The Miami Hurricanes are making serious noise on the recruiting trail, and the latest signal comes from one of the top defensive backs in the 2027 class: four-star cornerback Chase Johnson. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound playmaker has trimmed his list to five schools, and Miami made the cut alongside Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, and Florida.
Johnson is a name to know in this cycle. Rated a 90 by 247Sports and sitting at No. 240 nationally in their composite rankings, he's also the No. 25 corner in the class.
The Rivals Industry Ranking echoes that sentiment, slotting him at No. 222 overall and also No. 25 among corners. Bottom line: this is a high-level prospect with SEC and ACC powers battling for his signature.
Earlier in the process, Johnson had a top 10 that featured Miami along with Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Kentucky, Florida State, Florida, and Georgia. Now, with things narrowing down, it’s clear the Hurricanes are firmly in the mix as he moves toward a decision.
But Johnson isn’t the only elite defensive back Miami is eyeing in the 2027 cycle. The Hurricanes are also in the running for Josiah Molden, another standout corner who’s been turning heads nationally. Molden, considered the top player in Oregon for 2027, recently narrowed his list to six schools - and Miami is right there in the thick of it.
There’s pedigree behind that name. Josiah is the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers DB Elijah Molden and the son of former NFL corner Alex Molden, who was a first-round pick back in 1996. That kind of football lineage doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s no surprise Josiah is one of the most coveted corners in the country.
While the 2027 class is still taking shape, Miami’s 2026 defensive back haul is already locked in - and it’s a group that should have Canes fans excited. The Hurricanes signed a strong, geographically diverse class of high school DBs, including:
- Jaelen Waters, CB out of Armwood (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
- Brody Jennings, DB from Mandarin (Jacksonville, Fla.)
- Camdin Portis, CB at Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.)
- Cortez Redding, DB from Jonesboro (Atlanta)
- Jontavius Wyman, DB, also from Jonesboro (Atlanta)
- **JJ Dunnigan Jr. **, DB from Manhattan (Manhattan, Kan.)
That’s a group with a mix of size, speed, and versatility - and it’s clear Miami is building a foundation in the secondary that could pay dividends down the road.
As it stands, Miami has four commits already in its 2027 class. And with top-tier targets like Chase Johnson and Josiah Molden still in play, the Hurricanes are positioning themselves to keep the momentum rolling.
Recruiting battles like these are won with relationships, consistency, and vision. Miami’s making its pitch - and it’s resonating with some of the best defensive backs in the country.