Miami football needs impact transfers

The Miami football program has added four transfers that will provide depth and experience and compete to become starters in 2023. Central Florida cornerback Davante Brown, defensive tackle Thomas Gore, offensive lineman Javion Cohen and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa are transfers who have committed to Miami

Brown, Cohen and Mauigoa are all expected to start. Gore will be an important part of the rotation likely behind DTs Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal wants to add more DTs and outside wide receivers to the 2023 roster. The Hurricanes have excellent depth at slot receiver.

Miami has recently added transfers that have had an impact. D’Eriq King and Jaelan Phillips in 2020 and Charleston Rambo in 2021 instantly became key players for Miami following their transfers. King and Rambo had immediate eligibility. Phillips sat out in 2020 following his transfer from UCLA.

King had an exceptional 2020 season with Miami throwing for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions with 538 rushing yards and another four TDs. King was a true duel-threat QB for Miami before getting injured early in the 2021 season. King was the semifinalist for three national awards in 2020.

Phillips was named to multiple All-American teams in 2020 and earned second-team All-ACC. In 2020 Phillips had 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four passes defended and an interception. Phillips became the 18th overall pick of the Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft.

After transferring from Oklahoma Rambo set Miami football records with 79 receptions and 1,172 yards while adding seven TDs in 2021. Rambo earned second-team All-ACC during his record-setting season. Miami was unable to find a consistent go-to receiver in 2022 the way Rambo was in 2021.

The closest Miami had to an impact transfer in 2022 was defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor. Mesidor had 38 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, seven sacks, four pass breakups, three QB hits and a forced fumble. The numbers from Mesidor were slightly less than Phillips, but the former West Virginia Mountaineer did not have the same impact.

There was some expectation that Clemson transfer Frank Ladson could be an impact WR for the Miami football team. The South Dade alum finished with 27 receptions for 298 and one TD in 2021. Ladson has one season of eligibility remaining. Miami is recruiting several transfer WRs to add to their 2023 roster.

Former Oregon WR Dant’e Thornton is a transfer to watch for Miami. Cristobal signed Thornton when he was at Oregon. Miami offered Michigan transfer WR Andrel Anthony who played for Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator Josh Gattis at Michigan. Miami needs a transfer to come in and make an immediate impact.