From the moment four-star quarterback CJ Cypher and four-star offensive tackle Kweli Fielder started playing football at 7 years old, they’ve been teammates.
And that isn’t changing any time soon.
The cousins, who currently star at Carrollton (GA) High School, are both taking their talents to the next level at the University of Miami.
“We already wanted to go somewhere together,” Cypher told USA TODAY Sports. “And then Coach Dawson and Coach Cristobal made that easy for us to just make that decision quickly.”
Cypher, the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2029, and Fielder, the No. 8-ranked offensive tackle in the Class of 2028, committed to Miami in June.
This season, the two have helped power Carrollton to a perfect 10-0 regular-season record.
The winning culture at Carrollton, ranked No. 11 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Super 25 national rankings, is exactly what led Cypher and Fielder to Miami, the nation’s No. 1 ranked program.
“I feel like Coach Cristobal coming out from Nick Saban, it’s like a pipeline,” Fielder said. “He has experience and he knows how to win because he’s been a part of a winning program. And that’s all I want to do – win.”
And when Cypher and Fielder head to Coral Gables, they’ll be joining some of the most elite players in the nation.
The Hurricanes now have the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the Class of 2027 after five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright announced his commitment to the Hurricanes on Thursday, Nov. 5. He will reclassify to the Class of 2027, joining five-star receiver Nick Lennear and five-star athlete A’Mir Sears.
Cypher, meanwhile, has put together one of the nation’s most impressive sophomore seasons. He’s thrown for 3,164 yards and 48 touchdowns and has yet to throw an interception. He combined to throw 13 touchdowns in the Trojans’ last two regular-season games.
As a freshman last season, he led Carrollton to the GHSA Class 6A State Championship, where it ultimately lost to Buford.
“CJ’s a worker,” head coach Joey King said. “He just comes to work every day. There’s not a lot of flash – he’s level-headed through all circumstances.”
The Trojans have built an exceptionally talented – and young – team this season. Alongside Cypher and Fielder, sophomore running backs Zach Watts and Nick Archer and sophomore wide receiver Darrell McFadden have helped power the offense.
King said the chemistry between the players is something special. And for Cypher, that bond starts with his cousin.
“He gives me another level of encouragement,” Cypher said. “He shows me what it is like to be a leader. We have to lead some other guys, pick them up at hard times.”
Fielder said their moms, who are cousins, love watching the two play together on Friday nights.
“When we go to college, I know they’ll be really sad because we’ll be separated from them,” Fielder said. “But we’ll be together, so that’s the only thing that they like about it.”
Both Miami and Carrollton have pivotal games on the horizon.
Unanimous No. 1 Miami heads to South Bend on Saturday to face Notre Dame, ranked No. 6 in the Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, in a game with major College Football Playoff implications.
Carrollton, meanwhile, is awaiting the Georgia High School Athletic Association Class 7A playoffs, where the Trojans are currently ranked No. 4 in the post-season rankings.
Cypher and Fielder, however, have plenty of football left to play together.
And after nearly a decade of sharing the field, they’ll have the opportunity to continue building a legacy together.
“It’s kind of like a built-in best friend,” Cypher said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami football next stop for Carrollton (GA) teammates and cousins CJ Cypher, Kweli Fielder
