Two Miami Hurricanes named ACC 10 most impactful transfers
Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Mitchell Agude and linebacker Caleb Johnson who both transferred from UCLA during the 2022 offseason have been named by Mike Huguenin of On3 in the article “Transfer portal breakdown: Projecting the 10 most impactful transfers in the ACC.” Agude and Johnson are both projected starters.
Agude and Johnson project as Miami Hurricanes starters in 2022. Agude provides Miami with an experienced edge rusher and adds depth. Johnson is expected to help Miami upgrade what has been inexperienced LB play in the last two seasons. Agude and Johnson were multi-year starters at UCLA.
The list surprisingly left out Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor who transferred from West Virginia. Mesidor could start for Miami as an edge rusher opposite Agude. Miami will have verstalitity with the ability for Mesidor to also play inside. Agude started 15 of UCLA’s 19 games in the last two seasons.
Johnson played in 18 games with seven starts the last two seasons. After playing inside LB for UCLA in a 3-4, Johnson is projected to start in the middle of the 4-3 defense for Miami in 2022. Johnson had 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups and one fumble recovers in two seasons at UCLA.
"8. Miami LB Caleb JohnsonThe particulars: Transfer from UCLAThe skinny: Caleb Johnson – one of seven transfer defenders who figures to see appreciable time for the Hurricanes this fall – is an important transfer portal pickup. Miami’s linebackers underwhelmed last season, when the Hurricane(s) were inconsistent against the run.In its seven wins in 2021, Miami allowed 108.4 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry; in its five losses…it was 181.8 and 4.3. The linebackers also didn’t make many big plays. With new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele now in charge, Johnson should be able to help change that.Miami is Johnson’s fourth school; he signed with Fullerton (Calif.) College out of high school, then spent a season at Texas before transferring to UCLA in 2020. He was a two-year starter with the Bruins who had 89 tackles and eight tackles for loss in his two seasons.”"
Agude will compete for playing time with Miami returnees Jahfari Harvey and Chantz Williams and Mesidor. In two seasons at UCLA, Agude was a force for UCLA the last two seasons, but is likely to receive more playing time with Miami. Hugenin summarized Agude and what Miami needs from him in 2022.
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"3. Miami EDGE Mitchell AgudeThe particulars: Transfer from UCLAThe skinny: Mitchell Agude earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors last season, when he had 54 tackles, two sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. He had nine tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in seven games in 2020, his first season as a Bruin after transferring in from a junior college.Miami needs Agude to be a consistent presence off the edge: The Hurricanes return no one who had more than three sacks last season. New coordinator Kevin Steele has retooled Miami’s defense during the offseason, and you figure he will produce a few ways to free up Agude.”"
Agude and Johnson are the latest Miami transfers from UCLA. Miami is building a pipeline to Westwood. Jaelan Phillips earned second-team All-American in 2020 after transferring from UCLA to Miami in January 2019. Miami could start as many as five transfers on the Hurricanes 2022 defense.
Next. Mitchell Agude named 4th best transfer edge rusher. dark
In addition to Agude, Johnson and Mesidor, cornerbacks, Darryl Porter Jr. transferred to Miami from West Virginia and Tyrique Stevenson was joined the Hurricanes from Georgia in 2021 project as 2022 starters. Miami signed 11 transfers ahead of the 2022 season. Running back Henry Parrish from Mississippi will also play a key role.