The Miami Hurricanes football program has lost linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave and running back Cody Brown to the transfer portal according to multiple reports. Austin-Cave and Brown are transferring four days before Miami holds their Spring Game at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The decision by Austin-Cave leaves the Miami Hurricanes roster a bit thin at LB. Austin-Cave has fallen behind returnees Corey Flagg, Keontra Smith and Waynmon Steed this spring. True freshman Wesley Bissainthe has also reportedly surged ahead of Austin-Cave on the depth chart for Miami at LB.
Miami is also heavily recruiting former UCLA LB Caleb Johnson who entered the transfer portal earlier this month. Johnson had 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks the last two seasons for the Bruins. If Johnson signs with Miami he would likely be expected to start for the Hurricanes.
Austin-Cave was a three-star signee with the Miami Hurricanes in the Class of 2020. In two seasons, Austin-Cave recorded only two tackles. Austin-Cave was the 514th ranked player, 26th inside LB and 15th in New Jersey. Miami still has several other LBs on the roster behind Flagg, Smith and Steed.
I've confirmed through source that UM linebacker Austin-Tirek Cave and RB Cody Brown have entered transfer portal. @Caneville305 had Cody Brown info and @Geo305_ had Austin-Tirek Cave info.
— Susan Miller Degnan (@smillerdegnan) April 13, 2022
Brown signed with Miami in the Class of 2021. Brown originally signed with Tennessee in December 2020 before head coach Jeremy Pruitt was fired. Tennessee released Brown from his National Letter of Intent and he signed with Miami. Brown had 34 carries for 139 yards and three touchdowns for Miami in 2021.
Brown shared the backup RB duties for Miami with Thad Franklin for the second half of the 2021 season. Miami lost starting RB Cam’Ron Harris and backup Don Chaney Jr. with year-ending injuries during the first half of the 2021 season. Jaylan Knighton took over as the starting RB.
During the 2022 offseason, Miami signed four-star RB TreVonte’ Citizen and added Mississippi transfer, Henry Parrish. With the return of Chaney from his injury this fall, Brown would have had a difficult path to playing time. Brown was the 233rd player, 13th ranked RB and the 21st player in Georgia in the Class of 2021.
Austin-Cave initially chose Miami over 10 schools. Those included ACC rivals Syracuse and Wake Forest. West Virginia could be another program to watch with the Mountaineers being close to Austin-Cave’s N.J. home. Brown initially chose Miami over Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Tennessee per his official Miami profile.