The Miami Hurricanes are staying active on the recruiting trail, and their latest target is a big one-literally and figuratively. Joshua Sam-Epelle, a towering four-star offensive tackle out of Douglas County High School in Georgia, has narrowed his list of potential college destinations to 10, and Miami is right in the mix.
At nearly 6-foot-9 and tipping the scales somewhere between 305 and 340 pounds, Sam-Epelle is one of the most physically imposing linemen in the 2027 class. But he’s not just size-he’s got the movement skills that make offensive line coaches across the country take notice. That rare combination of length, power, and athleticism is why schools like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas A&M are also vying for his commitment.
Sam-Epelle’s rankings reflect the buzz. Rivals pegs him as the No. 48 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle and the No. 8 offensive tackle nationally.
Over at 247Sports, he’s even higher-No. 30 overall, No. 5 among tackles, and the No. 3 junior in the state of Georgia. The 247Sports Composite slots him at No. 69 overall and again the No. 8 tackle, showing just how consistently he’s viewed as one of the top linemen in the country.
He recently made the trip down to Coral Gables for Miami’s 38-10 win over Syracuse, and that visit could prove pivotal. The Hurricanes have a strong pitch when it comes to offensive line development, thanks in large part to position coach Alex Mirabal. Mirabal has built a reputation for molding raw talent into high-level college linemen, and Sam-Epelle would fit right into that mold.
Miami’s already stacking talent in the trenches for the 2026 class, with six offensive linemen committed. That group is led by Jackson Cantwell, the top-rated player in the Hurricanes’ 2026 class, and includes fellow four-stars Ben Congdon and Joel Ervin. Adding Sam-Epelle to that mix a year later would only deepen an already promising pipeline.
The battle for Sam-Epelle is far from over, with powerhouse programs in the SEC and Big Ten still very much in the hunt. But Miami has positioned itself well, offering not just playing time and development, but a vision that clearly resonated during his visit. If the Hurricanes can keep that momentum rolling, they might just land one of the biggest-and best-linemen in the 2027 class.