Miami Lands Major 2026 Commitment Over Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas

Kennedy initially committed to Missouri in December 2024, but reopened his recruitment in May. He took an official visit to the Hurricanes on May 30th, citing this trip as a primary motivator for his commitment in an interview with Rivals’ Marcus Benjamin.

"Ever since my OV, I feel like my relationship with the Miami staff has gotten stronger," he explained.

Kennedy is the first defensive tackle to join the Hurricanes’ star-studded 2026 class, which currently ranks sixth in the nation per 247Sports, but is expected to rise after they update the rankings to include Kennedy’s commitment. 

Kennedy stands 6-5 and weighs 330 pounds, with an impressive 35.5-inch wingspan to boot. Miami defensive line coaches Damione Lewis and Jason Taylor told Benjamin they “believe in [Kennedy’s] upside” after watching him practice in the spring. These endorsements are especially inspiring considering the dominance the pair displayed during their time as Hurricanes. 

This commitment is a continuation of the recruiting tear Miami has been on recently, with three four-star commits in the past week alone. Their class now features a top-10 player in the country in five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, along with twelve other four-stars now that Kennedy has joined the group.

While recruiting rankings aren’t the ultimate measure of team success, they serve as a strong indicator that Miami’s impressive 2024 campaign isn’t a one-off season, but the beginning of their return to the top tier of college football.