Miami football can enhance 2020 roster with grad transfers

The Miami football roster can be enhanced for 2020 with the addition of several key players from the transfer portal. A report from Inside the U stated the Hurricanes have been in touch with several players in the portal since the end of the season.

The Miami football program has lost several key players who are declared a year early for the NFL Draft over the last few weeks. The Hurricanes have been busy in the 48 hours since the end of the season contacting several potential players through the transfer portal. Miami has a plethora of positions that need depth.

Andrew Ivins of Inside the U reported on Saturday that the Hurricanes have contacted several players in the transfer portal. Ivins stated that Miami has spoken with offensive linemen T.J. Storment of Colorado State and Henry Hattis of Stanford as well as Florida International placekicker Jose Borregales.

The Miami football roster was partially gutted by the early departures of wide receiver Jeff Thomas, defensive end Jonathan Garvin, running back DeeJay Dallas and cornerback Trajan Bandy who all decided to forego their senior seasons to enter the NFL Draft. Miami needs to add depth and experience at several positions.

As the discussions with Storment and Hattis and indicate Miami desperately needs to add help on the offensive line. The Hurricanes offensive line was near the bottom in numerous metrics this season. Miami signed only two offensive linemen in the 2020 class earlier this month. Miami needs to add experience upfront.

Per Ivins, Storment entered his name into the transfer portal because “didn’t align with the ‘current vision'” of what former Boston College coach Steve Adazzio has for the Rams after replacing Mike Bobo in Fort Collins. Storment started 12 games for Colorado State this season. Miami has an in with Hattis.

Hattis’ father Bill played baseball at Miami in the 1970s under two-time national championship coach Ron Fraser. The 6’6 297 pound Hattis started the first six games at right guard for the Cardinal in 2019 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Per Ivins, Hattis is expected to graduate from Stanford in May.

The spring graduation in May for Hattis means that he will not enroll in his new school until June or July. Hattis will be slightly behind wherever he enrolls since he will miss spring football. Hattis played in all 13 Stanford games as a junior in 2018. Miami is likely to inquire about Hattis’ Stanford teammate QB K.J. Costello.

Costello went to the same high school as Carson Palmer and broke his career passing yardage record. The 6’5 222 pound Costello is the ideal size for a QB. Costello finished his Stanford career completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 6,151 yards 49 TDs and 18 interceptions in 29 games. He only played in five games this season.

Costello was knocked out of Stanford’s season opener with a concussion and had a thumb injury that limited him all season. Stanford had a more disappointing season than the Hurricanes finishing an uncharacteristic 4-8. Miami is not likely to pursue a QB until after they hire a new offensive coordinator.

Borreagales seems like a perfect solution for Miami at kicker after going through three in 2019. Borreagales’ brother Andres is the top kicker in the Class of 2021 and committed to Miami. Jose was a 2018 Groza Award Semifinalist for the Nation’s best kicker. In three seasons with FIU Borreagles has made 75.8 percent of his field goals.

Borregales sent Ivins a message from on Friday that stated he spoke with Miami special teams coordinator Jonathan Patke about the possibility of joining the Hurricanes. Borreagales has also been contacted by Miami’s ACC Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech and Boise State.