With spring practice kicking off for the Hurricanes earlier this morning, it means the recruiting cycle for the 2027 class begins to heat up.

Key West defensive lineman Josh Johnson announced his commitment to Miami, choosing the Hurricanes over the Florida Gators.



A 6-foot-5, 266 pounder, Johnson only played four games this past season due to injury, but that hasn’t stopped his stock quickly rising across the past few months.



Miami offered Johnson in January before he took two separate unofficial visits, namely for “305 Day” earlier this month.

Johnson offers versatility on the line with his size and motor. He’s able to line up across the line in a variety of roles such as three tech and five tech.

Moreover, he uses his levers to his advantage, creating havoc in the backfield after breaking through blocks.

His athleticism stems from a multi-sport background, but not the usual mix for a lineman. Johnson grew up playing soccer and baseball, even kicking for his high school side.

He’s spoke extensively about the staff and his fit at UM, praising both coach Mario Cristobal and defensive coordinator Corey Heatherman.

“The program is more like a family,” Johnson said on the CanesInSight podcast. “It’s not just, ‘you’re a player here’.”

The Key West product is no stranger to the Hurricanes with family ties to the university.

“Miami has always been really special to me since my uncle went there, and growing up in Key West pretty much everyone is a Miami fan,” said Johnson. “I was a Miami fan too.”

Johnson becomes the sixth player in the 2027 class to commit to the Canes and their first defensive lineman in the class.

The staff loves the upside with this pickup as they continue to monitor their picks of the bunch at the position.

 

@lindend may be a Mario rule thing

Feels like we’ve recruited a kid named Josh Johnson every year for the last 20 years and never landed one

 

 

91

Matt Walters​

Height
6-5

Weight
263 lbs.

Josh Johnson going to Matt Walters for us (prediction thread):

 

Moten turned out to be a stud but he really took off this past year his 4th year in the program. Year 3 in the program he was close to what Scott did last year. Scott emerged as a player in only his 2nd year here. I dont know how good Scott ends up but he has been in the program two years less than Moten during a time the talent on the team has been much higher.

yall were late on moten he been took off.

I was at GA TECH game where he beheaded a guy....he was doing work all that szn.

Scott had a similar trajectory...man them two are some dudes if you reall pay attention.

 

yall were late on moten he been took off.

I was at GA TECH game where he beheaded a guy....he was doing work all that szn.

Scott had a similar trajectory...man them two are some dudes if you reall pay attention.

GT rushed for 270+ yards that day at 5.5+ YPC with one QB that couldn’t throw and another one that couldn’t run. Him getting a 15 yard penalty for a big hit on a RB that he has 120 pounds on meant nothing then and means nothing now lol.

Yes the system and DC was subpar, but I wouldn’t classify anyone on that 2024 defense as “doing work” that season, especially our back up DT, which is what he was in 2024 but maybe that’s just me . He had some moments vs UF in 2024 that I remember vividly, but his jump was 100000% made this season, and that’s perfectly fine. He is arguably the top returning DT in America, and the staff has done a great job getting him to this point. I do think Scott’s 2025 year >> Moten in 2024. That tandem is top 3 in the country at worst.

 

GT rushed for 270+ yards that day at 5.5+ YPC with one QB that couldn’t throw and another one that couldn’t run. Him getting a 15 yard penalty for a big hit on a RB that he has 120 pounds on meant nothing then and means nothing now lol.

Yes the system and DC was subpar, but I wouldn’t classify anyone on that 2024 defense as “doing work” that season, especially our back up DT, which is what he was in 2024 but maybe that’s just me . He had some moments vs UF in 2024 that I remember vividly, but his jump was 100000% made this season, and that’s perfectly fine. He is arguably the top returning DT in America, and the staff has done a great job getting him to this point. I do think Scott’s 2025 year >> Moten in 2024. That tandem is top 3 in the country at worst.

