Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jr. OJ Frederique Jr. (29) breaks up a pass intended for Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Photo by David Santiago
dsantiago@miamiherald.com
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2026 season on Sept. 4 on the road against the Stanford Cardinal (9 p.m., ESPN).
The Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fifth season.
Today: The No. 12 player on our list, OJ Frederique Jr.
What to know
Position: Cornerback
Hometown: Deerfield Beach
Year: Junior
How he got to Miami: 2024 recruiting class
Key stats: 49 tackles, 14 pass breakups in two seasons
In summary: Frederique has the tools and the skills to become a shutdown cornerback. He has shown glimpses of that ceiling. It’s a matter of putting it all together — and staying healthy (he played in just 10 games as a sophomore). Frederique will be part of a deep cornerback unit for a second consecutive season.
What they’re saying
“I used to be quiet and just let my game speak, but the coaches told me guys listen to me. They see what I’ve been doing, so if I’m able to communicate with them, that’s gonna help them.” – Frederique on becoming a leader as an upperclassman
“I have to come every day with it because if I don’t, they’re going to take advantage of that. We have a lot of guys — from older to younger — that have a lot of fuel. I have to keep going.” – Frederique on the internal competition during practice
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.