The Miami football team added their second blue-chip transfer of 2021 with the addition of former Georgia cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson was the 37th ranked player, third-ranked CB and fourth-ranked player in Florida in the Class of 2021 according to 247Sports.Com composite rankings.
Stevenson is the second Miami Southridge alum to transfer to the Miami football program during the 2021 offseason. Former Tennessee defensive end DeAndre Johnson who was a three-star signee with the Volunteers in 2017 announced his return to South Florida earlier this month.
Miami has added three transfers this January. Former Oklahoma wide receiver Charleston Rambo was a four-star signee in 2018. Stevenson, Johnson and Rambo should all be expected to become starters for Miami in 2021. There has been some speculation that Stevenson was close to signing with Miami in 2019.
When current Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz let his job as defensive coordinator to become head coach at Temple, Stevenson chose to sign with Georgia. Diaz had only an 18-day stint with the Owls before returning to Coral Gables 18 days later. Early National Signing Day occurred during those 18 days.
It’s only up from here 🚀🖤 pic.twitter.com/KqCp4tkdKg
— Tyrique Stevenson (@dreamchaserTy10) January 16, 2021
Stevenson will compete with juniors Al Blades Jr. and D.J. Ivey and freshman Te’Cory Couch to start. Southridge is becoming a pipeline to the Miami football program. In addition to Johnson and Stevenson, Miami WRs Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins offensive lineman Delone Scaife are all Southridge alums.
In two seasons with Georgia, Stevenson had 47 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and 10 pass breakups. Stevenson had 34 tackles, one TFL and tied for the team lead with five pass breakups in 2020. Stevenson likely would have started for Georgia in 2021 before deciding to return home to South Florida.
The addition of Stevenson was important for Miami with only five scholarship CBs on the roster. Miami also returns freshmen CBs Marcus Clarke and Isaiah Dunson. The Hurricanes signed three-star athlete Malik Curtis in the Class of 2021. Curtis is projected to play CB for Miami.
The Southridge pipeline to the Miami football program can be attributed to director of recruiting David Cooley who used the by the offensive coordinator there. Miami continues to enter the transfer portal to upgrade the talent on its roster. Defensive back has been the most frequent position transfers Miami has signed.