The Miami Hurricanes are among the leaders among the 10 finalists named by four-star 2026 running back Derrek Cooper on Tuesday. Cooper is the No. 23 ranked prospect nationally, No. 2 RB and No. 3 prospect in Florida in the 2026 class. Georgia is the main competition for Cooper according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
Miami has a 42.4 percent chance for a commitment from Cooper and Georgia has a 21.4 percent chance per the RPM. Auburn is third with a 9.4 percent chance for a Cooper commitment, followed by Ohio State at 7.8 percent and Florida, Florida State and LSU at 4.1, with everyone else below one.
Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State and Texas A&M are the other finalists for Cooper who are not listed above. According to his 247Sports profile page, Cooper has taken unofficial visits to Georgia, Florida State and Miami in that order for his first trips to those campuses.
Hunter Shelton of On3 spoke to Cooper about what makes Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Texas A&M stand out. Auburn and Ohio State want Cooper to play RB, he and his family like Georgia because of Kirby Smart, and Texas A&M told him he can play both ways. Below is what Cooper said about Miami.
NEWS: Elite 2026 RB Derrek Cooper is down to Ten Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 22, 2025
The 6’1 205 RB from Lauderhill, FL is ranked as a Top 25 Recruit in the ‘26 Class (per On3)
Where Should He Go?⬇️https://t.co/3faZZYkGMM pic.twitter.com/UkxRAXln1V
Miami is hoping to land the commitment of superstar 2026 RB Derrek Cooper
"I have visited Miami the most," Cooper said via On3's Hunter Shelton. " It is close to home and I have been there around six or seven times. They like me on both sides of the ball, so it would be cool to do that at Miami. If I got there, it would allow my mom and my family to see me a lot and that would be amazing. The staff has done a great job recruiting me, especially coach Mario Cristobal. The biggest thing about Miami is how they play young guys.
Cooper has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of another blue-chip American Heritage alum and projected 2025 Miami starting RB Mark Fletcher. Fletcher is a rising junior who can leave for the NFL after the 2025 season for the 2026 NFL Draft. Having a mentor like Fletcher could help Miami gain a commitment.
Miami also returns 2024 freshmen Jordan Lyle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, plus the Hurricanes bring in 2025 signee Girard Pringle Jr. at RB. With only four scholarship RBs projected on the 2025 Miami roster and the potential for Fletcher to leave after the season, Miami could target two RBs in the 2026 class.
Miami currently has commitments from four-star linebacker Jordan Campbell, cornerback Camdin Portis and three-star quarterback Dereon Campbell in the 2026 Miami class that is ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC according to the On3 Industry rankings.