Miami football fit for Purdue transfer DT Branson Deen

Disruptive transfer Purdue defensive tackle Branson Deen adds depth, experience and productivity to the 2023 Miami football roster. Deen will join Georgia State transfer DT Thomas Gore in Miami rotation at DT in 2023 primarily behind projected starters Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor.

In four seasons with Purdue Deen recorded 73 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble in four seasons with Purdue. Deen had his best season in 2021 with 26 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and three sacks. Pro Football Focus via Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U credited Deen with 34 pressures in 2022.

Deen was the sixth-best Power Five DT in the country and 14th overall. With Purdue, Deen was a three-year starter who had four tackles and a half TFL in the Big 10 Championship game versus Michigan. As a 2018 signee with Purdue Deen was the 1,489th prospect, 107th DT and 16th in Indiana.

Deen and Gore have both developed far beyond their rankings as college signees. Deen is 6’2, 280 pounds, up from 255 when he signed with Purdue. Gore is 6’0, 270 pounds. Deen and Gore are not as big as Harrison-Hunte who is 6’4, 285 pounds, or Taylor who at 6’3, 305 is probably the most athletic Miami DT.

Miami also returns Ahmad Moten and Jake Lichtenstein at DT and signed three-star prospect Joshua Horton in the class of 2023. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said on Early National Signing day that interior defensive linemen and outside wide receivers would be the emphasis through the transfer portal.

The Miami football program has added Deen and Gore since then but is still looking for a WR in the 2023 transfer portal. The Hurricanes might not be finished adding DT transfers either. Miami will also have the opportunity to sign more high school prospects during the traditional National Signing Period that begins February 1.

Deen is the fifth transfer Miami has added to the 2023 roster joining Gore, former Central Florida teammates, cornerback Davonte Brown and center Matt Lee and Alabama offensive line Javion Cohen. The 2023 Miami class is fourth nationally. The addition of Deen moved Miami up to the 14th-best 2023 transfer class.