Multiple recruiting outlets reported this week that the Miami Hurricanes are hosting five-star athlete Derrek Cooper this weekend. The visit to Miami precedes trips to Auburn next weekend and Georgia beginning Feb. 1. Cooper is the No. 23 ranked prospect nationally, No. 3 athlete and No. 3 player in Florida in the 2026 class.
The Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna star most likely projects as a running back in college. Projecting forward, Miami could lose RB Mark Fletcher after the 2025 season as he is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. Jordan Lyle will be a junior in 2026 and Miami also projects to have Girard Pringle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey on the roster.
Cooper had 905 rushing yards on 7.3 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns as a junior, with 18 receptions for 227 yards and two scores in the last two seasons. Chaminade-Madonna also used Cooper as a kick returner with 374 yards in two seasons. Cooper should be an ideal all-purpose performer.
No 247Sports crystal balls are logged for Cooper. On3 has Miami as the prohibitive leader with a 36.2 percent chance for a commitment from Cooper. Auburn is second with a 16.2 percent chance for a commitment from Cooper and Ohio State is third at 13.9 percent. Everyone else is below seven percent.
— Derrek Cooper (@DerrekCooper80) January 15, 2025
5-star ATH Derrek Cooper will take a visit to Miami this weekend
The Miami coaching staff had an in-home visit with Cooper last week. Cooper will reportedly visit Miami on May 30 too for an official. According to his 247Sports profile page, Cooper currently has offers from 26 schools. All of the programs to offer Cooper are in power conferences except Oregon State and South Florida.
Miami currently has commitments from linebacker Jordan Campbell, cornerback Camdin Portis and quarterback Dereon Campbell for its 2026 class, which is ranked 20th nationally. A commitment from Cooper would move Miami up to the 12th-ranked 2026 class as it currently stands in the middle of January.