Hurricanes land 4-star after Kansas retreat

Mario Cristobal and The Miami Hurricanes landed a talented prospect in the secondary, switching JJ Dunnigan’s commitment from the Kansas Jayhawks to South Beach.

Dunnigan announced his decision to to the Hurricanes on Sunday, per On3 insider Hayes Fawcett. A native of Manhattan, Kansas, he originally committed to the Jayhawks in January before reversing course in late October.

“All glory to God… Go Canes 🙌🏽,” Dunnigan said.

Dunnigan stands out as a four-star defender with 93 points in the 2026 class on 247Sports. He shines as the second-best player in the state of Kansas, the 11th-best running back and the 99th-best player in the class. His composite rating of 0.9368 ranks him second, 18th and 152nd in those categories.

“Imposing defensive back with impressive game speed and a projected frame that fits the mold of the modern linebacker, but may be worth a look at cornerback as well. He turned heads as a junior during practice for the Under Armor All-America Game as he found success following blue-chip pass catchers in the best setup and diagnoses for quick moves forward and quick reads. Can be caught running lanes, but looks for contact and will play through obstacles to hit ball carriers.” said 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins.

“He often closes gaps and makes stops based on pursuit effort because he has the range to go from hash to hash in one finger. He doesn’t have a ton of tackles on his prep resume, but he came down with multiple acrobatic interceptions on the offseason circuit and showed impressive ball skills while doubling as a ball-watcher. A chess piece that can fit into different schemes and roles depending on what’s needed and how the body fills up.”

What’s next for Miami after landing JJ Dunnigan

Mario Cristobal is a great pickup to add to Miami’s future secondary with JJ Dunnigan heading his way next year.

Dunnigan was active with his high school team in 2024 and 2025. He had 65 tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles last year. This season, he made three tackles and one interception in the Under Armor All-America Game.

In the meantime, No. 16 Miami will progress through the remainder of his 2025 campaign. They have a solid 7-2 record, including a 3-2 showing in their ACC matches. They hold seventh place in the conference standings, above the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and California Golden Bears, while trailing the Louisville Cardinals and Duke Blue Devils.

16. The Hurricanes will prepare for their next match, staying at home. They host the NC State Wolfpack on November 15th at 3:30pm ET.