Nashville’s Ensworth High School has been a hotbed of recruiting action this winter, with top schools lining up for a piece of their talent. At the helm is cornerback Justin Hopkins, who is garnering interest from over 24 programs, including Vols, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, and USC. Among the many suitors, Hugh Freeze and his staff have made it clear—Hopkins is their guy. But the 4-star CB just threw a wrench in their plans, and Freeze is reportedly feeling the heat as this recruiting battle turns into a real dogfight.
Everyone’s hitting the transfer portal hard in 2025, but if Minnesota wants to play with the Big Ten big boys, they’ve gotta get better at recruiting high school talent. So, on Monday, Minnesota made a huge splash in the recruiting world. Justin Hopkins, the highly sought-after CB, committed to the Golden Gophers! Yep, you read that right. He chose Minnesota over a long list of suitors, becoming the fourth player in their 2026 class. On3 broke the news with the headline, “BREAKING On3 4-star CB Justin Hopkins has committed to Minnesota.” This is a massive win for the Gophers and a tough loss for teams like Auburn, who were really hoping to land him. Especially tough for Hugh Freeze, since Hopkins, his “prized target,” had even taken two unofficial visits to Auburn.
BREAKING On3 4-star CB Justin Hopkins has committed to Minnesota
More from @ChadSimmons_: https://t.co/5xQUfGC56q pic.twitter.com/BTRFGICV7L
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) February 17, 2025
Hopkins got a real taste of Minnesota way back in November when he visited campus for the Gophers’ game against Penn State. And then in Jan, head coach P.J. Fleck and CBs coach Nick Monroe made the trip to see him at his high school. However, the most intriguing part is that for Monroe, it was his second visit—proof of how badly Minnesota wanted him. And that effort paid off. Furthermore, reflecting on the process, Hopkins said, “Every time I talked to another school, it just couldn’t compare to how I felt when I talked with the Minnesota coaches. Coach (Nick) Monroe came down twice, coach Fleck came down once and there was no comparison for me.”
He didn’t rush into this decision. After narrowing his list in December, he carefully weighed his options. And by January, one school stood above the rest. As the Gophers checked every box, the standout CB said, “At Minnesota, I get a great education, there is a chance to play early, I can be stable as a football player and I can play for great coaches.”
Let’s be real: Hopkins has not yet set a formal visit date, but it is reasonable to presume that he will be present during Minnesota’s Summer Splash event in May. But don’t sleep on this just yet, Gophers fans—this is only a verbal commitment. With Josh Heupel from Hopkins’ home state of Tennessee, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, and others still in the mix, the battle for his signature isn’t over.
How Justin Hopkins decided on P.J. Fleck and Co.
Still, just a junior, Justin Hopkins has one more season at High School before making the move to Dinkytown. But his impact is already undeniable. Last season, he racked up 16 tackles, two interceptions—including a pick-six—and two tackles for loss. On top of that, his playmaking ability speaks for itself. And in the 247Sports composite rankings, Hopkins sits at No. 303 overall in the Class of 2026, the No. 22 CB in the nation, and the No. 9 overall recruit in Tennessee.
At 6-foot and 170 pounds, Hopkins is a serious playmaker, and he’s now the fourth commit for Minnesota’s upcoming class. He joins defensive end Howie Johnson, offensive lineman Andrew Trout, and quarterback Owen Lansu. It’s a promising group, and Hopkins’ own words show how much he believes in the program. “I fell in love with the place. After I left, that feeling kept lingering with me. The people, the energy, and how they communicated with me and my family made a big impact on me. It wasn’t about recruiting me, but it was getting to know me. With Minnesota, it is not recruiting me, it is selecting me and me being chosen for this program. The program fits me very well,” said the 4-star CB.
As of now, for Hopkins, this wasn’t just about football—it was about finding the right home. Now, the real question is—can any program flip this commitment? Minnesota may have won the first round, but in the world of recruiting, nothing is set in stone. So, let’s see who dares to make a move.
The post 4-star Justin Hopkins Announces College Football Future to leave Hugh Freeze’s Auburn Upset with New Update appeared first on EssentiallySports.
