Miami kept its recruiting machine humming earlier this week, sending a scholarship offer to 2027 edge Clarence “C.J.” Johnson Jr. out of St. Paul, Minn.
Johnson shared the news Monday on X:
Miami grabbed the first-offer advantage, as Johnson had not logged another D-I offer before the Hurricanes stepped in. Miami also planted a flag far from South Florida, betting its evaluations can travel and hit on traits that will translate to Saturdays.
Johnson checks the early “prototype” boxes that teams look for on the edge: length, mass and upside. Recruiting services list him at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds out of Cretin-Derham Hall High. That frame gives Johnson a lot to work with over the next two years — add strength without sacrificing burst, sharpen hand usage, and unleash a rush that wins on third-and-long.
The Hurricanes also jumped into a recruitment that already carried Big Ten and Big 12 ties, even if the offers haven’t come in yet. Johnson attended a Minnesota team camp last summer and took gameday visits to Indiana, Iowa State and North Dakota State. Multiple programs already sit on his list, including Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas and Minnesota, according to 247Sports. Miami’s offer won’t scare those schools off; it will force them to respond.
From Miami’s perspective, the timing fits the roster math. Elite edge rushers rarely wait until senior year to pop. They flash early, then stack camp performances, then watch offer lists explode. Miami wants a seat at that table before the crowd shows up.
Johnson’s size offers flexibility: stand him up, put his hand down, slide him inside on long-yardage packages, or ask him to set a hard edge against outside run schemes. Miami can sell that versatility now, then teach the details later.
Geography creates friction. A Minnesota prospect needs reasons to buy into Miami beyond the logo and the weather. Miami has to keep Johnson engaged through spring and summer visits, position him as a priority, and show a clear development plan that turns raw tools into production.
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