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Miami Hurricanes sign high-upside 2026 LB Justin Edwards in key in-state win

Stephen Wagner covers recruiting for the University of Miami for On3 Sports and CaneSport. He can be found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at Stephen.Wagner@On3.com.by: Stephen Wagner20 hours agostephenwagOn3

Make no mistake, Miami just signed one of its highest-upside commits in its 2026 recruiting class.

Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater three-star 2026 linebacker Justin “JJ” Edwards signed with Miami Wednesday as the as the No. 694 overall prospect and No. 59 linebacker in the class. He flipped to Miami from Rutgers June 21 after committing to the Knights approximately two weeks earlier, but he remained solid with the Canes after committing.

Oklahoma, Missouri, Florida State and Florida were among programs to show interest in the 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect this fall, but Miami was always the team to beat.

“The staff, they’re very good at communicating,” Edwards told CaneSport Oct. 8. “I love the staff. The commits, the players they have on the team, I have a great connection with them. One of my boys who was at Edgewater (last year, 2025 Miami offensive line signee Jaden Wilkerson), he committed and goes to Miami. I love Miami.”

But what does he bring to Miami? Freak measurables, to start. And awesome upside.

He holds an 80-inch wingspan, 33-inch vertical, runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and has recorded a 9-foot-6-inch broad jump, which a source told CaneSport this summer is “like top 2% of testing.” He projects as a Will linebacker in Miami’s defense, although he also has the versatility to be a valuable chess piece in Coral Gables.

ANALYSIS: Recent Miami Hurricanes LB commit Justin Edwards has freak measurables and incredible upside

He recorded 52 solo tackles, 10 sacks, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery in nine games his junior season but showed a quick trigger, physicality and encouraging range that, combined with his traits, helped him become a major target for the Hurricanes this spring and summer.

Edwards is still a fairly raw recruit who hasn’t sniffed the ceiling of his potential but could undoubtedly become a draft pick if he develops how the Hurricanes think he could.

“With JJ, he’s the best blitzing backer we’ve got,” Edgewater defensive coordinator Tommy Whitted told CaneSport this summer after his commitment. “He gets home all the time from inside the box. He has the highest upside when it comes to his range, kind of reminds me of Dylan Stewart with his length. If you can mix (South Carolina Freshman All-American) Dylan Stewart and Sean Taylor you have Justin Edwards. That’s how I see him.”

CaneSport’s Take

There haven’t been a ton of Miami-Rutgers recruiting battles in recent memory, but so far, the Hurricanes have won them. Miami’s staff placed a clear focus on keeping a prospect they viewed as elite close to home and won.

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