4-star recruit from Nashville explains why he committed to Big 10 program over Tennessee Vols and other programs
The Tennessee Vols were one of the final four schools for 2026 four-star cornerback Justin Hopkins. It was the Minnesota Gophers, however, that ended up being the last team standing for the talented defensive back. Hopkins, 5-foot-11/170 lbs from Nashville, TN (Ensworth), committed to Minnesota on Monday over Tennessee, USC, and Georgia Tech. Hopkins is […]
The Tennessee Vols were one of the final four schools for 2026 four-star cornerback Justin Hopkins.
It was the Minnesota Gophers, however, that ended up being the last team standing for the talented defensive back.
Hopkins, 5-foot-11/170 lbs from Nashville, TN (Ensworth), committed to Minnesota on Monday over Tennessee, USC, and Georgia Tech.
Hopkins is rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 22 cornerback in the nation and the No. 9 player in the state of Tennessee.
The four-star cornerback told 247Sports earlier this month that Tennessee had been doing a great job of recruiting him. Hopkins mentioned that Vols head coach Josh Heupel recently attended one of his basketball games.
"I honestly don't know if he (Heupel) went to any other people's basketball games." said Hopkins. "But for him to just come out and do that for me was a big deal. He was the only head coach to do that."
Hopkins also noted that Tennessee expressed that they viewed him as "important".
So why Minnesota for the in-state recruit?
Hopkins told Rivals.com that Minnesota just felt "different".
"All four schools were great, but Minnesota just felt different," said Hopkins. "It wasn’t just about facilities or rankings — it was about the people, the energy, and the vision they had for me. The way they see me fitting into their system, their development track record, and the relationships I’ve built here made it clear that this is the right spot. I know I’ll be challenged and supported every step of the way, and that excites me. I’m stepping into a program that’s going to push me to be my best, compete in the Big Ten, and prepare for the next level. That’s exactly what I wanted, and I’m ready to get to work."
The Vols will likely continue to recruit Hopkins, so it's still possible that Tennessee could eventually come out on top in this recruiting battle down the road. For now, though, Hopkins is solidly committed to the Gophers.
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