The Miami football program had varying success with transfers in 2022. Mario Cristobal has used the transfer portal to try and make up for deficiencies on the roster. Several of the 2022 transfers were key contributors and others failed to live up to expectations. Some 2022 transfers are returning to Miami while others moved on.
The Miami football program added 11 transfers in 2022. Some transfers were added to be starters and key contributors. Other transfers were brought in to add depth. Cristobal had to develop a roster that was new to his culture as well with 26 new players between 2022 freshmen and transfer signees.
The Miami football program added one defensive back, five defensive linemen, one linebacker, two offensive linemen, one running back and one wide receiver as transfers in 2022. The transfers who made key contributions were not able to help Miami translate that into a winning season in 2022.
Running back Henry Parrish who transferred from Mississippi during the 2022 offseason was the most productive of the Miami transfers last season. Parrish ran for 616 yards and four touchdowns and added 17 receptions for 120 yards and two TDs. Parrish helped solidify the Miami running game when he was healthy.
With the new transfer additions, Miami 🙌 moved up to #13 in the 2022 Overall Team rankings (accounts both high school recruits and college transfers). G5 Mike Norvell and FSU #18…G5 Billy and UF #20. pic.twitter.com/7iI9BXeIPl
— 🏆🏆🏆 Canes Legacy🏆🏆 (@Titan_Cane) April 23, 2022
Mitchell Agude, Darrell Jackson, Jacob Lichtenstein, Akheem Mesidor and Antonio Moultrie improved the depth, talent and versatility on the Miami DL in 2022. Agude had 39 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 2022, The 72.4 grade Jackson received from Pro Football Focus was 10th on Miami in 2022.
Lichtenstein had four tackles, 1.0 TFL and 1.0 sack as a backup. Mesidor was arguably the most impactful DL Miami had in 2022. With the ability to be an edge rusher and play tackle, Mesidor had 38 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. Moultrie was a key reserve for Miami with 14 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and 0.5 sacks.
Darryl Porter Jr. provided Miami with quality depth at CB behind 2023 NFL Draftees D.J. Ivey and Tyrique Stevenson in 2022. Porter Jr. had 11 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one pass breakup after transferring from West Virginia. Porter Jr. will compete to be a starter for Miami during the 2023 season.
2023 Transfer Portal Class Rankings by Average Rating (5 minimum):
— Fans of CFB (@FansOfCFB) May 1, 2023
91.56 FSU
90.71 Michigan
90.63 Miami
90.50 LSU
90.17 Auburn
90.13 Kentucky
90.00 USC
89.90 Oregon
89.75 Ohio State
89.38 Ole Miss
89.20 Texas
89.14 Virginia Tech
89.11 Maryland
89.08 Arkansas
89.00 Oklahoma
Linebacker Caleb Johnson finished fourth on Miami with 48 tackles in 2022 and added 4.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles after transferring from UCLA. Johnson and Mesidor were teammates with the Bruins before transferring to Miami during the 2022 offseason. Johnson did not make the impact expected of him.
Wide receiver Frank Ladson was the highest-profile transfer Miami added in 2022. Ladson was a four-star signee with Clemson and the ninth-ranked WR in the 2019 class. Ladson was fourth on Miami with 27 receptions and 298 yards in 2022 with one TD. Expect Ladson to be behind several other Miami WRs in 2023.
Jonathan Denis and Logan Sagapolu followed Mario Cristobal from Oregon to Miami to help add depth to the Hurricanes’ OL. Denis was the primary backup to Jakai Clark at center in 2022. Expect Denis to continue as the primary backup to center Matthew Lee who transferred from Central Florida for 2023.
Sagopolu played frequently late during the 2022 season after Miami suffered injuries on the OL. Cristobal signed Sagopolu with Oregon as the seventh-best center in the 2019 class. Miami has primarily used Sagopolu as a guard. Expect Sagapolu to primarily be used to add depth in 2023.