miamiherald
The Miami Hurricanes offense is once again loaded heading into the 2026 season.
New quarterback Darian Mensah will have no shortage of options at his disposal, from a running back room that is five quality players deep and a wide receiver corps that has as many as seven players who realistically could get significant playing time.
That said, there is a player on the Hurricanes roster who hasnt fully lived up to the hype that coach Mario Cristobal believes is finally poised for a breakout season.
Dont count out tight end Elija Lofton.
Lofton, entering his junior season, has showcased his potential in spurts over his first two seasons.
He has caught 32 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns while running for a fifth.
Miami put him in select packages as a freshman to maximize his strengths as a playmaker and allow the 6-3, 242-pounder to take advantage of mismatches while serving as the backup to Elijah Arroyo, now in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.
Injuries hampered Lofton as a sophomore, who only started four of 15 games and missed the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Indiana after being carted off the field early in the Hurricanes semifinal win over Ole Miss at the Fiesta Bowl.
Hes always been a big part until hes been banged up, Cristobal said at the ACCs Football Kickoff on Wednesday.
Hes talented.
For us, its pretty simple: Its players over plays.
The offseason is so important because guys have an opportunity to better themselves and show what they can do to help us win.
Guys that play are guys that have proven they can help the team win.
We dont just play a guy because hes talented.
We dont play a guy because we signed him, hes got a high ranking or because theres a fear of a transfer.
Thats irrelevant.
Who has earned the opportunity to play? Because if they have earned it, it doesnt matter if hes not starting; we have to play.
Lofton, for us, has always been an individual we thought really highly of.
We think hes really healthy now.
Remember, he suffered a pretty significant injury in the bowl game.
He was doing everything before that, and now he looks like hes in optimal form.
Were expecting a big year out of him.
Should he have that big year, it will be a boon for an offense that already has the pieces to be an explosive group.
Mensah leads the charge at quarterback.
Mark Fletcher Jr.
leads the running back room and will be complemented by CharMar Marty Brown, Jordan Lyle, Girard Pringle and Javian Mallory.
Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate, both coming off seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards, are the top two options at receiver in a room that also includes Josh Moore, Daylyn Upshaw, Vandrevius Jacobs and Cam Vaughn plus a talented freshman class headlined by Somourian Wingo.
But the tight end position is one where Miami is looking for someone Lofton, namely to step up.
He has the skills and size to wreak havoc in the passing game.
He has enough elusiveness to be utilized in the back field.
And he has improved his blocking to be used as an in-line tight end.
You can line him up all over the field, new Miami tight ends coach Mike Viti said this spring.
In the vertical passing game, hes a threat.
Safeties, nickels are afraid that hes going to run by them.
So theres that threat to stretch the field, which opens it up.
Beyond Lofton, Miamis tight ends room includes sophomore Luka Gilbert, who will likely play a larger role this season, as well as a pair of high potential freshmen in Israel Briggs and Gavin Mueller.
Five other players with limited reps round out the position: redshirt senior Jack Nickel, the older brother of quarterback Luke Nickel; redshirt junior Jackson Carver, who missed all of last season with injury; redshirt sophomore Hunter Carver; redshirt junior Owen Ruskavich; and redshirt sophomore Cole McConathy, who has switched to the position after spending his first two years at Miami as a reserve defensive end.
I love the ceiling of the room, Viti said in the spring.
I love the development side of it.
To me, thats where I feel Im talented.
But I look at the guys.
Theyre just as hungry.
..
Were starting this journey together.
Beyond Lofton, here are four other players in position to have breakout seasons Defensive tackle Justin Scott: A former five-star prospect, Scott is set to become a full-time starter alongside Ahmad Moten Sr.
on the interior of Miamis defensive line.
Scott started nine of 15 games he played last season, filling in at the top of the depth chart when Moten and David Blay Jr.
were sidelined with injury.
He logged 26 tackles to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
Linebacker Chase Smith: The sixth-year senior waited his turn with the Hurricanes and he took advantage of being a rotational player in 2025 with 31 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups.
Hes set to be a starter in 2026 alongside Mo Toure.
Offensive lineman Samson Okunlola: The Hurricanes are replacing four starters across the offensive line this season.
Okunlola, entering his redshirt junior season and a former five-star recruit, is poised to open the season as Miamis full-time starter at left guard after splitting reps there last season with Matt McCoy, who is kicking out to right tackle.
Running back Jordan Lyle: While Fletcher is the Hurricanes No.
1 running back, Lyle arguably is the most talented player at the position with a combination of vision and speed that makes him a breakaway threat whenever he has the ball.
Remember, he started Miamis season opener against Notre Dame only to get injured and struggle to steadily get back into the rotation after that.
A full strength Lyle adds another layer to an already deep Miami offense.