Five-star receiver includes Miami among finalists

Highly-touted IMG Academy wideout narrows list to 11 schools

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:13am

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Bradenton, Florida's Eric McFarland, a five-star wide receiver prospect from IMG Academy, has included the University of Miami among his 11 finalists as he nears a decision on where to play college football starting in 2027.

Why it matters

Landing elite talent like McFarland would be a major recruiting victory for Miami head coach Mario Cristobal as he looks to rebuild the Hurricanes' program and compete for ACC and national championships.

The details

McFarland, considered one of the top wide receiver recruits in the 2027 class, has narrowed his list of potential college destinations to 11 schools: Miami, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Kentucky, Texas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Ohio State, and UNLV. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect is expected to make his final decision sometime this summer as the recruiting cycle heats up.

  • The final push for commitments in the 2027 high school cycle will begin this summer.
  • June will be a massive month for the Miami football program as they look to close on several top targets.

The players

Eric McFarland

A five-star wide receiver prospect from Bradenton, Florida's IMG Academy who is nearing a decision on his college commitment.

Mario Cristobal

The head coach of the University of Miami football program, looking to land elite talent like McFarland to help rebuild the Hurricanes.

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What’s next

McFarland is expected to announce his college decision sometime this summer as the 2027 recruiting cycle reaches its peak.

The takeaway

Securing a commitment from a five-star prospect like Eric McFarland would be a major recruiting victory for Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes as they look to return to national prominence in college football.