebraska had an edge in the Miret recruiting race.

If there is one advantage Nebraska does have in this recruitment, it’s that Ryan Miret has known outside linebackers coach Phil Simpson for quite a while. But it turns out that the Simpson connection won’t be able to survive in front of how Mario Cristobal’s squad made the grand push.

However, it’s still important for the Hurricanes to have their eyes on some important dates. Miret is scheduled to visit Memphis on March 21, then he will be visiting Ole Miss on March 22. The Cornhuskers will have their chance on March 26. The trophy is up for grabs, and the competition is fierce. Who will win the Ryan Miret sweepstakes?