Four-star cornerback CJ Hester from Cocoa High School in Florida has included the University of Miami among his top six schools. Joining the Hurricanes on his list are Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Auburn, and Syracuse. Hester is ranked as the No. 262 overall player and the No. 22 cornerback in the 2026 class by On3. He plans to announce his commitment on July 1.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 175 pounds, Hester played a pivotal role in leading Cocoa High to its third consecutive Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A state championship. During his junior season, he amassed 72 tackles and four interceptions over 14 games.
Hester's recruitment has been highly competitive with over 30 major offers extended to him. He has scheduled official visits to several of his top choices: Florida on May 30, Syracuse on June 6, Georgia on June 13, and Iowa on June 20. Although he had a visit planned to UCLA on June 13, the Bruins did not make his final list.
Miami's inclusion in Hester's top schools reflects the program's ongoing efforts to secure top in-state talent. Head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff have been proactive in recruiting Hester in an attempt to bolster the Hurricanes defensive backfield. Hester has visited Miami multiple times and those visits seem to be paying off.
As Hester approaches his decision date, Miami remains a strong contender. His commitment would further solidify the work the coaching staff and program has done to create a top 10 recruiting class. As of right now, Miami has the No. 8 recruiting class in the nation and No. 1 class in the ACC, per On3. According to On3, Florida is the favorite to land Hester with 95.7% confidence rating. Deron Wilson is the main recruiter for Hester from Florida. Cristobal and company will try to keep the in-state prospect and pull him from the Gators.