Safety Keshawn Washington became the third defensive back and the sixth player overall to enter the transfer portal from the Miami football program in less than two weeks when he tweeted his intention on Thanksgiving night. Five of the six Miami players to enter the transfer portal have been on defense.
Defensive backs Gilbert Frierson and Jalen Harrell, defensive linemen Allan Haye and Elijah Roberts and running back Thad Franklin all previously announced they would be entering the transfer portal. Expect the Miami football staff to be active in the portal during the offseason.
Washington was a three-star signee and ranked the 376th player, 36th safety and 60th in Florida in the class of 2020. In three seasons with Miami, Washington recorded all three of his tackles as a freshman in 2020. Washington played in five games in 2020 and this season combined. Washington played in one game in 2021.
Washington played in four games in 2020 when Miami finished 8-3, one each in 2021 and 2022. Starters Kamren Kinchens and James Williams have received the majority of snaps at safety this season with Avantae Williams as their primary backup. Safety is the deepest position on the Miami roster.
Thankful 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/uutQrwoGE7
— Keshawn Washington (@KeshawnW_5) November 25, 2022
In addition to the six Miami players who have entered the transfer portal, the Hurricanes will lose seven scholarship seniors after the season. Five of those seven players are on defense. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will have a busy off-season.
Defensive linemen Mitchell Agude, Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie are all seniors for Miami in 2022. Cristobal and Steele will have to particularly focus on the defensive line and secondary to add depth for 2023. Expect Miami to search for top-end LBs that are in the transfer portal.
Four-star commit Antione Jackson is the only safety in the 2023 Miami class. Jackson reclassified from the 2024 class. Jackson pushed back at some speculation that he could redshirt in 2023. Third-year redshirt freshman Brian Balom is the only other returning safety for Miami in 2023.
Balom missed the entire 2021 season with an injury. In 11 games in 2022, Balom recorded his only tackle against Bethune-Cookman in the season opener. It seems inevitable that Miami will sign a transfer safety to add more depth to the position in 2022. Balom could be another candidate to transfer.