Four-Star 2026 Defensive Back Justin Hopkins Makes College Commitment Decision

Georgia Tech made the final four for four-star defensive back, but they were not able to secure his commitment. Hopkins made his commitment decision tonight, but chose Minnesota over the Yellow Jackets, USC, and Tennnessee.

NEWS: Minnesota beats Georgia Tech, Tennessee and USC for On3 Top 100 safety Justin Hopkins.

“Every time I talked to another school, it just couldn't compare to how I felt when I talked with the Minnesota coaches," Hopkins said.

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— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) February 17, 2025

According to 247Sports Composite, Hopkins is a four-star prospect, the No. 9 player in Tennessee, the No. 21 cornerback, and the No. 294 player nationally. He currently has 26 offers but felt it was time to narrow in on his decision.

Hopkins plays for Ensworth, a team located in Tennessee .

Our own Najeh Wilkins broke down Hopkins recently and talked about the kind of prospect that he is:

"The Tigers went 11-1 before losing to eventual state champion McCallie in the second round of the playoffs. Hopkins had a standout season on both sides of the ball. Per the Ensworth Football X page, Hopkins finished with 42 catches for 705 yards and seven touchdowns on 16.8 yards per reception. On defense, he finished with 16 tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and two tackles for a loss. He also played a pivotal role in helping close out a 17-3 win against Lipscomb Academy, returning a kickoff for a touchdown.

His standout junior season led him to being named to the Division 2 Class AAA coaches all-state team on defense and he also was named to the Writers Association all-state football team. He also is a multisport athlete who also plays basketball and is pretty good on the hardwood as well.

When you roll his tape, you see a physical defensive back who is exceptional at playing football. He can play zone or man coverage and be equally effective in both. He is also excellent in run coverage, and he is not afraid to come down and make a big hit on opposing running backs. Offensively, he is a playmaker who makes big plays whether on special teams or on offense. You can tell by his 16.8 yards per catch how explosive he can be on a litany of routes including screens, hitches, digs, posts, drags, and even go routes. Just get him the ball and let him work.

In terms of this spring and summer, he is set to compete at the Under Armour camp in Nashville on March 30th and the Rivals camp here in Atlanta on May 18th. The Yellow Jackets continue to recruit at a high-end level and despite not having a commitment yet for the 2026 class they are starting to create relationships and be among the finalists for marquee prospects."

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