Four-star WR Eli Woodard commits to Miami

Sebastian Font

Jun 30, 2026 2 min read

The Hurricanes have locked in their remaining wideout target with four-star Eli Woodard who made his long-awaited commitment this afternoon.

A former USC pledge who decommitted in May, Miami surged up his recruitment with both an unofficial visit to his high school in California as well as an official visit last month

The 6-foot, 190-pound wide receiver brings ability both inside and outside — having the speed to burn defenders deep as well as the agility to make cuts in the slot.

“They see me playing slot and outside, being very versatile in their offense,” Woodard said during his OV in May.

This past season Woodard racked up 51 catches for 1078 yards, totaling 17 touchdowns and 21.1 YPC.

Miami beat out in-state sides in Cal and UCLA who were seen as legitimate contenders in this recruitment, especially as Woodard’s Chaparral quarterback Dane Weber committed to the Golden Bears recently.

“What stood out to me was really the people and the culture around here, the players, everything — I loved everything about [Miami] ,” Woodard said.

The Temecula native becomes Miami’s second cross-country Cane this cycle, teaming up with good friend Donte Wright.

Woodard’s playmaking ability was on full display at Nike’s The Opening, where the Chaparral product was named one of the top performers of the event industry wide, with some having him as the MVP.

He shined against some of the country’s best defensive backs with deadly cuts, safe hands and instincts to understand soft spots in coverage.

The four-star wideout joins local five-star Nick Lennear as the Hurricanes haul at the position this cycle, driving Miami up to 20 commitments so far.

In many ways Woodard is considered the “finishing piece” when it comes to Miami’s 2027 class this summer — but it does not mean the class is wrapped up. The Canes will continue to monitor risers during their senior year and remain in the fight for flip targets such as five-star DJ Jacobs.

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Comments (228)

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CBurrr93

Jul 1, 2026

I see Jordan Addison

Hurracanes

Jul 1, 2026

Our WR room is gonna be insane, if it isn't already.

D
dirtyred786

Jul 1, 2026

Dwinstitles said:
Oh he will, he plays immediately even if we have what we have. No one on the roster has what this dude has IMO. We got some elite guys but this guy got some juice in the phone booth that we need. He just a different type of WR, I am not saying he better than Mali or anyone else but he has a different skill set entirely.

Anything is possible. I just think with the receivers that we have in that room right now, he may have to wait his turn. We are getting back to the days of old, like when Portis said guys didn't wanna miss time due to injury because you might not get your spot back, lol. Its a great problem to have.

Dwinstitles

Jul 1, 2026

dirtyred786 said:
Anything is possible. I just think with the receivers that we have in that room right now, he may have to wait his turn. We are getting back to the days of old, like when Portis said guys didn't wanna miss time due to injury because you might not get your spot back, lol. Its a great problem to have.

We should have special rules, like if you play Miami its a 7 quarter game lol. So everyone can up their stats

Y
YLCANE

Jul 1, 2026

n0rcalcane said:
You didn’t get yours yet? Must’ve gotten lost in the mail…

We’re holding it at Faulkner Winery. Was a tough choice though—tons of great wineries out there.

Ha ha
Enjoy
Congrats

S
skyman

Jul 1, 2026

Calinative said:
RB is tough, cause guys should leave after 3 yrs if good OR not getting heavy rotation. Also it's one of THE positions that is easiest to play early however staff clearly has a boner for big power backs, and guys like Pringle if if superior get relegated because of "pass pro" bs. I think taking 2 yearly is a bit too much. I think you basically want to maintain like 5 guys that are 3yrs Exp or under. However the food thing is HS RB should be decently cheap, especially if your 2nd RB in the class is a guy you aren't expecting to play a role for 2 yrs (like CWH)

Like this yr, we have a loaded RB room, problem is only 1 is 100% leaving with Fletcher. However, Lyle has been a disappointment but Staff loves him and entered last season as starter. It'd be foolish to think he's not getting a lot of snaps. Pringle already flirted with portal once, and if he does again will leave. However imo he's our 2nd best RB, and proved it, but then got sat for playoffs. Brown staff loves but is more of just a power back that has a lower ceiling but is solid. CWH is depth. Mallory is in that Brown/Fletcher mold that staff will love. Like if I were betting next yr CWH and at minimum 1 of Brown/Lyle/Pringle (hopefully that order) leaves along with Fletcher, which puts us at 4 RBs entering next yr.... So we absolutely need 2 this class imo.

Imo the "leave space for next yr" should actually be just get a more developmental depth prospect with actual tools that you believe could be someone in 2-3yrs. Ultimately you need depth regardless. But you have a limited budget your trying to spend on the WR 9-12....

