Not only is it commitment season in college football recruiting, it’s also flip season. Many of the top recruits in the nation have been switching their commitments as the cycle heats up.
One of those flips came from 2026 linebacker Justin Edwards, who was originally committed to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights before changing his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes on Friday. Now, Edwards is detailing what made him choose to play in Coral Gables.
Justin Edwards Breaks Down Why He Flipped From Rutgers to Miami
Justin Edwards is a three-star recruit in the 2026 class. He is rated as On3’s 53rd-best linebacker and 92nd-best player in Florida.
After taking his official visit to the Scarlet Knights, he committed to Rutgers on June 8. However, despite that commitment, he still had one more official visit scheduled with the Miami Hurricanes.
He traveled to Miami on June 13, and a week later, on June 21, he decommitted from Rutgers and flipped his commitment to the Hurricanes.
🚨BREAKING🚨 LB Justin Edwards has flipped his commitment from Rutgers to Miami, @Hayesfawcett3 reports🙌
More @SWiltfong_: https://t.co/XkzsuByzBk pic.twitter.com/3PiJ4nZBTi
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 21, 2025
It’s a move that shocked many, but Edwards recently explained why he flipped to Miami in an interview with On3’s Steve Wiltfong.
“The coaching staff, the players, environment, you know I’m a Florida boy, so it feels like home,” Edwards told Wiltfong. “What made me want to commit was how well I fit into the scheme, and when we were at Coach Cristobal’s house, that’s when I really felt like this is home. Also, how much I bonded with the players, too.”
If this quote proves anything, it’s how vital official visits are. When Miami got Edwards on campus, head coach Mario Cristobal, his staff, and the Hurricane players were able to show the young linebacker why Miami was the right choice.
Losing Edwards is a tough blow for Rutgers and head coach Greg Schiano, who were originally able to steal Edwards away from his home state.
Edwards was one of the top recruits in Rutgers’ 2026 class, and now it’s back to the drawing board for Schiano and company. Edwards was one of two off-ball linebackers in the class, a position they are looking to upgrade.
The addition of Edwards launches the Hurricanes up to On3’s 10th-ranked class in the 2026 cycle, marking yet another strong year for Cristobal on the recruiting trail. Miami continues to dominate the state of Florida, with Edwards being the ninth home-state player in the class.
