Miami football has utilized transfer portal better than anyone

In the two seasons that the transfer portal has been in operation, no one has utilized it better than the Miami football program. Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz has added transfers to upgrade the talent and depth for Miami.

Since becoming head coach in December 2018 Manny Diaz has upgraded the talent and depth for the Miami football program by utilizing the transfer portal more than anyone else in college football. Entering the 2020 season, the Hurricanes have added the best transfer quarterback, pass rusher and kicker.

Graduate transfers, Houston QB D’Eriq King, Temple defensive end Quincy Roche and FIU kicker Jose Borregales signed with the Hurricanes in January. Miami needs King, Roche and Borregales to contribute more than two of last year’s big transfers QB Tate Martell and DE Trevon Hill did in 2019.

Wide receiver K.J. Osborn was the best transfer Miami had in 2019. Osborn led the Hurricanes in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. Miami added several other players through the transfer portal in 2019. Jaelan Phillips transferred to Miami and will team with Roche and Greg Rousseau to give Miami a fierce pass rush.

Phillips was the top signee in the country at UCLA in 2017. After dealing with injuries for two years, Phillips signed with the Hurricanes in January 2019. King is the key player for the 2020 Miami football team. The QB play for Miami has been inconsistent since Brad Kaaya left for the NFL following the 2016 season.

"WINNER: MIAMI HURRICANESNobody has utilized the transfer portal quite like Miami the last two years. While that can be a risky strategy over the long term, there’s little doubt the Hurricanes were huge winners this offseason by adding two of the 10 best available players on the market: D’Eriq King and Quincy Roche.King is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country, totaling 50 touchdowns during the 2018 season. He’ll provide instant stability and a one-year bridge for a Miami quarterback room in desperate need of a boost after the offense finished 75th and 78th nationally the last two years in yards per play.Roche, for his part, might be the best addition of the offseason. The potential early-round EDGE rusher totaled 39.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks in his Temple career, including 19 TFLs and 13 sacks last season. He’ll form the most fearsome 1-2 pass rushing combo in the country with Gregory Rousseau (19.5 TFLs, 15.5 sacks).Throw in the addition of likely starting kicker Jose Borregales (21-for-29 on FGs in 2019) and former four-star offensive tackle Issiah Walker, and Miami added impact players in every facet of the game."

The Miami football team was named one of the winners of the transfer portal by Chris Hummer of 247Sports. Hummer’s point about King being a one-year bridge at QB is a critical one. As stated by Hummer the need for a boost from King after how mediocre the Miami offense was the last two seasons cannot be understated.

King needs to perform up to expectations. Miami could very well tap into the transfer portal for another experienced QB in 2021. N’Kosi Perry is talented but inconsistent, Martell is not accurate enough and relying on Tyler Van Dyke as a likely redshirt freshman in 2021 is a lot to ask.

The additions of Borregales, Roche and freshman offensive lineman Issiah Walker are big talent upgrades. Miami’s kicking was atrocious the first half of 2019 until walkon Camden Price settled it somewhat. Price was suspended earlier in the season when former Miami kicker Bubba Baxa and replacement Turner Davidson struggled.

Borregales brings three seasons of experience and is the all-time leading scorer in FIU history. Roche is a potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft that with Rousseau and Phillips should provide Miami with a dominant pass rush. Walker signed with Miami last week after one semester at Florida.

Walker will have to apply for a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible in 2020. Whether or not he receives the waiver, Walker will have four seasons of eligibility remaining. The addition of the former four-star signee with the Gators is huge to a Miami offensive line that struggled excessively in 2019.

Relying on the transfer portal every season is difficult long term as Hummer stated. Many Power Five programs will likely battle to sign the top QBs in the portal every year. Three of the four QBs in the College Football Playoff in 2019 were transfers. Expect Miami to continue to utilize the transfer portal as long as Diaz is head coach.