ARLINGTON, Texas
Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal isn’t one to single out players. Generally, when he’s asked to point out players who might not get recognition they deserve, Cristobal tends to deflect — he would rather not answer than give a response and then forget a player worthy of praise.
But on Tuesday, on the eve of the Cotton Bowl — a College Football Playoff quarterfinal between No. 10 Miami (11-2) and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) (7:30 p.m. Wednesday, ESPN) — both Cristobal and Ohio State coach Ryan Day were asked who they thought were “unsung heroes” on their teams that it would be “very difficult for your team to win a game without.”
Cristobal appeared set to deflect with his response before ultimately giving three names.
Those players…
Nickel cornerback Keionte Scott
Scott, a transfer from Auburn, has been one of Miami’s most complete players on defense. Despite missing three games to end the regular season with a foot injury, Scott ranks third on the team with 54 tackles. He has 13 tackles for loss — more than any other defensive back in college football this season. He is one of two defensive backs with at least five sacks along with Old Dominion’s Jeremy Mack (5.5).
He also has five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception he returned 38 yards for a touchdown.
Scott was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive back, before his injury. His 90.5 grade by Pro Football Focus is the third highest among UM’s defensive starters trailing only edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. (92.5) and Akheem Mesidor (92.2).
Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Anez Cooper (73) is hugged by his mother Junea Cooper during Senior Day ceremony before the start of the NCAA game against the NC State Wolfpack at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, November 15, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ [email protected]
Right guard Anez Cooper
Cooper is the epitome of a development success story for the Hurricanes. He was part of Cristobal’s transition recruiting class, a three-star prospect out of Pleasant Grove, Alabama, ranked as the 1,149th overall recruit in the Class of 2022.
He turned into a four-year starter.
The Cotton Bowl will be Cooper’s 44th start in his past 45 games dating to the end of his freshman year.
And Cooper is in the midst of his best season to close out his college football career. The 6-6, 345-pound guard has not given up a sack and has allowed just six total quarterback pressures (one hit, five hurries) in 435 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed eight pressures as a freshman, nine as a sophomore and 15 as a junior.
Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) on a run as Texas A&M Aggies cornerback Will Lee III (4) defends in the first half of the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff at Kyle Field at College Station, Texas, on Saturday, December 20, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ [email protected]
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr.
Cristobal has referred to Fletcher, a junior, as the “heart and soul” of the team, and for good reason.
Fletcher is one of Miami’s undisputed leaders who can make his point through his words and his actions.
He will finish his UM career among some lofty names.
Fletcher enters the Cotton Bowl with 1,978 career rushing yards, 22 shy of becoming 11th player in UM history to hit 2,000 rushing yards. The 10 he will join: Duke Johnson (3,519), Ottis Anderson (3,331), Edgerrin James (2,960), James Jackson (2,953), Clinton Portis (2,523), Graig Cooper (2,383), Danyell Ferguson (2,214), Javarris James (2,162), Joe Yearby (2,119) and Willis McGahee (2,067).
His 24 rushing touchdowns are 10th in UM history. The school record is 35 by Stephen McGuire.
And this season isn’t it for Fletcher. He formally announced last week that he will return to Miami for his senior season.
Jordan McPherson
Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.
