Four-star cornerback Justin Hopkins, a Nashville, Tennessee native, has committed to Minnesota for the 2026 class, choosing the Gophers over Tennessee, USC, and Georgia Tech.
Standing at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Hopkins is ranked 303rd in the latest 247Sports Composite, placing him as the No. 22 cornerback and ninth-best player in Tennessee. On3 is even higher on him, ranking him 82nd nationally, the No. 8 cornerback, and the fourth-best player in the state.
A standout at Ensworth High School, Hopkins excelled on both sides of the ball last season. He hauled in 42 catches for 705 yards and seven touchdowns as a receiver while recording 16 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions on defense. He returned one interception for a touchdown and added another score on a kick return.
Hopkins visited Minnesota on November 23 for the Gophers’ matchup against Penn State and later met with head coach P.J. Fleck and cornerbacks coach Nick Monroe in January. While he hasn’t scheduled an official visit, he’s expected to attend the “Summer Splash” event in May.
A promising prospect in today’s transfer portal era, Hopkins has the skill set, physical profile, and potential reminiscent of former Gophers cornerback Justin Walley. He has the tools to be a multi-year contributor in Minnesota’s secondary.
With Hopkins joining a strong 2026 recruiting class that already features two four-star talents, a quarterback, and two of Minnesota’s top in-state prospects, the Gophers have built a solid foundation ahead of a crucial spring recruiting period.
