
The Miami Hurricanes are poised to have several players selected in the 2027 NFL Draft, including quarterback Darian Mensah, EDGE Damon Wilson II, and defensive tackle Justin Scott. Following a strong 2026 draft, expectations are high for Miami's talent pipeline.
After having the number one overall pick in 2025 (), Miami backed that up with a trio of first rounders in 2026 (Mauigoa, Bain, Mesidor). With the combination of elite talent acquisition and dynamic player development, the expectation is and should be that Miami continues to have multiple first round picks every single year.
The top candidates include quarterback Darian Mensah, EDGE Damon Wilson II, and defensive tackle Justin Scott.
At Duke, Darian Mensah recorded 3,973 passing yards with a completion rate of 66.8%, throwing 34 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
Damon Wilson II had a breakout season at Mizzou, posting 9.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
Justin Scott, a 5-star recruit, has the potential to be a first-round pick if he can consistently showcase his elite talent on the field.

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There are some who like Moten Sr. more than Scott…and I get it. He’s developed at an incredible rate, and is now a standout starter on Miami’s defense. Moten routinely makes game-changing plays, and his impact can be felt even when he doesn’t make a tackle himself. Moten really took a star turn through last year’s College Football Playoffs, and the expectation is that he continues his ascension this upcoming season. Miami’s defense was noticeably different when Moten was off the field, so his healthy return from an ankle injury sustained in the CFP which kept him out this spring will be essential for Miami’s team success, and his draft fortunes as well. There’s a chance that, with a strong season, Moten Sr. could elevate into the first round, but I think he projects more in the 40-60 range (early 2nd to 3rd).
An uber talented defensive back, Lucas has all the traits of a high round draft pick. A 6’2” 198lb corner, Lucas has the height, length, and athletic profile of a high caliber defender. The Wisconsin transfer immediately stepped into the lineup for Miami in 2025, and looks to take his game to another level in 2026. Lucas is a top notch size-speed combo player, and another strong season at Miami could jump him up into consideration for a mid round pick.
A talented player, Frederique burst onto the scene with a strong Freshman All-American season in 2024. He was solid again in 2025, but wasn’t as consistent as the previous year. Another strong season for Frederique should put him squarely in the conversation for a mid-round pick, if not higher. One of the things that could hold him back is his athletic profile — particularly his moderate-at-best foot speed — which several teams exploited last season. This will be something worth monitoring though the 2026 season.
**S Zechariah Poyser —** A talented 6’2” defensive back, Poyser was a freshman All-American at Jacksonville State in 2024, and started every game for Miami last year. He’s got the physical profile and performance to be a draft pick after this season, but he needs to show a bit more consistency. He’s a prime candidate to jump up higher on this list with a strong season. **EDGE Marquise Lightfoot —** The first guy off the bench behind last year’s first rounders Bain and Mesidor, Lightfoot looks to get paid with a big season with a probable starting role. At this point last year, I had Mesidor in this same early draft range, so that’s proof that a strong season can end with a big payday in the draft. I’m very interested to see how Lightfoot plays as a high snap count starter instead of rush down situational super sub. **DL Armondo Blount —** A big, physical player, Blount has a world of potential. He’s super young for his classification (19 years old as a college junior), so there will still be room to grow once he moves to the NFL. Blount has played both inside and outside at Miami, so it will be interesting to see where he gets the majority of his snaps this upcoming season. He could take a star turn a la Mesidor and skyrocket into the top end of the draft, or he could take a big step forward in his performance this year, and elect to return for his senior season in 2027. **OL Matthew McCoy —** A big, physical player with plenty of experience, McCoy should find his way into being drafted next April. He’s another 6’6” 320lb monster on Miami’s OL, and he’s shown solid performance and development over the course of his career. Another strong season should end with him getting drafted. **DB Omar Thornton —** The Boston College transfer already has 2 years of solid performance to his credit, so he could elevate into the draft with another strong season now that he’s at Miami. I think he’s probably less likely than the others on this part of the list to jump up into the draft, but it’s possible. **WR Cooper Barkate —** The former Harvard and Duke receiver led the ACC in receiving yards in 2025. Now at Miami, he teams up again with QB Darian Mensah, with whom he has a very strong on-field connection. While Barkate isn’t the twitchiest receiver in the world, he’s a technician, has very good hands, and more athleticism than you might think. He should be a draft pick after he closes out his collegiate career. **DT Keona Davis —** A new face for Miami, Davis joins the Canes after 2 years at Nebraska. He’s a big, physical defensive tackle with solid potential. With Scott and Moten Sr. at the top of the roster at this position, it’s unlikely that Davis will supplant either of them to start. So, this is more a projection of his talent than expectation of his performance this year. But, big, physical players like Davis are always in high demand, so he’s on the list for now, even if he doesn’t end up heading to the draft. There are plenty of other draft-eligible players on the roster, but at this point, I think they profile as undrafted free agents, most likely. Even with that being the case, strong seasons on the field for the Canes in 2026 could change their fortunes. Those are my thoughts on which Miami Hurricanes players are on the radar for the 2027 NFL Draft. Am I too high on someone? Too low? Did I miss someone altogether? Hop in the comments and let me know.