Miami Could Use Transfer Portal Help

There are at least three positions Miami should consider a transfer

Every Miami spring practice possesses good news and bad news. Today, it’s time to discuss three positions that need more depth and that comes from the Transfer Portal.

To be clear, this is not a complaint-filled diatribe. Far from it. Miami’s recruiting efforts, Transfer Portal exploits to date, and spring practice media-viewing sessions combined will lead a person to a generally positive outlook for 2024.

There is still work to be done. Here are the three positions where UM should at least consider adding more players from the Transfer Portal, to help make 2024 a tremendous season.

1) Running back

The injuries are unfortunate. Ajay Allen and Mark Fletcher, Jr. will not practice this spring. There’s also Henry Parrish, Jr. transferring out, which leads to a thin depth chart at a position known for suffering quite a bit of additional attrition during a season.

Incoming freshman Elijah Lofton is known as a flex tight end. He’s been working at running back, however. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, he’s certainly a fit for traditional running back size. Still, that’s a sign that it might be a good idea to at least consider adding another player to the roster from the April 16-30 NCAA Transfer Portal open period.

The Canes are loaded with young talent, but experience and strength matter at running back. How well will any of the young running backs be able to consistently hold up in pass protection? That’s always a concern with young running backs.

2) Boundary Receiver

Isaiah Horton is an excellent option as a developing junior starter. He’s not a guaranteed big-time player, but he’s certainly talented and has experience. Even if Horton is ready for starter minutes, however, an injury to him could be a big problem.

Playing boundary receiver begins with size. Horton is listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. That’s ideal. Miami needs size at boundary receiver because top cornerbacks defending that specific wide receiver are often bigger and can play bump and run against a pass catcher lined up on the line of scrimmage. 

It’s much easier to play aggressively if you’re a cornerback if the receiver is on the line because there’s less space to separate. Plus, it’s good to have more than one boundary receiver with size for run blocking and helping with screen plays to teammates. 

While Joshisa Trader and Ny Carr are talented, they are not truly built for the boundary position, or at least not until they each spend a couple of years in the Miami strength and conditioning program. Chance Robinson enrolls this summer so he will be another possibility. He’s strong for an incoming freshman.

3) Cornerback

One could argue that this is a position Miami should always be looking at the Transfer Portal. The Canes are in a far better spot than what they were two years ago, and probably better than last season. Still, one injury and there could be issues.

Jadais Richard, Damari Brown, and Daryl Porter, Jr. are probably the top three cornerbacks. There’s young talent with Demetrius Freeney and Robert Stafford as well. Are either one of them ready for a lot of minutes if needed?

This is not a position of major concern, but Miami could use another cornerback, especially when considering needing a nickel cornerback against spread offenses.