Various sources have reported that Miami safety Brian Balom has withdrawn from the transfer portal. Balom withdrawing his transfer doesn’t guarantee his return to the Miami football program for the 2023 season. Manny Navarro of The Athletic reported Balom is close to graduation and re-enter the portal after getting his degree.
Balom initially announced his intention to transfer last Friday. The decision by Balom to enter the transfer portal left three safeties on the Miami football roster. Seven of the 17 transfers from Miami from the 2023 roster have been defensive backs. Miami also lost fourth-year junior Tyrique Stevenson who is entering the NFL Draft.
Balom was a key part of the Miami safety rotation as a true freshmen in 2020 finishing with 10 tackles. The best game of Balom’s Miami career came in 2020 at Clemson with five tackles. Miami signed Balom in the class of 2020 as the 757th-ranked player, 60th safety and 100th prospect in Florida out of Hollywood Miramar.
Balom and Miami starting safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams are the only Hurricanes at the position remaining from the 2022 season. Expect Mario Cristobal and Miami DBs coach Jahmile Addae to target the transfer portal to add depth at safety. Balom has three seasons of eligiblity remaining.
Former Miami safety Brian Balom withdrew his name from the portal tonight I’m told by our @max_olson He’s been in school for three-plus years. Could be close to graduating. N’Kosi Perry did a few years back and graduated before reentering. https://t.co/VAiCVfSqK8
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) December 15, 2022
As a true freshman in 2020 Balom played in 10 games. Balom missed the entire 2021 season with an injury suffered in August training camp. Balom returned this season, starting the season opener vevrsus Bethune-Cookman and playing in 11 games. As a true freshmen Balom showed promise before the 2021 season ending injury.
Kinchens and Williams became the starting safeties for the Miami football team as true freshmen in 2021. Avantae Williams who also entered the transfer portal following the 2022 season was the primary backup safety in 2022. Miami is woefully thin at safety entering the 2022 sseason with or without Balom.
Four-star 2023 commit Antione Jackson is listed as a safety, but projected by many recruiting analysts as a cornerback in college. If Miami doesn’t sign another safety in the class of 2023 or through the transfer portal in the next month another window occurs May 1-15 to add transfers.