The Miami Hurricanes already have one of the best recruiting classes in the country, so Mario Cristobal is going to be selective about who he adds to the group, if anyone. And if there's an opportunity to add a recruit and kick a rival while they're done, it would just be a bonus.
Za'Kari Johnson hasn't decommitted from FSU yet, but he's likely not going to be in the Seminoles' class. With Mike Norvell likely to be dismissed from his job sooner than later, much of Florida State's 43rd-ranked recruiting class is going to scatter. Johnson, a four-star athlete that plays right up the road at Miami Carol City, is one that find his way to Coral Gables.
NEW: Florida State commit Za'Kari Johnson is keeping the door open 👀
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) September 29, 2026
The four-star ATH remains with the Seminoles "to the end" for now, but Miami, Auburn and Florida are all still in the mix.
And the coaching situation in Tallahassee matters:https://t.co/GDEg6YeomB pic.twitter.com/x90WyTZkWa
Miami will be selective about adding to its dynamic 2027 recrutiing class
Johnson, listed at 6-foot-1 and a shade under 200 pounds, seems quite interested in being a Hurricane. He's already been to Hard Rock Stadium for a game this season and the likelihood of him returning for another trip — possibly on October 17 when Miami hosts the Seminoles.
The 2027 class is pretty full. The Hurricanes have 21 commitments, five of which are rated as 5-star prospects according to at least one of the major networks. That means there are a lot of freshmen coming on campus in January that Miami has invested heavily in, and they are expected to push for early playing time.
But there's also the fact that you can never have too much depth to develop. Johnson is likely to play in the secondary when he gets to college, but he is currently playing quarterback at Carol City and could end up playing wide receiver at the next level, which is what he dd last year in high school. Those areas where Miami's roster needs as much depth as it can find.
Cristobal and Corey Hetherman already know how thin a secondary can be stretched in a matter of weeks. Having another big, athletic young player on the back end of the defense never hurts. The same can be said of the offense, where young talent always has a chance to be showcased.
There are other schools in the picture for Johnson. He has already taken an in-season visit to Auburn and has one to Florida on tap. Miami has the locational advantage and that could be the difference that puts Miami over the top in his recruitment. But it remains to be seen how hard Cristobal decides to pursue Johnson's pledge, because you get the feeling that if the Hurricanes want him, they've got him.
Add us as a preferred source on Google