No. 3 College Football QB Recruit Delivers Bad News to Two Major Programs

While the Miami Hurricanes and coach Mario Cristobal relished in a major recruiting victory Friday, two other programs were left dealing with the disappointment of losing out on one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class.

Israel Abrams, out of Arlington Heights, Illinois, announced his commitment to Miami while choosing the Hurricanes over Auburn and Purdue (as well as fellow finalists Florida State and Kentucky).

Abrams is the No. 3 QB prospect in the 2027 recruiting class, per both the 247Sports Composite ranking and the Rivals Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-4 quarterback is a top 50 overall national prospect on both rankings.

He revealed his commitment live on the Pat McAfee Show.

No. 2 QB Israel Abrams commits to Miami🔥 pic.twitter.com/gHfnfFqnAl
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) April 3, 2026

Abrams spent Monday through Thursday on an extended unofficial visit to Miami, so the timing of his announcement right on the heels of that trip left the outcome a little anticlimactic.

But Auburn had been considered the favorite in his recruitment entering the spring, as he had an impactful visit there in January and was planning to return for an official visit this summer. Meanwhile, Abrams and his family visited Purdue last month, and there were plans at that time for him to return for an official visit in West Lafayette, Indiana, this weekend.

Coming off that visit, On3's Steve Wiltfong named Auburn and Purdue as the two favorites in his recruitment.

But the visit to Miami this week changed everything.

"We got there Monday and were there until Thursday morning, and the coaches were nothing but helpful and full of information, and they did enough to make us believe in them," Abrams said in announcing his commitment Friday. "I think that's a place I can pursue my dreams and do something I want to do, which is just win and win games for my teammates. That's all I'm about."

Israel Abrams explains why he chose Miami and his expectations. pic.twitter.com/C3r1KLIP1M
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) April 3, 2026

Per 247Sports, Abrams passed for 4,072 yards, 40 touchdowns and 6 interceptions while rushing for 224 yards and 10 touchdowns last season in leading Montini Catholic High School to the Illinois 4A state championship. Abrams threw for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for a score in that state title game.

Miami has relied on the transfer portal in recent years to find its starting quarterbacks, from Cam Ward to Carson Beck, and this year, Darian Mensah, the Duke transfer. But the Hurricanes, fresh off a run to the national championship game last season, may now have their future QB1 to develop in-house when he arrives in 2027.

Miami is now No. 8 in the Rivals recruiting rankings with eight commitments in the 2027 class.

New Auburn coach Alex Golesh brought his star quarterback from USF, Byrum Brown, with him in taking the job, but Brown is entering his final year of eligibility, and the Tigers were hoping Abrams would be the successor in 2027. They now have to look elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Purdue second-year head coach Barry Odom and offensive coordinator Josh Henson are trying to elevate a Boilermakers program that went just 2-10 last year and 1-11 in 2024 while lacking at the quarterback position. Purdue has just one 2027 commitment so far, and Abrams would have been a home run for the program.