2026 IMG OL Keenyi Pepe, who landed Miami Hurricanes offer last year, says he continues to feel like a priority
While the Miami Hurricanes have already landed a 2026 prospect from powerhouse IMG Academy in Ksani Jiles, head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff have their eyes on a big-time prospect on the other side of the ball in 2026 offensive lineman Keenyi Pepe, who was offered by the Canes as a freshman in 2022.
“It was amazing when I got offered by Miami, and we were going crazy back at home,” Pepe told CaneSport. “I’ve just been talking to coach (Alex) Mirabal and coach Cristobal since, and I talk to them almost every day.”
With over double-digit Power Five offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Texas, and Miami, the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder is one of the most sought-after offensive linemen in his class early on.
When asked about the Hurricanes and why he was interested in the program, the California native stated that the chance to play and learn under Cristobal and Mirabal has sparked his interest the most thus far.
“I like how coach Mirabal and coach Cristobal, especially, coach,” Pepe said. “Just having a head coach that was an offensive lineman is pretty cool. They’re really big on offensive linemen, and my boy Francis is over there.”
Along with the opportunity to learn under Mirabal and Cristobal, seeing his former IMG Academy teammate at Miami, Francis Mauigoa, shine early on as a true freshman puts Miami right in the mix with some of his top schools.
“He’s (Mauigoa) telling me to just make sure you come ready to work,” Pepe said. “He’s a hard worker, so hearing that from him just lets me know that there’s something special over there.”
CaneSport’s take
Despite being unranked thus far, Pepe has garnered the attention of top programs around the country after an impressive freshman season at IMG. Miami is in the mix early in his recruitment, but Pepe does say he wants to see how the Hurricanes fair this season after underperforming in year one under Cristobal. If Miami can put it all together on the field this year, they’ll be right in the thick of things with many elite prospects, including Pepe.
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