Reuben Bain n a bunch of the same front 7 were on that field giving up those yards as well.
Again most of yall arent paying attention to the lines to even know whats going on any way. What he did this year STARTED in 2024. He was beating guys off the snap of the ball an running sh*t down since then.. his trajectory already started as a rs soph...yall just noticed it more last szn.

 

Reuben Bain n a bunch of the same front 7 were on that field giving up those yards as well.
Again most of yall arent paying attention to the lines to even know whats going on any way. What he did this year STARTED in 2024. He was beating guys off the snap of the ball an running sh*t down since then.. his trajectory already started as a rs soph...yall just noticed it more last szn.

Yep he sure was, and he was out of shape and clearly not healthy so he wasn’t “doing work” either. I’ve watched plenty, and know plenty about what’s going on but this is moot. Agree to disagree, all good. Looking forward to seeing him play himself into a top 50 pick a year from now.

 

Y’all betta’ recognize…

 

91

Matt Walters​

Height
6-5

Weight
263 lbs.

Josh Johnson going to Matt Walters for us (prediction thread):

Matt Walters led the team in sacks his senior yr with 5 in 2002 also had 11 tkls 1 sack VS Tennessee that yr. underrated DOG

 

We’re set now…we got a Conch on board….

 

Welcome to the U young man.Do the rock proud.

 

Should easily be 290 by the time he's on campus.

 

Yep he sure was, and he was out of shape and clearly not healthy so he wasn’t “doing work” either. I’ve watched plenty, and know plenty about what’s going on but this is moot. Agree to disagree, all good. Looking forward to seeing him play himself into a top 50 pick a year from now.

im not sure what we are disagreeing on really though.

I think both of us believe moten had a nice jump his third year in the program..and his trajectory continues.

Yea i want him to put on the same type of dominant performance as him and scott could be beastly.

Cardinal Gibbons had both Moten and R Mason Thomas on their dl which clearly was severely underrated as both of those dudes had minimal buzz in s.fla as recruits yet seemed to be certified draft picks

 

Matt Walters led the team in sacks his senior yr with 5 in 2002 also had 11 tkls 1 sack VS Tennessee that yr. underrated DOG

eau gallie legend

 

I knew it. The "P" is shorthand for Pinga Breath!

 

I knew it. The "P" is shorthand for Pinga Breath!

 

 

 

Late to this convo; still, wanna add a few pieces of information.

GT had 48 rushing attempts for 271 yards on us. Haynes King had 20 rushes for 93 yards; 4.7 ypc. That same season, he had 24 rushes for 110 yards; 4.6 ypc against Georgia. GT had 47 rushes for 260 yards on UGA.

We gave up 28 through 4; UGA gave up 27. GT had 37:11 TOP against the Dawgs and 34:49 against the Canes. Virtually identical; except, Haynes & GT had a much better day passing the ball against them than us.

Aaron Philo can run a bit; he rushed for 1200 yards on 228 carries (5.3 ypc) & 32 rushing TDs in HS. Against NC State in 2024, Haynes King ran for 22 yards on 8 attempts. Aaron Philo ran for 57 yards on 7 attempts.

Moten was a backup DT in 2024 because one of our starters made 1st-team All-ACC, Simeon Barrowwho started 12 of the 13 games for us. Barrow was the best DT on that 11 win Michigan State team in his second year while true freshman-future first rounder Derrick Harmon redshirted.

A pair of sixth year seniors —Elijah Alston & CJ Clark— made a combined 7 starts on the DLine in ‘24. They arrived to Miami with a combined 41 starts. Tyler Barron, fifth round pick and fifth year senior, made 9 starts.

Ahmad Moten made 2 starts. Bain started all 9 games he played; and Meisdor started every game that season.

 

I look at the offer list with the guys who are lower rated. Nagle for example is A big strong kid and Pitt knows D lineman. Johnson to me can develop and I do trust this group