Nesta Silvera leaving was expected, transfer portal surprising

At the end of the season, starting defensive tackle Nesta Silvera spoke about his four seasons and playing his last games with the Miami Hurricanes. Most expected Nesta Silvera to enter the NFL Draft. On Wednesday night Silvera tweeted his intention to enter the transfer portal for his final season of college football.

Silvera led Miami defensive linemen in 2021 with 38 tackles and added 5.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. In his career with Miami, Silvera had 105 tackles, 16 TFLs, two sacks, one pass breakup, two fumbles recoveries and one forced fumble. Silvera signed with Miami in 2018 as the 54 ranked player and second-ranked DT.

Silvera will have one season of eligibility remaining that he gained when all 2020 players were granted an extra year because of Covid. There is no indication which programs Silvera could be considering joining as a transfer. With Silvera leaving Miami, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor will be the Hurricanes starting DTs.

The move for Silvera is surprising. Silvera would have been a major part of the rotation for Miami at DT with Harrison-Hunte and Taylor. Taylor who was a five-star signee with Miami in 2021, tied Deandre Johnson for the Miami lead with 8.5 TFLs last season. Silvera would likely have lost snaps to Taylor.

Jon Ford who graduates and Silvera started eight games for Miami in 2021. Miami also added USC transfer Jacob Lichtenstein who can play defensive end or tackle. The Hurricanes also have second-year freshman Allan Haye, redshirt junior Jordan Miller and sophomore Elijah Roberts returning at DT in 2022.

Roberts can also play end. In addition to the departures of Ford and Silvera, Miami also lost DT Quentin Williams who entered the transfer portal during the season. With the departure of Silvera Miami could look to the transfer portal or sign a high school player to add depth at DT for 2022 and beyond.