Mario Cristobal expects Miami football active in spring transfer portal

Asked if the Miami football program needs a “fourth quarterback and a scholarship sixth running back” after spring practice on Thursday, head coach Mario Cristobal stated he expects the Hurricanes to be active in the transfer portal this spring at several positions. Cristobal did not specify any position.

In December Cristobal stated that defensive tackle and outside wide receiver were the primary areas of focus in the transfer portal. Miami added DTs Branson Deen from Purdue and Thomas Gore of Georgia State. The Miami football program has yet to add a transfer WR to its 2023 roster.

Miami is deep at slot receiver, but mostly inexperienced and unproven at outside WR. Cristobal praised the development in the offseason of Isaiah Horton and Colbie Young. Horton at 6’4 and Young at 6’5 are the tallest WRs on the Miami roster. Miami needs to be able to pull in more contested receptions in 2023.

Young led Miami WRs in 2022 with 32 receptions for 376 yards and a team-high five TDs. In 2022 Young had breakout games with six receptions for 127 yards and a TDs versus Virginia Tech and with six catches for 110 yards and two TDs versus Duke in consecutive weeks. Miami needs continued WR development in 2023.

"“You know the roster management chart is very fluid. Nowadays you know you have plans right, you know it’s a two-way street…Sometimes you know it’s important to have addition by subtraction. progress in spring so far we’ll be active on the d-line in the portal we’ll be active at both positions that you just mentioned.There’s a couple more I mean I guess the best yeah we’ll be very active.”"

Adding a veteran QB will be important but could be difficult. Tyler Van Dyke is the undisputed starter for Miami in 2023. Recruiting a transfer QB to come to Miami knowing they will be the backup will be a tough sell. Van Dyke missed a significant portion of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury.

Any QB transferring to Miami could decide to join the Hurricanes knowing they would have a chance to start if Van Dyke is injured again. Going into the 2023 season with Van Dyke, rising sophomore Jacurri Brown and true freshman Emory Williams leaves Miami thin and vulnerable at QB.

Miami entered the 2022 season with five RBs. Don Chaney Jr. missed most of the season for a second straight year. Chaney missed most of 2021 with a knee injury and most of the 2022 season with an injured hip. Miami was also without true freshman Tre’Vonte Citizen for all of the 2022 season with a knee injury.

Henry Parrish who led Miami with 626 rushing yards in 2022 is the only returning RB for Miami who received a significant amount of carries last season. Mark Fletcher and Christopher Johnson who signed with Miami in the 2023 class will arrive in Coral Gables this summer. Expect Miami to try adding a transfer RB.

Defensive tackle could be another focus. Projected starters Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor and backup Jacob Lichtenstein are all dealing with injuries this spring. Miami is missing multiple players this spring. Adding depth is important for Miami. The spring transfer portal window is April 15-30.

The Miami spring game is Friday, April 14 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Miami could lose players to the transfer portal shortly after its spring game. Cristobal and the Miami football staff were busy with the 2022 spring transfer portal. Expect the Hurricanes to add several transfers during the 2023 spring transfer window.