Can This Miami Transfer Take Over In Year One?
Over the last couple of years, Miami has had some talented pass rushers put on for the Hurricanes, and they might have added another one this offseason.
Whether it was Greg Rousseau finishing second in the nation in sacks in 2019, Jaelan Phillips earning All-American honors in 2020 and now most recently with Rueben Bain's dominant freshman season, there's been talent in that room for Miami for several seasons.
While Cam Ward is the transfer everyone is talking about for Miami as he'll be a Heisman hopeful in 2024, there's another player who's flying under-the-radar that is receiving immense praise for what he could do next year.
The under-the-radar pickup: Marshall transfer Elijah Alston.
After redshirting in 2020, Alston has starred for the Thundering Herd for the past three seasons recently putting up 45 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2023. Following the end of the season, Alston decided to team back up with his former defensive coordinator Lance Guidry over in Coral Gables.
2023 Stats: 45 tackles, 16 QB hurries, 11.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT, 1 TD
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Alston ranks as the number one transfer edge (91.4 grade) from the portal this offseason and by a significant margin. Alston graded out higher than other top transfer edges such as Texas' Trey Moore, Ole Miss' Princely Umanmielen, and Texas A&M's Nic Scourton to name a few.
Alston joins an already talented room at Miami with the aforementioned Bain as well as returners Akheem Mesidor, Nyjalik Kelly, and Jayden Wayne to name a few. However, Mesidor and Kelly will be returning from injuries while Wayne is still growing as a player.
While the talent will make it a challenge for Alston to get on the field, it should also benefit him in producing. Now with those other players around him, less of a focus will be on him allowing Alston to get those coveted one-on-one chances.
With reports talking about how highly Miami thought of Alston once he became available in the portal and was eventually brought in, it seems like Coach Guidry acquired another piece to an already talented defensive line group.
So whether he ends the season with double-digit sacks or quietly makes a name for himself, it appears Miami landed a diamond in the rough that can help them push their way to the top of the ACC.
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