Miami Hurricanes WRs Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins could enter transfer portal
Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins who have 30 starts combined in their career could eventually enter the transfer portal. Head coach Manny Diaz told reporters on Wednesday that some players are not happy with their roles. It’s not a huge jump to determine that Pope and Wiggins are likely unhappy.
Pope has 52 career receptions for 780 yards and four touchdowns. The biggest season for Pope came in 2020 when he had 33 receptions for 403 yards and two TDs with 10 starts in 11 games. Wiggins has 62 career receptions for 791 yards and four TDs. Wiggins had career highs with 31 receptions for 358 yards in 2020.
Pope was moved to CB earlier this season. Wiggins has four receptions for 25 yards in 2021. Pope received snaps at CB against Central Connecticut state but was not seen on the sideline against Virginia according to Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U. The 2-3 start to the 2021 Miami Hurricanes season has left a lot of people frustrated.
That probably includes some of the players. Pope and Wiggins have primarily lost their snaps to younger players and transfer Charleston Rambo. Rambo leads Miami with 31 receptions for 386 yards and is tied with fifth-year senior Mike Harley with two TDs. Second-year freshmen Xavier Restrepo and Keyshawn Smith are improved.
Diaz on locker room division: "There’s always going to be disgruntled people. You come in as a freshman, learn, and then you get your happy ending and you’re playing well.
— Cal Friedman (@friedman_cal) October 13, 2021
It’s not that there’s a division, but players might not be happy when people don’t get their role."
Smith has started with Harley and Rambo. Restrepo has been a key receiver in the Miami Hurricanes rotation. Smith is third on Miami with 13 receptions for 166 yards. Restrepo is second to Rambo with 200 receiving yards on 10 catches. The only TD Restrepo has was the Hurricanes’ only trip to the end zone against Alabama.
The emergence of true freshmen Romello Brinson and Breshard Smith have also nearly eliminated the snaps for Pope and Wiggins. Smith had six receptions for 99 yards and a TD and five carries for 16 yards. Brinson has five receptions for 58 yards and a TD. True freshman Jacolby Georgia could also see a snap increase.
George has one reception for 44 yards and a TD in 2021. That came against Central Connecticut State. Pope and Wiggins were part of a disappointing 2018 Miami signing class that ranked eighth nationally. Brinson, George and Breshard Smith signed with the 11th ranked 2021 Miami signing class.
Next. Miami players whose time will increase because of other season ending injuries. dark
Younger players are pushing older players throughout most of the Miami Hurricanes roster. Miami already lost offensive lineman Kai-Leon Herbert who was another 2018 Hurricanes signee and WR Jeremiah Payton who signed in 2019, to the transfer portal. If the losing continues expect many more Miami transfers.