Miami included in top-4 to land blue chip safety out of South Carolina

The Miami Hurricanes have been included in the top four schools for 2026 four-star safety Tamarion Watkins. The DB from Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, announced his narrowed list which includes Miami, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas A&M.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 200 pounds, Watkins has great size for the next level. In his junior season, he recorded 75 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt over 14 games. His performance has earned him the distinction of being the 24th-best safety prospect nationally and the fifth-best prospect in South Carolina, according to 247Sports.

Watkins' recruitment has gained some attention due to his unique physical attributes at the safety position. His size and athleticism allow him to cover significant ground in the secondary and plenty of defensive coordinators around the country could use a player with his ability and potential.

The Hurricanes' inclusion in Watkins' top four is a testament to head coach Mario Cristobal's ability to recruit. Cristobal and company currently have the 8th-ranked recruiting class in the nation and top-overall class in the ACC. This comes after securing 5-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell on Tuesday. If Watkins commits to Miami, he would be the third player in the 2026 recruiting cycle to choose the Hurricanes over the Bulldogs, joining Cantwell and CB Jontavius Wyman

As Watkins approaches his decision, he has scheduled official visits to his top choices. He will visit Georgia on June 6, Texas A&M on June 13, and South Carolina on June 20. While a visit to Alabama was previously planned, it's unclear if it will proceed. South Carolina presumably has the edge with Watkins being from there, but it does not appear to be a lock for the Gamecocks. South Carolina currently holds the 20th-ranked recruiting class in the nation and 8th in the SEC.