Dont forget, Fletcher has a 5th year if he wants, lmaoooo.. Im tryna tell you that boy spoke to Martinez when he was released and got scared straight.. These backs not leaving a guaranteed "easy" cfb million dollar ++ to go to NFL and be thrown like trash with how the NFL does RB.. You would be a fool, If I was advising a ELITE back, I would say leave HIGH SCHOOL early and go do as many cfb years as possible, if you not elite and getting 1st round, get all 5 years, **** it..

Odysseus

Jul 1, 2026

I see a bigger faster Jacolby George style game

lindend

Jul 9, 2026

lindend

Jul 9, 2026

Sorry, post on wrong thread. Moved

https://www.canesinsight.com/thread...-temecula-ca-chaparral-hs.209098/post-8369740

Last edited: Jul 9, 2026

BigDikDaddyFromCincinnati

Jul 9, 2026

skyman said:
Dont forget, Fletcher has a 5th year if he wants, lmaoooo.. Im tryna tell you that boy spoke to Martinez when he was released and got scared straight.. These backs not leaving a guaranteed "easy" cfb million dollar ++ to go to NFL and be thrown like trash with how the NFL does RB.. You would be a fool, If I was advising a ELITE back, I would say leave HIGH SCHOOL early and go do as many cfb years as possible, if you not elite and getting 1st round, get all 5 years, **** it..

You need to put that message on the side of the blimp, inside Hard Rock, and/or flying on a banner behind a prop plane. It is 100% real truth. Get all five years and leave with 7 figures in investments AND a Masters in Finance to understand how to manage it all.

canecrazy23

Jul 10, 2026

BigDikDaddyFromCincinnati said:
You need to put that message on the side of the blimp, inside Hard Rock, and/or flying on a banner behind a prop plane. It is 100% real truth. Get all five years and leave with 7 figures in investments AND a Masters in Finance to understand how to manage it all.

I think you're right and it will benefit college football with all the talent staying longer. Teams will be better with older players.

BigDikDaddyFromCincinnati

Jul 10, 2026

canecrazy23 said:
I think you're right and it will benefit college football with all the talent staying longer. Teams will be better with older players.

Everybody wins that way. Players, coaches, fans, even the NFL. The only downside would be injury or poor performance effecting draft status, which it mitigated by NIL.

Side note - I am excluding the true 3 and done types like Bain and JSmiff.

htownkidd

Jul 13, 2026

This update saw two huge risers for Miami in Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral wide receiver Eli Woodard and Lantana (Fla.) Santaluces EDGE Jayvon Dawson.

Woodard moved up 93 spots to the No. 68 overall recruit nationally after impressing at The Opening event this summer. Woodard is a speedy slot receiver who initially gave USC a commitment before ultimately ending up with the Hurricanes late last month.

Ric Flair Blitz

Jul 13, 2026

htownkidd said:
This update saw two huge risers for Miami in Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral wide receiver Eli Woodardand Lantana (Fla.) Santaluces EDGE Jayvon Dawson.

Woodard moved up 93 spots to the No. 68 overall recruit nationally after impressing at The Opening event this summer. Woodard is a speedy slot receiver who initially gave USC a commitment before ultimately ending up with the Hurricanes late last month.

Up to 12th best receiver in the country. Pretty, pretty good

JHallCanes

Jul 13, 2026

htownkidd said:
This update saw two huge risers for Miami in Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral wide receiver Eli Woodardand Lantana (Fla.) Santaluces EDGE Jayvon Dawson.

Woodard moved up 93 spots to the No. 68 overall recruit nationally after impressing at The Opening event this summer. Woodard is a speedy slot receiver who initially gave USC a commitment before ultimately ending up with the Hurricanes late last month.

Where did Dawson end up? (Nevermind dumb question)

If I didn’t know his ranking and you told me he was a 5 star I would believe it

lindend

Jul 13, 2026

TriStarCane

Jul 13, 2026

The Miami Bump is here. Will wonders ever cease?

Memnon

Jul 13, 2026

htownkidd said:
This update saw two huge risers for Miami in Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral wide receiver Eli Woodard and Lantana (Fla.) Santaluces EDGE Jayvon Dawson.

Woodard moved up 93 spots to the No. 68 overall recruit nationally after impressing at The Opening event this summer. Woodard is a speedy slot receiver who initially gave USC a commitment before ultimately ending up with the Hurricanes late last month.

After his performance at The Opening, he undoubtedly should be a top 5 WR in the Nation.

Idk if he'll rise high enough in the rankings to get that far, but ratings be damned, IMO he's top 3 in the country hands down.

htownkidd

Jul 13, 2026

Memnon said:
After his performance at The Opening, he undoubtedly should be a top 5 WR in the Nation.

Idk if he'll rise high enough in the rankings to get that far, but ratings be damned, IMO he's top 3 in the country hands down.

On no planet should Hale be top 60 and this kid outside of top 130 but

. I’m just glad he’s ours.