Miami football adding transfer MLB Juwan Mitchell would be significant
Other than Bradley Jennings Jr, the Miami football program is extremely inexperienced at linebacker entering the 2021 season. There has been some speculation throughout the 2021 offseason Miami could add a LB through the transfer portal. Miami is reportedly interested in Texas transfer Juwan Mitchell.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald via Canesports reported that Miami has reached out to Mitchell but has yet to make an offer. Mitchell told Canessport he is the top LB Miami is considering if they choose to add a LB in the portal and that the Hurricanes are evaluating in they have a spot for him.
Miami signed 21 high school players in the Class of 2021, added three transfers and is expected to add former Tennessee signee running back Cody Brown later this summer. That would put the Hurricanes at the 25 signee limit for the Class of 2021. Any players signed beyond those 25 would be counted against the 2022 limit.
Mitchell is not listed among the extensive 247 Sports list of linebackers in the transfer portal. In two seasons at Texas, Mitchell had 99 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and three sacks. Mitchell signed with the Longhorns in 2019 out of Butler Community College in Kansas. In 2019, Mitchell had 62 tackles and 4.5 TFLs in nine games.
The Miami LBs have to continue to develop after their performances in spring practice. The Miami football team was inconsistent stopping the run in 2020. To improve their run defense, the Hurricanes need better play from their LBs in 2021.
has shown potential but has often been injury-prone.
Avery Huff hasn’t been able to get on the field. Whether or not Miami adds Mitchell will likely be decided on how he fits on to the roster within the scholarship limits and how head coach Manny Diaz and his staff believe the other LBs are developing. Miami has room for one or two more transfers at best.