Hurricanes offer a dream come true for local CB Kenton Dopson: "I grew up a Miami fan and I've always been a UM fan"
Over the last two years, Miami (Fla.) Norland 2027 cornerback Kenton Dopson has been making a name for himself in South Florida as one of the best young defensive backs in the area. Last week the Miami Hurricanes took notice and offered the local prospect, who celebrated the news with his entire team.
“It was a lot of excitement,” Dopson told CaneSport. “My coach came in and he told me in front of the whole team, so it was super exciting. They were hyping me up and cheering me on. It’s a brotherhood at Miami Norland, so they were cheering me on when we all found out that news.”
A Dade County native, Dopson, who grew up a Miami fan, was extremely grateful to receive an offer from his hometown school.
“I grew up a Miami fan, and I’ve always been a UM fan,” Dopson said. “Really since I was born and I could remember.”
When asked what he thought of the Canes hot start this year, the 6-foot, 175-pounder had nothing but great things to say about the program.
Defensively, Dopson has been very impressed with the Hurricanes secondary and believes Miami’s play in the trenches has made the defensive backs jobs much easier.
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“I’m seeing a lot more on both sides of the ball,” Dopson said. “They’ve got everything down. They have a good defensive line, which makes it easier for the DBs to cover with guys like Rueben Bain rushing. Then on offense, they got Cam Ward commanding the offense, and he’s a great leader from what I’ve seen. The team really rallies around him.”
With an offer on the table, Dopson is hoping to make his way to Hard Rock Stadium this fall, which would be his first visit with the Hurricanes since the spring. Along with Miami, Dopson holds offers from Texas A&M, Colorado, Syracuse, Indiana, South Carolina, and Louisville.
“It’s been going good,” Dopson said when asked about the recruiting process. “I’m just trying to build relationships with the coaches. Coaching is a big thing for me because at Norland the type of coaches we’ve got has prepared me for any situation. I can go through anything, and I push through it.”
CaneSport’s take
Dopson is a rising prospect in the Hurricane backyard, so seeing the program offer him early on in his recruitment is a great sign. Since his freshman year, Dopson has played a big role in the Vikings secondary and has begun to establish himself as one of the best cornerbacks in South Florida early on.
