MIAMI — Minutes after profitable a state championship with Chaminade-Madonna on Wednesday night time, star athlete Derrek Cooper anticipated to have some missed calls or textual content messages.
“(The Miami coaches) be in contact with me each single day,” Cooper mentioned. “They’re in all probability texting me proper now, congratulating me.”
The Hurricanes are in fixed contact with the 2026 star, who scored a 52-yard landing and ran for 92 yards within the Lions’ championship win over Clearwater Central Catholic.
The Chaminade two-way participant is without doubt one of the most coveted prospects in his class. As a operating again, Cooper notched 905 speeding yards and 13 touchdowns. As a linebacker and security, he had 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and an interception. After finishing his junior season, he’s not positive which aspect of the ball he needs to play on in faculty.
“I nonetheless have a bit of little bit of time to make that call,” Cooper mentioned.
Cooper, who’s rated a five-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, mentioned he’s seeking to construct relationships with coaches and hopes to see teaching staffs that retain the identical folks. He additionally mentioned he considers a staff’s success on the sector, as properly.
Cooper mentioned he speaks to move coach Mario Cristobal, operating backs coach Matt Merritt and others. He mentioned he favored what he noticed from UM on the sector this season.
“They turned their season round from final yr, taking part in within the Pop-Tarts Bowl,” Cooper mentioned.
Cooper isn’t the one Chaminade standout in contact with UMs’ coaches. Junior vast receiver Jasen Lopez is on the Hurricanes’ radar, and he has garnered some comparisons to a present Miami nice, Xavier Restrepo. He could be a slot receiver, and he even wears the identical No. 7 Restrepo wears for the Hurricanes.
“It’s nice seeing a man who (resembles) my sport or who I get in comparison with be like that,” mentioned Lopez. “Not that he’s any common man; he’s breaking information over there at Miami. To have the ability to get in comparison with him could be very particular, however I really feel like I may be higher and do higher issues than what he’s doing proper now.”
Lopez, a three-star prospect, had 4 catches for 30 yards and a rating on Wednesday. He completed the season with 1,298 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Lopez mentioned he’s been in contact with coaches from N.C. State, Kentucky, Florida and Miami essentially the most currently.
“They textual content me,” Lopez mentioned. “I used to be on the telephone with (Kevin) Beard yesterday. He known as me. They texted me, ‘Good luck,’ and stuff like that.”