The Miami football program has set the standard for the transfer portal since it was instituted in 2018. Miami’s success with transfers predates the creation of the portal. Head coach Manny Diaz has integrated transfers into the Miami football program since being hired as the Hurricanes defensive coordinator for the 2016 season.
Former Tennessee defensive end DeAndre Johnson, Oklahoma wide receiver Charleston Rambo and Georgia cornerback Tyrique Stevenson transferred to Miami during the 2021 offseason. Johnson, Rambo and Stevenson are all projected to start for Miami in 2021. Several other former transfers will start for Miami this fall.
Quarterback D’Eriq King is the highest-profile transfer on the Miami football roster. Safety Bubba Bolden joined the Miami football program from USC in 2019. Bolden led Miami with 74 tackles in 2020. Diaz has integrated several players on the Miami defense as transfers since 2016. Miami has particularly added defensive lineman.
Defensive end Quincy Roche had a big impact for Miami after transferring from Temple for the 2020 season. The Hurricanes also added Trevon Hill as an edge rusher in 2019. Several other transfers have played well for Miami since 2016. One rival coach according to Athlon Sports via Inside the U praised Miami transfers.
"“If you’re looking for a how-to on the portal, they might be it. They do a really nice job of evaluating guys and fitting them to what they do. I’m not sure how they handle that internally with the roster, but it seems to work.”"
Diaz is hoping that Johnson can have an impact similar to what Roche did in 2020. It would be a lot to ask for any of the Miami transfers to have the impact that Jaelan Phillips did for the Hurricanes after he transferred from UCLA in 2019. Phillips led Miami with 15.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks to become an All-American in 2020.
Rambo is the deep threat Miami needs in the passing game, Johnson adds experience with Phillips and Roche moving on to the NFL and Stevenson should develop into the best CB on the Hurricanes roster. Integrating transfers will become a critical part of the blueprint for success in the future of college football.