Transfer Portal: Miami Hurricanes Have Added Five To Seven New Starters
The Miami Hurricanes appear to be finished adding players through the Transfer Portal before the 2023 season begins.
The Canes finished with a formidable top 8 portal class, per 247 Sports.
By my estimation, Miami has added somewhere between five to seven new starters out of 13 portal enrollees. Several of the others will definitely contribute in the two-deep rotation.
Here are the additions that appear poised to take starting spots this year.
Center Matt Lee: Definitely a starter. The former UCF Knight has turned heads by quickly learning the new playbook, connecting with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, and physically imposing himself throughout spring football and the offseason program. Lee was named the top returning center by Pro Football Focus. He earned elite grades in pass blocking (90.6) and run-blocking (82.5) in 2022. Anything over 70 is considered a good grade.
Guard Javion Cohen: Definitely a starter. The former starting left guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide has not been credited with giving up a single sack to this point in his career. Tyler Van Dyke will wake up on Sundays this fall with fewer aches and pains than he did last year now that Lee and Cohen are aboard.
Javion Cohen coming to Miami is a game changer. Not only is he a beast & a QBs best friend, he brings leadership & a winning mentality to the program.
— Chalupa Batman (@CoreyCarmona) March 30, 2023
Guys like this are gonna set the standard for the younger guys to follow and pass down to the next crop of Canes. #GoCanes #TheU pic.twitter.com/x3jOFzeDk6
Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa: Most likely a starter. PFF named "Kiko" the top transfer linebacker in this year's class. He's 6-3, 230 pounds with an incredible motor. He'll be competing with Corey Flagg for the starting Mike linebacker job. Based on how great he looked in the spring, he'll more than likely win out and start next to Wesley Bissainthe.
Cornerback Davonte Brown: Most Likely a starter. He's a long and physical corner at 6-2, 185 lbs. He started 31 games for the UCF Knights during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. Davonte earned most of the starters reps in spring opposite Daryl Porter Jr. I have him penciled in.
WR Tyler Harrell OR WR Shemar Kirk: Battles to watch. We didn't have the benefit of watching either of these newcomers compete in Miami spring ball since they just committed in May. Still, I could see both of them providing intense competition with Jacolby George for one of the outside WR spots. I expect Colbie Young to have the other spot locked down thanks to his size and catch radius. Harrell is one of the fastest players in the country and Kirk creates magic in space.
DL Branson Deen, Thomas Gore OR Anthony Campbell: Battles to watch. Deen and Gore arrived in time for spring football and got plenty of reps. Campbell committed in May. Leonard Taylor is virtually a lock to start at one defensive tackle spot but the other should be open for competition. Returning veteran Jared Harrison-Hunte, who missed the spring with injury, seems likely to start next to LT, but he will be pushed by the newcomers and by redshirt freshman Ahmad Moten.
Cornerbacks Jadais Richard, Jaden Davis OR Terry Roberts Jr: Battles to watch. None of them appear as likely to lock down a starting job as Davonte Brown, but all three arrive hungry to compete. Roberts played in spring but was limited at times by a shoulder issue. In fall camp he should be 100%. Roberts has 33 games of experience, including four starts, with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Richard is one I am really looking forward to watching in orange and green this fall. Like Brown, he has tremendous size for the position at 6-2, 197 lbs.
With about seven spots up for grabs, I could see at least five of the above opportunities being seized by one of Miami's Transfer Portal arrivals.
Let the competition begin.
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