Miami continue to impress in-state 2026 OT Joel Ervin, who will attend Hurricanes opener at UF: “They’re building something special”

When the Miami Hurricanes offered Fort Myers (Fla.) 2026 offensive tackle Joel Ervin in May, the news came as a bit of a surprise to the rising junior, who now has more than 10 Power Four offers.

“It was kind of unexpected because I was thinking I had kind of a bad day at practice,” Ervin told CaneSport. “It was very humbling and made me feel better about things.”

Since then, Ervin and the Hurricanes have continued to tighten their bond, with Miami senior analyst Edwin Pata leading Miami’s charge for the 6-foot-6 280-pounder, who also holds offers from USC, Florida, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisville, South Carolina, and more.

“Miami is great, and I’ve been watching them for a long time,” Ervin said. “They’re building something special.”

At the moment, Ervin says USC, Florida, USF, and Miami are the programs that have shown the most interest. While football may be Ervin’s top priority when looking into a program, academics will also play a major role in his final decision.

“The biggest thing for me is the major,” Ervin said. “I want to be a meteorologist because me and my mom would always watch storm chasers when I was young, and it just fascinated and impacted me a lot. Also the football program, and if I feel like I can trust the coaches.”

In two weeks, Ervin will be on hand in Gainesville as two of his top programs face off with the Gators set to host the Hurricanes on August 31.

“I think it’s going to be a great matchup,” Ervin said. “I’ve seen both teams work a lot, and the team that has worked the most is going to come out on top.”

While Ervin is excited to see Miami in action once in the Swamp, he’s hoping to make his return to South Florida for a game after attending the Canes matchup against Clemson last October.

“I was at the Clemson game last year, and it was a great atmosphere inside Hard Rock,” Erving said. “The coaches were very welcoming, and I’m definitely trying to make it to a few Miami games this year.”

CaneSport’s take

Ervin is the type of offensive lineman the Hurricanes have been high on during the last three recruiting cycles, with his massive frame and ability to move well. Heading into his junior season, Ervin is high on Miami, so getting him back on campus will be key in this recruitment.

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