Addition of Tennessee DE DeAndre Johnson critical for Miami football program

The addition of Tennessee defensive end DeAndre Johnson through the transfer portal on Saturday night is critical for the Miami football program in 2021.

The Miami football program added their first player through the transfer portal in 2021. Former Tennessee edge rusher DeAndre Johnson announced via Twitter on Saturday night that he is returning home. Johnson played in high school at Miami Southridge where he was a teammate of two Miami wide receivers.

Juniors Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins were a year behind Johnson in high school. Johnson signed with Tennessee in 2017, Pope and Wiggins with Miami in 2018. In four seasons with the Volunteers, Johnson had 58 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Miami desperately needed the experience that Johnson will provide as an edge rusher. An outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense at Tennessee, Johnson will almost definitely switch to defensive end for Miami in the Hurricanes 4-3. Johnson had 28 tackles, six TFLs, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in a part-time role in 2020.

Johnson was a three-star signee with Tennessee in 2017, the 46th ranked weakside defensive end and 104th ranked player in Florida. Miami returns redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey and Cameron Williams and true freshman Chantz Williams at DE. Miami signed two edge rushers in the Class of 2021.

Four-star DE Jabari Ishmael and three-star inside LB Thomas Davis, who is expected to be moved to edge rusher for Miami signed with the Hurricanes last month. Johnson should be expected to start as by far the most seasoned edge rusher Miami will have entering the 2021 season.

Miami is will likely add another player or two through the transfer portal during the 2021 offseason. The Hurricanes could add another edge rusher. Miami needs to add cornerbacks, linebackers and potentially a wide receiver. Under Manny Diaz have been the most aggressive team nationally in the transfer portal since 2019