Miami Hurricanes DT Jalar Holley likely transferred due to position depth
The Miami Hurricanes enter the 2021 season deep at defensive tackle. Jalar Holley was faced with a difficult challenge for playing time this season. Late on Sunday night the 6’2, 285 pound DT announced his entry into the transfer portal. Miami returns their entire DT rotation in 2021 and adds five-star freshman Leonard Taylor.
Holley was a three-star signee and the 59th ranked DT in the Class of 2019. Jared Harrison-Hunte signed who also signed with the Miami Hurricanes in 2019 had a breakout season in 2020. Holley played in seven games for Miami last season and two as a true freshman in 2020. Holley recorded six assisted tackles in 2020.
Fifth-year senior Jon Ford and fourth-year DT Nesta Silvera are expected to be the starters for Miami on the interior of their defensive line. Jordan Miller who is entering his fourth season, Harrison-Hunte and Taylor will also be in the DT rotation for Miami in 2021. Holley can seek better opportunities elsewhere.
Holley was recruited by nearly two dozen schools as a high school prospect. All but Central Florida were Power Five programs. Extremely early in the process, there is no indication on which programs Holley is considering transferring to. Originally from Buford, Georgia, Holley considered Georgia Tech as a high school prospect.
2019 3-star DL Jalar Holley has entered the transfer portal after totaling 6 tackles in 8 career games at Miami @rivalsmike @CaneSport https://t.co/XmxgzI4DfV
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) July 26, 2021
Holley will always be remembered at Miami for his sideline dancing skills during the Hurricanes 2019 victory at Pittsburgh. The departure by Holley hurt the DT depth for Miami in 2021. In addition to Taylor, Miami signed three-star DT Allan Haye in the Class of 2021 and has versatile second-year DL Elijah Roberts.
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The loss of Holley will make the DL a priority for Miami recruiting in the Class of 2022. Ford is in his last year of eligibility this fall. Silvera seems likely to enter the 2022 NFL Draft following his fourth season of eligibility. Harrison-Hunte is eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft as a third-year redshirt sophomore.
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Taylor provides Miami with an anchor for the future at DT. Losing Holley will have a bigger impact in 2022 and beyond for the Miami DT rotation than it will in 2021. The Hurricanes could seek to add depth in the transfer portal during the 2022 offseason. Miami has added DT depth a couple of times in recent seasons.