Five-star recruit that Miami Hurricanes are trying to flip has two words that should make Canes fans grin after witnessing big win over Notre Dame
It was a big weekend for the Canes.
“Stay tuned.”
Those were the words of five-star defensive linemen James Johnson told On3 Sports/Rivals when asked about his status as a Texas Longhorns commit after watching the Miami Hurricanes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium 27-24.
And those words could mean good things for Mario Cristobal and his staff as they work to keep the local elite talent from leaving South Florida for the Lone Star State.
Johnson, who plays for Miami Northwestern, was one of a number of top-tier recruits at the game on Sunday, joining local standouts Derrek Cooper (Texas), Justice Fitzpatrick (Georgia), and Calvin Russell (Syracuse) as committed recruits that the Hurricanes are trying to flip. They got to witness a spectacle, as Miami fans rocked the stadium while the team delivered one of the biggest wins that any team will notch in the early stages of the 2025 season.
Johnson committed to Texas over Miami last month, but the Canes clearly aren’t going to let Johnson get on a plane without a fight. And Cristobal’s recruiting pitch was done in part by his players on Sunday night. The Canes’ defensive front was flat-out dominant for much of the contest, pushing around the vaunted Notre Dame offensive line and controlling the line of scrimmage. It’s further proof that Cristobal’s defensive line coaches – Damione Lewis and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor – are doing an excellent job at developing the defensive line talent that’s coming into the program.
There’s still three months to go until signing day, and the fight to keep Johnson home should be a battle that the Miami Hurricanes now have a legitimate chance of winning during the span.
College Football
ESPN lists young Miami Hurricanes player in its top 10 of breakout players, and it’s someone who has a golden opportunity ahead of him in 2025
The Canes are hoping to get a big year from one of their homegrown players
