Miami's Mario Cristobal attends game of Texas 5-star commit

Andrew Nemec

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Miami's Mario Cristobal attends game of Texas 5-star commit image

Courtesy of Derrek Cooper

Chaminade-Madonna (Florida) is a powerhouse program known for churning out talent.

But even at a school that has the reputation of a major talent producer, Chaminade five-star running back Derrek Cooper stands out.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound ball-carrier is rated the nation's No. 40 overall prospect and No. 3 athlete in the class of 2026.

It is also noteworthy that Cooper is committed to the Texas Longhorns.

Of course, that didn't keep two major programs from watching Cooper play from the sidelines Friday night.

While Texas running back coach Chad Scott was an expected guest, Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal was also spotted taking in the action.

While Cooper committed to Texas in July, Miami has continued to turn up the heat in his recruitment and hosted the dynamic running back on a visit late in the summer.

Could Cristobal pull off one of the cycle's biggest recruiting flips?

It is, undeniably, something to watch in the lead-up to December's early signing period.

Here's what 247Sports had to say, in part, about Cooper as a prospect: 

"A jack-of-all-trades that some schools view as a running back while others think the ceiling might be higher as a back-seven defender. Owns a favorable athletic profile for a mid-skill with bright green speed and explosion scores."

"As a ball carrier, runs with plenty of tempo and energy as he hits the hole with urgency. Always seems to be spiraling forward with his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and will use his core power to bounce off tacklers in tight quarters. Effective on swing/screen passes and has the hands to emerge as more than just a check-down option for a passing attack."

"Will need a plan and a vision at the next level, but has stamped himself as one of the top overall prospects in the Sunshine State at this stage after impacting games in a variety of different ways." 

Andrew Nemec

Andrew Nemec has covered high school sports and the recruiting landscape for more than a decade, with an emphasis on the former and current Pac-12 footprint. Nemec, who hosts his own radio show on ESPN-affiliate 1080 The FAN in Portland, Oregon, is a graduate of the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication.