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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Canes2026Champs

Jun 30, 2026

htownkidd said:
Old enough to remember Ariz scoffing at D$’s top 5 class prediction, and crying for a week straight about UF “out recruiting” us in April. Good times.

Welcome!

Honestly the show is so much better without him anyway. A. Richards and D$ are really starting to build chemistry together. He just gets better with every show. Best move D$ could have ever made was to part ways with all that negativity and pessimism.

Canes2026Champs

Jun 30, 2026

It’s the dawn of a new day, and it’s never been better to be a Miami Hurricane.

Just a few short years ago, we were just hoping to have a team that didn’t embarrass us to watch. How the tables have turned.

Enjoy the ride, it’s gonna be fun for many years to come.

RattlerCane305

Jun 30, 2026

Mansa Musa said:

Live look at No Cut Nick and Eli tucked in the bag…

dycane

Jun 30, 2026

dirtyred786 said:
He probably wont get to play with Mali, but him in the slot with Wingo and Nick on the outside.... Killer!

He will. Mali will make more money staying at Miami and playing his senior year than in the NFL.

judge smails army

Jun 30, 2026

dycane said:
He will. Mali will make more money staying at Miami and playing his senior year than in the NFL.

Wouldn’t Mali be a Jr. when Woodard enrolls as a Freshman?

Confidence1000

Jun 30, 2026

grover said:
I know you posted this in fun. No disrespect to you sir. But I think Mario does more than throw money around to win these battles. He's not poor. But he' not buying players. JMHO.

It actually means that he’s in his BAG SIR! Big Pause

ShadowSpring

Jun 30, 2026

Memnon said:
My comp for Woodard:

Eli definitely more speed.

C
CT Cane 44

Jun 30, 2026

Toney will be a Junior with wingo and Woodard and Lennear? Good luck!

Applecane

Jun 30, 2026

Canes2026Champs said:
Honestly the show is so much better without him anyway. A. Richards and D$ are really starting to build chemistry together. He just gets better with every show. Best move D$ could have ever made was to part ways with all that negativity and pessimism.

Our fans can be such snowflakes. A little bit of negativity and people cry in their hankies.

TRick72

Jul 1, 2026

Welcome to the U!

Y
YLCANE

Jul 1, 2026

JHallCanes said:
I’ve been repeating myself about this kid but finally the height and weight listed looks legit

Too often these highly ranked kids get here and they look like little kids (I mean they are sometimes) and you realize how much BS goes into those things

This kid is not one of those. Big bodied already. Looks like he’s actually seen a weight room unlike a lot of the local prospects we see

Chaparral has an unreal state of the art weight room they just just bully a year and a half ago
We toured it w pop warner team last year before they played Mission Viejo
It’s awesome
Chap runs a PROGRAM
They are big and fast across the board!!!

Y
YLCANE

Jul 1, 2026

n0rcalcane said:
Thank you! Appreciated. Temecula is absolutely beautiful. I don’t know how anyone could have the aggression required to play football out there.

Where you getting married? Wine country? I’m literally 1 min from being in wine country, I can see the vines from my backyard
I expect an invite

AllbouttheU

Jul 1, 2026

When we first was going after Hale I kept hoping we’d turn our attention to Woodard. He just looks like he has the it factor and will be a hit when it’s all said and done. Love this WR class we knocked it out of the park, really excited what we potentially could have going into the next season.

Hstokes1447

Jul 1, 2026

Jesscane said:
This kid is going to be a problem

The way he attacks his routs and his willingness to block at this stage in his development is impressive.

Hstokes1447

Jul 1, 2026

ageezy said:
View attachment 366560

This needs to be the official bat signal lol

JHallCanes

Jul 1, 2026

YLCANE said:
Chaparral has an unreal state of the art weight room they just just bully a year and a half ago
We toured it w pop warner team last year before they played Mission Viejo
It’s awesome
Chap runs a PROGRAM
They are big and fast across the board!!!

**** that’s awesome. Great info!