Ranking Miami's Transfer Portal Needs
In this story:
The Transfer Portal has opened and there will be chances for the Miami Hurricanes to improve their roster and depth chart.
Which positions should Mario Cristobal and his staff focus on the most? Here are six positions, listed in order, and why they were placed in that order.
Note: Many of the following points are from an ideal situation standpoint. The following propositions, or at least some of them, will be quite difficult.
1) Defensive Tackle
The prime reason defensive tackle has been listed would be injuries. There’s quite a bit of talent, but with players like Leonard Taylor III, Branson Deen, and Jared Harrison-Hunte all having been hurt during spring ball, there’s simply no guarantee that everything will work out in the fall.
To win big during any season, the best bet is ample depth along the trenches. Rotate as many top-notch players as possible. Miami was no place near able to do that during spring practices.
Beyond that point, the Canes came up short with 2023 defensive tackle recruiting having signed only one prospect, Joshua Horton, out of Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes. At least one interior defensive line prospect will be needed from the Transfer Portal.
2) Cornerback
The Canes did well with Davonte Brown already. He was a three-year starter at UCF and has the physical tools to one day be an All-American for The U. Still, he’s one player. Miami lost a plethora of defensive backs to the Transfer Portal and Tyrique Stevenson to the 2023 NFL Draft.
There could be help with Terry Roberts at cornerback, but he could also end up at nickel or safety. That’s summer and fall camp will be about, i.e. finding where to place all the pieces. Roberts was a productive cornerback for the Hawkeyes prior to heading to Coral Gables to join the Canes.
Miami will be battling just about every program in the country for even slightly above average cornerbacks, however, as it’s almost always the most heavily recruited position due to the lack of quality talent and numbers at that particular position.
With the above point in mind, cornerback may not be the biggest need (debatable), but also the most likely spot for Miami to come up short in the Transfer Portal. One could run that last line on repeat 10 years in a row and it would be accurate 10 out of 10 times, too. Truly talented and polished cornerbacks have proven to be rare indeed.
3) Defensive End
This ranking did not intend to imply that there’s a pass rushing issue. Nyjalik Kelly, Ahkeem Mesidor, Chantz Williams, Jahfari Harvey and several other players coming up the ranks like Jayden Wayne, Cyrus Moss and Rueben Bain, among others, will be just fine at getting after the quarterback. Two other issues could be addressed with at least one defensive end being added, however.
Just a glimpse of what’s to come! I love being a cane🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/jv8UklBiuj
— Rueben “Hurricane” Bain Jr. (@ruebenbainjr) April 16, 2023
More experience, for one. That’s self explanatory when considering the talent of the quarterbacks and playmakers Miami will face in the ACC. The other issue is about body types.
Miami needs, well, another pure brute on the edge; a player that’s as much a run stopper as defensive tackle (openly admitting these guys are incredibly rare).
The Hurricanes were flat out run over a few times last season and to help prevent that from happening again would be adding a 280-pound (or bigger) edge defender.
While it's not likely there will be many of these types of players in the Transfer Portal, Miami needs to be on the lookout. Like much of this list, it's not about numbers, but sheer quality for the player that would be added to the Miami roster.
4) Wide Receiver
This was another spot where injuries ravaged Miami’s depth chart last fall. It’s about competition, first and foremost. If there’s a great fit and a really good player, go for it.
Additionally, if there’s a talented underclassman that can help after the core of primary pass catchers like Xavier Restrepo and Colbie Young move on to the NFL, that’s also going to help the depth chart in 2024 and possibly longer.
5) Running Back
Another veteran would be great. This will not be a critical need, but if there’s an every-down running back that’s capable of truly competing for reps with Henry Parrish and Don Chaney, plus openly willing to be a pass protector as much as a runner, that’s a running back that Cristobal and his staff need to consider bringing onto the roster.
Like it or not, Miami will probably not want to place either of the freshman running backs in the lineup during obvious passing downs because first-year running backs generally struggle in pass protection. That’s the other primary need, a running back to help out Tyler Van Dyke or any other Hurricanes quarterback that’s in the lineup with quality pass protection.
6) Offensive Line
Must be a big-time talent. Miami has transformed its roster here with the Transfer Portal already and there’s the group of 2023 recruits that already made an impact. Point blank, big-time talent.
AllHurricanes.com is your home for all things Miami Hurricanes football, recruiting, basketball and other athletics, all the time. Follow along on social media at @AllHurricanes on Twitter and All Hurricanes on Facebook for round-the-clock news and analysis.
Fan Nation High school football recruiting analyst covering the state of Florida, as well as across the Southeastern United States and the state of Texas.
Follow fbscout_florida