Former Ohio State defensive back Jayden Bonsu and Florida State edge rusher Patrick Payton who Miami strongly pursued as recruits entered the transfer portal on Wednesday. Per his On3 profile, Miami was the runner-up for Bonsu in the 2023 class and Miami was one of only two schools Payton visited per 247Sports.
Bonsu redshirted as a true freshman at Ohio State in 2023, did not post any statistics in 2024 and has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Per the On3 Industry Rankings, Bonsu was the 285th prospect, 23rd safety and fourth player in New Jersey out of Hillside, St. Peters Prep in the 2023 class.
Payton redshirted as a true freshman in 2021. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Payton had 31 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks. 3.0 passes defended and 1.0 forced fumble to earn ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain succeeded Payton as the ACC DPOY in 2023.
Payton has 110 career tackles, 31.5 TFLs, 16.0 sacks. 13 passes defended and 3,0 forced fumbles. Payton has one season of eligibility remaining. The Hurricanes should be strongly considered for the former Miami Northwestern star. Payton entered the transfer portal last year, but ultimately returned to Florida State.
Florida State edge Patrick Payton has officially entered the the transfer portal, @mzenitz and I have learned for @247Sports.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) December 18, 2024
He's now the No. 2 overall player and No. 1 edge in the @247SportsPortal rankings. https://t.co/UZXE0BHCkp pic.twitter.com/RO2R39nj3i
The secondary and edge rusher are expected to be areas Miami targets in the transfer portal. Miami already received a commitment from Jacksonville State transfer safety Zechariah Poyser. The Hurricanes lose edge rushers Elijah Alston and Tyler Baron who are out of eligibility after one season with Miami as transfers.
Former LSU and Liberty wide receiver C.J. Daniels became the second transfer to commit to Miami for 2025 on Wednesday following the commitment from Poyser on Tuesday. Miami will be busy in the transfer portal to upgrade the roster in 2025. Several transfers have visited Miami in the last week and they could be close to their next commitment.