Half of Miami football's starters transferred in for the 2025 season, but the team does have several impact players who were developed at Miami.
When Miami Central High School opened the 2022 regular season at IMG Academy, it gave Miami Hurricanes football fans a glimpse at its future.
The game was highlighted by Central start edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. recording three sacks against IMG, primarily going up against Francis Mauigoa.
Those two have become two of the building blocks for a Hurricanes team that will play Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
In the era of the transfer portal and NIL, it's becoming increasingly rare to see impact players start and end their football career at the same school.
The past four Heisman Trophy winners, including Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, were all transfers. All of the starting quarterbacks for the four college football playoff semifinal teams are transfers. Oregon's Dante Moore is the only one who's been at his school for more than one season.
Miami is no different. Eleven — or one-half — of the Hurricanes offensive and defensive starters transferred in for the 2025 season.
But the Hurricanes do have players, headlined by All-Americans Bain and Mauigoa, who have spent their entire college careers at Miami.
Here's a look at the Hurricanes top homegrown talent:
(Players are listed in alphabetical order.)
Rueben Bain Jr.
Junior Edge Rusher
As a recruit: Bain was dominant at Miami Central, leading the Rockets to the No. 1 ranking in the nation as a senior in 2002. A four-star recruit and Under-Armour All-American, Bain recorded 77 sacks in high school.
As a Hurricane: Bain has one of the premier players in the nation in 2025, recording 45 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks. He won ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a consensus All-American.
Wesley Bissainthe
Senior Linebacker
As a recruit: Bissainthe's length and ability to make plays sideline to sideline at Miami Central made him a four-star recruit and one of the top linebackers in the 2022 class. He committed to Miami shortly before Mario Cristobal was hired.
As a Hurricane: Bissainthe has been a key member of the Hurricanes' active linebacker group. He has 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception and earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2025.
Anez Cooper
Senior Guard
As a recruit: Despite having a handful of SEC offers, Cooper was not heavily recruited as a senior at Pleasant Grove (Alabama) in the 2022 class. Miami offered the three-star lineman just a few weeks before the February signing period.
As a Hurricane: Cooper earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2025. He earned honorable mention on the All-ACC team in 2023 and 2024.
Mark Fletcher Jr.
Junior Running Back
As a recruit: Fletcher was a four-star recruit as a senior at American Heritage. He totaled 1,934 yards and scored 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2022 and flipped from Ohio State to Miami days before the early signing period.
As a Hurricane: Fletcher leads the Hurricanes with 947 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season. He was a third-team All-ACC selection and was named offensive MVP in the Cotton Bowl.
OJ Frederique Jr.
Sophomore Cornerback
As a recruit: Frederique was a three-star recruit as a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2024 class. He recorded 28 tackles and broke up 10 passes as a senior for the Raiders.
As a Hurricane: Frederique made an immediate impact, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2024. He has17 tackles and was tied for third on the team with five pass breakups this season.
Francis Mauigoa
Junior Offensive Tackle
As a recruit: The IMG standout was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2023 class and was ranked the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation by multiple recruiting services.
As a Hurricane: Mauigoa has started every game since stepping foot on campus three seasons ago. He was a consensus All-American in 2025.
Matthew McCoy
Redshirt Junior Guard
As a recruit: McCoy went completely under the radar as a recruit until September of his senior season at Creekside. He was ranked a three-star lineman by most recruiting services and picked Miami over Florida.
As a Hurricane: McCoy has started every game for the Hurricanes the past two seasons.
Ahmad Moten Sr.
Redshirt junior defensive tackle
As a recruit: Moten made a meteoric rise up the charts as a senior at Cardinal Gibbons in the 2022 class. Ranked three-star defensive lineman by most recruiting services, Moten picked Miami over Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee and others.
As a Hurricane: After being a reserve the past three seasons, Moten started 12 games and recorded 25 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2025 when he earned second team All-ACC honors.
Malachi Toney
Freshman wide receiver
As a recruit: A four-star recruit from American Heritage, Toney initially committed to Miami as a sophomore. He reclassified to the 2025 class, then helped guide the Patriots to a state title as a senior.
As a Hurricane: It's hard to call a true freshman a homegrown talent, but there's no denying the impact Toney made in 2025. The ACC Rookie of the Year earned All-American honors. He has 94 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami football: Rueben Bain, Francis Mauigoa are top homegrown talent
Category: General Sports
