MIAMI, Fla. – Every season, regardless of sport or level, some players face great external expectations but don’t live up to them.

Here are three from the Miami Hurricanes’ 2026 roster who currently fall under this category:

Ahead of this season, junior running back Jordan Lyle appeared bound for a major redemption. Despite beating out Mark Fletcher Jr. for the starting job in last year’s opener against Notre Dame, the success didn’t translate in the long run. Lyle dealt with injury setbacks and was limited to six games. He finished with just 108 rushing yards on 35 carries and scored one touchdown.

Even with the Hurricanes retaining all of last year’s running back room, Lyle was looking to reclaim a consistent rotational role. However, in the midst of fall camp, he was arrested for alleged fleeing from police. Lyle served a team suspension, played in just 19 offensive snaps thus far in two games (Central Michigan and Clemson) this season, and has been surpassed by freshman Javian Mallory on the depth chart. The 21-year-old has just 16 rushing yards on six carries.

Among the 2026 recruiting class, there wasn’t a bigger standout than Jackson Cantwell, an elite five-star recruit. The freshman offensive tackle logged 459 pancake blocks in four years at Nixa High School in Missouri. Cantwell was projected to be a starter, but he’s logged just 78 snaps at the line of scrimmage. As both tackle spots are taken by veterans redshirt junior Samson Okunlola (left) and redshirt senior Matthew McCoy (right), Cantwell’s only path to the field is in the interior.

The 18-year-old has logged 59 snaps at right guard, but despite having a 6-8 and 330-pound frame, the job hasn’t stuck.

As starter Max Buchanan is sidelined for likely an extensive portion of the regular season, recovering from left leg surgery, it’s an opportunity for Cantwell to step up and claim redemption for a slow freshman campaign.

Entering this season, the Hurricanes revamped the wide receiver core around rising Malachi Toney. Among the 13 transfers was former South Carolina Gamecocks' Vandrevius Jacobs. The redshirt junior joined the Coral Gables program coming off an electrifying season. Jacobs caught 32 passes for 548 yards and scored four touchdowns, including a 74-yarder against Clemson.

Even with the recent absence of sophomore wide receiver Joshua Moore (upper-body; out for season), the 21-year-old hasn't been targeted much offensively. Jacobs has caught five passes for 81 yards and scored one touchdown. Although he will likely see more opportunities throughout the remainder of the regular season, the production hasn't lived up to this point.

The Hurricanes will return to the field this upcoming Saturday for an in-state rivarly clash against the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for prime-time 7:00 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

More Miami Hurricanes News:

- "Nick Saban Picks the Miami Hurricanes Over Everybody"

- "How 'Isolated' Miami Hurricanes' Chase Smith Was Overcoming Injuries"

- "How Miami Hurricanes' Camdin Portis Handles Family Legacy Pressure"