Miami football players Al Blades Jr. and Key’Shawn Smith enter transfer portal
The secondary for the Miami football team continues to lose depth with by Fifth-Year Redshirt Junior defensive back Al Blades Jr. tweeting that he is entering the transfer portal. Blades announced his intent to transfer in a pair of tweets. Miami wide receiver Key’Shawn Smith is also transferring per multiple reports.
Blades will have one year of eligibility remaining. In 11 games this season Blades finished with 11 tackles and one pass defended. Blades finishes his Miami football career playing 48 games with 15 starts and recording 93 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 18 passes defended and four interceptions.
Blades follows defensive backs Gilbert Frierson, Jalen Harrell, Keshawn Washington and Avantae Williams into the transfer portal. Miami also loses fifth-year senior cornerback D.J. Ivey. Mario Cristobal and secondary coach Jahmile Addae have a lot of work to do acquiring new talent during the 2023 off-season.
Smith was a starter for most of 2021 and finished with 26 receptions for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Through the first five games of the 2022 season, Smith had 12 receptions for 192 yards and two TDs and finished the entire 2022 season with 22 kickoff returns for 662 yards and another TD.
Miami will always be in my blood and be my home ❤️ I will entering the portal for my last year of eligibility pic.twitter.com/Uc7Y8kFEaX
— ⚜ABJ⚜ (@AlBlades_Jr) December 1, 2022
I love this school and city and it will always be home. The fans and city have shown me love since high-school. This one hurts but I’ll never forget my time as a Cane.
— ⚜ABJ⚜ (@AlBlades_Jr) December 1, 2022
Smith fell out of favor with the Miami football staff and did not play after recording one reception for seven yards at Virginia on October 29. Pro Football Focus named Smith as its third-team All-ACC kick returner on Wednesday. Miami has now lost nine players to the transfer portal. Expect Miami to be very active in adding transfers.
In addititon to the Miami players entering the transfer portal previously mentioned, defensive linemen Allan Haye and Elijah Roberts and running back Thad Franklin have also stated their intention to seek a new program. Miami currently has 20 players in the class of 2023 committed.
Next. Avantae Williams 4th Miami DB transferring. dark
The defensive and offensive lines, running back, secondary and wide receiver are the positions Miami is most likely to target in adding transfers. Miami added about a dozen transfers during the 2022 offseason with five on the DL. The Early National Signing Period for high school seniors is December 21-23.