Miami flips 3-star DL Joshua Horton from North Carolina

When Miami offered Joshua Horton back in the spring, they identified him as a prospect that could potentially play in south Florida.

After Mario Cristobal and his staff reached out to the 6-foot-3.5, 275-pound defensive lineman out of Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes, other schools recruited him a little harder. He gave Auburn a long look. Georgia Tech was in the mix over the summer. North Carolina emerged as the favorite though, and Horton committed to the Tar Heels in August.

He went into the season feeling good about his decision, but as the season progressed, Miami started to come back around. Early in October, communication picked up between the three-star and the Hurricanes’ coaches.

Horton went down to Coral Gables for the Duke game. He spent the weekend at Miami and he left feeling good.. Over the last six weeks, Horton thought about his decision and he decided he wanted to flip his commitment to Miami.

“It was time,” Horton told On3. “The communication with North Carolina slowed down a bit, Miami really came hard and I feel good about Miami being the school for me. It just came down to where I felt most comfortable.

“When I was down there, it felt right. At Miami, it had that family feeling and I just felt more in tune with the coaches. The relationships were built quickly and the feelings for Miami are strong. It was just time to make the right choice for me.”

Horton is a believer in Mario Cristobal

Year 1 may not have gone as well as Cristobal or the Hurricane Nation wanted it to, but it is year one. Cristobal is ready to get his players on campus and build on the foundation they built this season, and Horton is a believer.

“Coach Cristobal has a different passion about Miami,” Horton said. “He is from down there, he played there and he just feels different about the school and the program. Coach Cristobal knows what it takes to win at Miami and I believe he will do that.”

Cristobal has been leading the way over the last month in recruiting Horton. Joe Salava’e and Dennis Smith have been heavily involved as well. That staff has made Horton feel like a priority.

“I have been talking to 6-7 coaches from Miami on the regular. They are all great guys and it starts with coach Cristobal. He is easy to talk to, he made me feel wanted and it is going to be great playing for him and his staff.

… The coaches made Miami the place I want to play. Coach Cristobal loves the trenches, I believe in him and he and the staff will get Miami back to the top.”