Miami wins recruiting battle against Florida for 2027 DL Josh Johnson

Miami added another piece to its 2027 recruiting class Tuesday when Key West defensive lineman Josh Johnson announced his commitment to the Hurricanes over Florida.

Johnson's decision gives Mario Cristobal and his staff another in-state pickup in a class that On3 currently ranks No. 8 nationally and No. 1 in the ACC. 

2027 DL Josh Johnson commits to Miami over Florida

Johnson is a 6-foot-5 defensive lineman from Key West High School who had trimmed his recruitment to Miami and Florida earlier this month.

On3 ranks Johnson as the No. 87 defensive lineman in the Rivals Industry Ranking, while 247Sports ranks him No. 100 among defensive linemen and No. 90 in Florida.

Miami had been building toward this for a few weeks. After visiting Coral Gables for 305 Day, Johnson came away impressed and that ended up helping the Hurricanes gain his commitment.

Johnson held offers from Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Pitt and Wisconsin, among others.

What Johnson's commitment means for Miami's 2027 class

Johnson now becomes the sixth commit in Miami's 2027 class. That group includes wide receiver Nick Lennear, safety Jaylyn Jones, tight end Demarcus DeRoche, wide receiver Ah'Mari Stevens and offensive tackle Zaquan Linton. Johnson gives that class another defensive piece and keeps Miami's class moving in the right direction.

Miami has the edge over Florida

The past two seasons for the Hurricanes have been about returning to championship-level play and asserting dominance within the state of Florida. Gaining the commitment from Johnson only supports the fact that Cristobal has truly brought this program to a new level.

In the last two seasons, Miami has won a total of 23 games and defeated Florida twice. The first win came in the opening game of the 2024 season when the Hurricanes won 41-17. In 2025, Miami beat Florida 26-7.