Miami Recruit Demarcus Deroche Expresses Interest in Gators Amidst Commitment
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The Miami Hurricanes may have lost the national championship, but the future still looks bright. Mario Cristobal and his staff have already put together a 2027 recruiting class, which ranks first in the ACC with four commitments.
That includes athlete Demarcus Deroche, out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 200 pounds, he’s a four-star recruit, the No. 9 athlete and the No. 176 player in the nation.
As a junior at Cardinal Gibbons High School, he had 12 receptions for 126 yards and seven touchdowns. Deroche also racked up 13 tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss.
While he is listed as an athlete and playing on both sides of the ball, Deroche is expected to play tight end and the collegiate level. He originally announced his commitment to Miami on Aug. 19. However, he hasn’t completely shut down his recruitment.
Rivals’ Marcus Benjamin reported that the pass catcher identified the NC State Wolfpack, Ohio State Buckeyes, Florida State Seminoles, Florida Gators, Texas Longhorns and Syracuse Orange are “standing out.”
Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, he has taken special notice of the Gators’ coaching shakeup with Jon Sumrall. “It’s a whole new coaching staff, I love them,” he told Benjamin. “They are a really good vibe. We’re trying to get up there.”
While holding a commitment is a positive sign, flips continue to become more common among high school recruits. In the 2026 cycle, Cristobal and the Hurricanes have already faced three decommitments.
As the recruiting cycle continues, Miami will look to keep its top in-state prospects locked in, despite other programs making a push.
Related: Nation’s No. 1 RB Issues Strong Statement On Who Is The Leader In His Recruitment
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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