As we head into the 2026 college football season, Miami's OJ Frederique finds himself in a unique position. Despite being one of the most seasoned cornerbacks returning for the Hurricanes, he didn't crack the top 10 at his position in the latest edition of College Football 27 by EA Sports. With an overall rating of 86, Frederique stands just shy of the elite 90 overall mark that defines the top corners in the game.
The numbers tell an intriguing story. Frederique boasts impressive stats with 90 speed, 91 acceleration, and 91 agility.
His man coverage is rated at 87, while his zone coverage hits 89. However, it's his awareness rating of 84 that seems to have kept him from joining the ranks of the top 10, where players enjoy awareness ratings in the upper 80s and beyond.
Leading the pack is Notre Dame's Leonard Moore, whose 97 overall rating sets the standard for cornerbacks nationwide. Close behind are Texas Tech's Brice Pollock at 93 and Alabama's Zabien Brown at 92.
A cluster of players, including Brandon Finney Jr., Kelley Jones, Jamari Sharpe, Jyaire Hill, and Jontez Williams, all share a 91 rating. Georgia's Ellis Robinson IV and BYU's Evan Johnson complete the top 10 with 90 overall ratings.
Interestingly, Frederique isn't even the highest-rated cornerback on his own team. That honor goes to Ethan O'Connor, who sits just a notch above him at 87 overall. This internal competition could serve as extra motivation for Frederique as he looks to prove his worth on the field.
Reflecting on his past performances, Frederique's 2025-26 season was a testament to his resilience and skill. He managed 19 tackles and seven pass breakups over 11 games, despite being sidelined for the last four regular-season matchups due to injury. He made a strong comeback during Miami's College Football Playoff run, contributing crucial tackles in wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State.
His freshman year was equally impressive. Playing in all 13 games with seven starts, Frederique tallied 30 tackles, a tackle for loss, one interception, and seven pass breakups. His efforts earned him FWAA Freshman All-America honors and an All-ACC honorable mention, finishing as the runner-up for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Looking ahead, one of Frederique's biggest challenges will come when Miami faces Notre Dame, where he'll have the chance to compete directly against Moore, the top-rated cornerback. This matchup is set to be one of the highlights of Miami's 2026 schedule, following a thrilling 27-24 victory over the Fighting Irish last season. As the Hurricanes gear up for this rematch, all eyes will be on Frederique to see if he can elevate his game and make a statement on the national stage.
In Other News...
Miami Just Lost A Chaminade-Madonna Playmaker To A Bitter Rival
A familiar South Florida recruiting name came off the board with a choice that will sting plenty of people around Coral Gables. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Armani Strong, a four-star prospect in the 2028 class, is headed to Florida after drawing serious attention from Miami, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan, giving the Gators an early win in a battle that had plenty of local significance for the Hurricanes.
For Miami, the miss is especially notable because Strong has long been part of the South Florida talent stream the program works so hard to keep home. He enters the cycle as one of the more highly regarded receivers in the country and in Florida, while Floridas new staff under Jon Sumrall gets its first commitment of the 2028 class. Even this early, the recruiting board is already starting to show which battles the Hurricanes can afford to lose and which ones they probably cannot. [Read more 🡒]
EA Sports Just Sent Miami Fans A Clear Message About This Roster
EA Sports latest College Football 27 ratings offer a pretty clear snapshot of where Miami sits in the national conversation heading into the games July 9 launch. The Hurricanes come in at 88 overall, tied with LSU and Ole Miss and trailing a group that includes Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame and Texas, which is the kind of placement that suggests respect without quite reaching the sports top shelf.
The bigger takeaway for Miami fans is how much talent the roster carries beneath that team number. The Hurricanes have 15 players rated 85 or better, with the group split across both sides of the ball, a sign that this is not just a team built around a few headline names. Early access opens July 6 for eligible players, so plenty of fans will be getting their first close look at how the roster is stacked and where the game thinks Miamis strengths really lie. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Lost Ground In A Key 2027 Recruiting Battle
Miamis push for one of the countrys top 2027 tight ends hit a setback this week when Anthony Cartwright III came off the board after a recruiting process that had included a look at Coral Gables. The Detroit Country Day standout had taken official visits to Miami and Oregon in June, and his profile as a Rivals four-star prospect made him a priority name for a Hurricanes staff trying to build early momentum in the class.
Cartwrights decision matters for Miami because he had been one of the marquee targets on the board at his position, and the Hurricanes had spent June trying to make a strong impression on him. His final group also included Michigan, LSU and Michigan State, so the interest was broad and the competition was real, but Miami now has to turn the page and keep working a tight end board that was already starting to take shape. [Read more 🡒]