We all want to make our loved ones proud, but sometimes, life gets in the way. Now, Miami Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal must be in a celebratory mood after landing 4-star cornerback Kenton Dopson III. For Dopson, however, this was a ‘prove yourself’ story, not to himself or his critics, but to his late mother. Though his greatest supporter isn’t here to witness this moment, Dopson didn’t forget her on his big day. And getting into Miami? It was a long time coming.

March 13th brought joyous news to the Hurricanes as Dopson, a standout from Miami Norland High School, committed to Miami. While it might seem like a random date, it holds profound significance for the cornerback. He waited for March 13th to officially commit to Cristobal’s program, as it would have been his mother, Shama Scott Dopson’s 46th birthday. Dopson expressed his emotional connection, “It was important for me to do it on her birthday because that’s my why—my mom. She passed when I was younger, so I wanted this to be a gift to her. It’s the right time.” Amidst the celebration, the cornerback shared a poignant three-word message for his mother.

Resharing John Garcia Jr.’s tweet announcing his commitment, Dopson wrote, “Happy Birthday Mom 🧡💚🎂.” The cornerback witnessed his mother’s battle with stomach cancer as a child, but his most vivid memory is her unwavering strength. So, what drew the cornerback to the Canes?

The love for Miami runs deep in his family. His parents, Shama and Kenton Dopson Sr., spent countless Saturdays cheering for the Hurricanes. Upon Dopson’s birth, they dressed him in Miami colors within hours. As the new commit confessed, “I’ve been a Canes fan since I came out of the womb. I was born into it.” Yet, a void remains in his heart.

Dopson emotionally admitted, “I think my mom would just tell me to choose what’s best for me. I think she would be very happy, very proud of me.” His father constantly reminds him that even though his mother is physically absent, Dopson, or Tre, carries her love and care within him.

As the proud father shared, being a lifelong Miami fan and seeing his son commit is a dream come true, not just for his son, but for him, his mom, and the entire family. They’re all incredibly proud. “I know this would have been a very big moment, I know she’s super proud of him. I just try to remind them how much she cared in loving them. She would have loved this. She lived for her sons. Anything that they did she was always present, always their biggest cheerleader.” Now, with his commitment to the Hurricanes, Dopson will strive to continue making his late mother proud. Can Cristobal and his team help him achieve that?

Kenton Dopson III’s long road to Miami 

Miami’s “pull-of-home” move proves to be a strong one. They hunted down the 6’1” and 190-pounder who is the No. 1 cornerback in Florida. Not just that, Dopson is a top-15 player in the country and holds the distinction of being the second-ranked cornerback nationally in the 2027 class. So, this made him a hot target for several prominent suitors that included Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, and Syracuse. Now, how is the Miami chapter going to contribute to Dopson’s growth?

Well, he will be joining another significant addition to Miami’s 2027 recruiting class, wide receiver Ah’mari Stevens. Meanwhile, Dopson himself carries a strong resume. In his sophomore season, he recorded 16 total tackles (12 solo), three interceptions, 16 passes defended, and a sack. With this came his recently set Norland school record for the 200 meters. But did you know that it has been a long wait for both Miami and Dopson to make the commitment happen?

Yes, the cornerback was close to pledging to Mario Cristobal’s program in the fall. However, he decided to hold off, anticipating coaching changes in the defense. So, in the meantime, Kenton Dopson III made multiple trips to the Canes squad to get updates about the new coaching roster. But it’s important to remember that throughout the whole process, Miami has been his top priority.

Now, he has built a good rapport with Miami’s new secondary coach, Zac Etheridge. “Coach Zac keeps it real, he doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” he said. “He’s very passionate about the game. When you talk to him, you can tell he’s a competitor and that he’s gonna develop me and prepare me for the next level.” With this, he walks into Miami with great confidence, assuring them they just got “a playmaker, a dog” in their DB room. Dopson’s late mother must be looking down, filled with pride.