Miami football program needs to inquire about 5-Star Alabama DL

Antonio Alfano of Alabama who was the fifth-ranked recruit in the Class of 2019 entered his name into the transfer portal earlier this week. Alfano is a player the Miami football program should pursue.

The Miami football program will definitely lose defensive tackles, Pat Bethel and Chogozie Nnoruka and defensive end Trevon Hill following the 2019 season. Junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin could leave early for the NFL Draft. Alabama strongside defensive end Antonio Alfaro would be a great addition to Miami.

Alfano was the fifth-ranked recruit overall the number one strongside defensive end and top player from New Jersey in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Alfaro would fit in well at the University of Miami with a student body with a significant enrollment from the Northeast. Alfano also considered Georgia and Penn State in his recruitment.

ESPN reported that Alfano’s profile on the official Alabama website had already been taken down. Although he did not apparently consider Miami out of high school the Miami football program was the most aggressive in the transfer portal during the 2019 college football offseason.

The portal allows college athletes to place their name up to transfer schools and connect with other programs that might be interested. Hill and Nnoruka were graduate transfers to Miami for the 2019 season. Nnoruka’s former UCLA teammate defensive end/linebacker Jaelan Phillips is sitting out this season.

Phillips was the top recruit overall nationally in 2017. He will provide a huge boost to the Miami defense in 2020. If the Hurricanes can add Alfano to their recruiting class it would be a huge boost to the Miami football program. Alfano’s father projected last month that his son would enter the transfer portal.

Although Alfano’s father tweeted that his son was in the transfer portal last month, the ESPN article was not posted until Wednesday. There has been no other official announcement about what Alfano will do Antonio’s twitter has not been updated since August 11. It is not known if Alfano is considering staying at Alabama.

The Alfano family seems to be keeping all their options open. Frankie Alfano has praised Alabama throughout the process of his son’s decision on whether or not to stay at Alabama. That was contrary to the comments made by Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

"“(He) basically quit…Until he responds, you just have to assume the guy quit”"

Saban stated to the media that the Crimson Tide football program tried to set up counseling for the first-year defensive lineman. Frankie Alfano tweeted that Antonio’s grandmother with who he is very close was very sick. There has been no update on her.

Alfano has not played for Alabama this season. Frankie Alfano posted highlights recorded off his television set of Antonio playing in the Crimson Tide’s spring game and recording at least two sacks. Miami brought in a good class on the defensive line in 2019, particularly at defensive tackle.

The Hurricanes will add to that with the current players committed to the 2020 recruiting class. That group is led by four-star defensive ends Chant Williams and Elijah Roberts and four-star defensive tackle Willie Moise. The Miami coaching staff cannot comment on the status of Alfano or if they are pursuing him.