In their weekly summary of transfers, Rivals.Com gave cornerback Darryl Porter Jr. a 7.3 ranking which is “a high impact player who won’t change a program but will certainly be a very good contributor and starter. Porter chose to return home and play for the Miami Hurricanes from West Virginia.
Porter Jr. becoming a starter would be a huge addition for Miami. Tyrique Stevenson who transferred from Georgia last season was the only consistent CB Miami had in 2021. Stevenson also played high school in Miami. Porter Jr. had 46 tackles, one tackles loss, five pass breakups and one interception for 43 yards in 2021.
Stevenson led Miami CBs last season with 43 tackles and 2.5 TFLs while adding 0.5 sacks, one interception and finishing second on the Hurricanes with four pass breakups. Porter Jr. will compete will several others to start for Miami at CB. Marcus Clarke finished the 2021 season as the starting CB opposite Stevenson.
Porter Jr. chose West Virginia over Minnesota, TCU, Utah and Washington State. The Rivals.Com scouting report said of Porter Jr. “He’s not the biggest cornerback and can get outmuscled at times but he’s a sure tackler in space and has a knack for getting his hands on the ball.” Porter Jr. being a sure tackler is a huge addition for Miami.
Miami ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in tackling in 2021. The Hurricanes have to become better at tackling in open space as a team in 2022. A tandem of Porter Jr. and Stevenson would likely improve the Miami defense overall and specifically at tackling. Porter reunites at Miami with the West Virginia coach who recruited him.
New Miami cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at West Virginia before he was at Georgia for the 2021 season. Addae is part of an elite coaching staff hired by Mario Cristobal entering his inaugural season as the Miami Hurricanes head coach. Porter Jr. is one of six transfers signed by Miami.
The Hurricanes have also added defensive linemen, Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie, offensive lineman Logan Sagapolu, running back Henry Parrish and wide receiver Frank Ladson in addition to Porter Jr. Miami could add more transfers when spring practice concludes nationally in April.