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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This needs to be the official bat signal lol

We need AI Mario Jookin

 

This guy been myth busting lies about himself for a bit now

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For YEARS

 

That UiF game was legendary

The coaching has been there from day 1 imo the recruiting is starting to really get good after we started to show these bigtime WRs that we have an offense that can show out

I remember when many didn't even want him back here

 

My comp for Woodard:

So he’s a 5+ star kid in your eyes.

I like that comparison as Amon’s game is built on a massive amount of hard work. His dad was a body builder that instilled a crazy work ethic in his boys and it’s the main reason for their success

 

Just like Wingo he’s going to be a top 30 player by the end of the cycle

 

Nipples!

 

So he’s a 5+ star kid in your eyes.

I like that comparison as Amon’s game is built on a massive amount of hard work. His dad was a body builder that instilled a crazy work ethic in his boys and it’s the main reason for their success

I think he's a top 3 WR in the Nation & the best route runner in the 2027 class.

Recruit rankings are mostly arbitrary & based on numerous factors, not just pure skill & ability.

 

I think he's a top 3 WR in the Nation & the best route runner in the 2027 class.

Recruit rankings are mostly arbitrary & based on numerous factors, not just pure skill & ability.

You like him more than Lennear?

 

 

You like him more than Lennear?

I think they’re both elite and both are insanely competitive. The grind in that wide receiver room is going to be inspiring.

 

You like him more than Lennear?

 

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

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.

 

Getting married in Temecula and just got a new pup from there as well. It was meant to be.

What breed is your new pup?

Red cavapoo mix. Only small dogs until we get a yard of our own.

 

Just like Wingo he’s going to be a top 30 player by the end of the cycle

great comp in terms of rising up the rankings

 

Yes. But sometimes you need to plan for the actual next season and needing depth regardless. I’m talking long term planning, 3 WRs is def realistic. I’ve said it before but look at our expected wr unit and its depth over 27/28. It’d be great, but there is certainly room for more guys, plus not planning to lose like 1 hs recruit to portal every 1-2 yrs is bad strategy.

Like What if all our HS recruits step up and play and the transfers are all gone - Barkate, Jacobs, and Vaughn. (Or what if one of the current incoming freshman portalled out too?)
That’d put us at 9 WRs on the roster for 2027. We want closer to 12. And personally given the returning WRs, portal WR probably shouldn’t even be a real option. A late riser or guy more like Evan’s from last class is a reasonable add to make it 3 WRs in this class. And that would absolutely have no impact on next yrs WR recruiting class.

At end of day in Brysen Wrights (and the rest) class you have Toney leaving so lot of money coming off. The expected 2028 roster is then:
X - Moore / Parris / Evans
Z - Wingo or Upshaw / Lennear / Woodard
Slot - Upshaw / Spafford
plus 2028 recruiting class

So that’s 8 plus whatever 2028 ends up being, IF no portal. How likely is that? Sure if nobody portals out, 2 in 27, and 3 in 28 is great….

Agree on the long term planning point. I think teams should avg 3 WRs and 2 RBs a year. You know you’re going to have attrition at those spots not matter who you are.

Look at 2024 class of 3 4-star receivers (The Trader, Carr, Chance class). all gone in 2 years.

I HATE the “leave space for [X] next year” argument. Even if the guy ends up being who you think he is, no guarantee he comes. I remember when we were saving space 2 years out for Surtain and Tyson Campbell. i’m a big fan of taking the best guys you can find this year and hoping you can do even better next year.

 

If Butch stayed the Bama **** never happens IMO

Agree

 

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Agree on the long term planning point. I think teams should avg 3 WRs and 2 RBs a year. You know you’re going to have attrition at those spots not matter who you are.

Look at 2024 class of 3 4-star receivers (The Trader, Carr, Chance class). all gone in 2 years.

I HATE the “leave space for [X] next year” argument. Even if the guy ends up being who you think he is, no guarantee he comes. I remember when we were saving space 2 years out for Surtain and Tyson Campbell. i’m a big fan of taking the best guys you can find this year and hoping you can do even better next year.

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....

 

 

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 you’re trying to spend on the WR

Yeah, I think your argument makes sense. My concern with running back is that 1) injuries can make you thin there in a hurry and 2) guys with traits and half way decent production can leap to the league in a hurry (see - Jadarian Price from ND this year). i’d always argue that you’re #5 running back is more important than your #9 receiver to winning, you’re just more likely to be forced to use the guy for extended periods.

Ideally this is where you’d get some of the orbit type athletes (Curtis Samuel from OSU a few years back) who can pull double duty. i actually expected there to be more demand from them in the NIL era given budgets, but supply is probably too low.