Legacy recruit spurns Mario Cristobal, Miami for Big Ten powerhouse

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Legacy recruit spurns Mario Cristobal, Miami for Big Ten powerhouse

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 17, 2026 9:17 PM ET

It would have made sense had four-star cornerback Jaden Carey from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, picked the Miami Hurricanes.

He's an in-state recruit, after all, and that's usually a huge advantage with elite recruiters like Mario Cristobal. The pitch of "stay near home and compete for championships" is a pretty easy one to make.

Cristobal had another advantage with Carey, though. Carey's father, Marcus, played football at Miami with Cristobal. The late Marcus Carey played defensive back at Miami and won championships with the Hurricanes in 1989 and 1991. He was also a longtime Miami-Dade police officer.

And yes, the Hurricanes were strongly in the running for the four-star cornerback. His final group featured Miami, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Auburn Tigers.

That's a big-time recruiting battle, but ultimately, an official visit to Columbus in early June put the Buckeyes over the top.

Carey committed to Ohio State on Wednesday.

BREAKING: Four-Star CB Jaden Carey has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’0 175 CB chose the Buckeyes over Auburn and Miami

“BIA for a reason”https://t.co/mHM37y89F2 pic.twitter.com/1oyEBo4L0U
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 17, 2026

"They've done an amazing job from showing me the development of what they have at my position," Carey told 247Sports in April. "Just continue to build that relationship as they're one of the first schools that ever invited me to come on a spring visit. Them having that belief in me since day one has really showed a lot to me."

Ohio State Buckeyes land four-star CB Jaden Carey

This is a big commitment for Ohio State, which is a program that's used to getting big recruiting wins.

Carey is ranked as the No. 42 cornerback in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

In 2025 for St. Thomas Aquinas High School, he notched 54 tackles, eight passes broken up and four interceptions.

"Might not be the biggest or fastest defensive back, but has what it takes to emerge as an integral part of a Power Four secondary," wrote 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Irvins of Carey.

Ryan Day and Ohio State now have 15 commitments for the class of 2027.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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