Miami football 2023 defensive transfer expectations

Nine players new to the Miami football roster in 2023 have joined the Hurricanes via the transfer portal. Miami has added three defensive linemen, three linebackers and three cornerbacks as transfers for 2023. A fourth CB, Terry Roberts transferred to Miami from Iowa and chose to move on again to Michigan State.

Davonte Brown from Central Florida and Jaden Davis from Oklahoma bring experience to Miami at CB. Brown spent the last three years at Central Florida where he was a full-time starter in the last two seasons. Brown had 86 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, 17 passes defended and one forced fumble.

Davis had 103 tackles, 1.0 TFL, one interception and 10 pass breakups in four seasons with the Sooners. Davis played in 47 games at Oklahoma with 21 starts. In 2022 Davis was the highest-graded tackler on the Oklahoma defense receiving a grade of 83.8 from Pro Football Focus.

Brown at 6’1 and Jaidus Richard at 6’2 provide the Miami football team with much-needed length at CB in 2023. Richard transferred to Miami from Vanderbilt this spring and has three seasons of eligibility remaining. As a true freshman in 2022, Richard had six tackles, one TFL, one sack and two passes defended.

Miami has added multiple defensive linemen through the transfer portal for the second straight offseason. Anthony Campbell, Branson Deen and Thomas Gore will all compete for spots in the rotation in 2023. Campbell provides the most upside, while Deen and Gore bring experience to the Miami football program.

Campbell transfers to Miami from Louisiana-Monroe and provides intriguing size at 6’7 and 277 pounds. Louisiana-Monroe listed Campbell as a defensive end. Miami projects Campbell as a run-plugging defensive tackle to replace 6’6 and 300-pound Darrell Jackson who transferred to Florida State following the 2022 season.

Deen appeared in 39 games with 26 starts in four seasons playing for Purdue. Deen was productive at Purdue with 73 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble. The most productive season for Deen was in 2021 with 26 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble.

Gore had 93 tackles, 22 TFLs and two forced fumbles during his four seasons at Georgia State. The 2022 season was the best for Gore with 45 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks while being named honorable mention All-Sun Belt. Pro Football Focus named Gore the top interior transfer defensive lineman in December.

Middle linebacker Francisco Mauigoa is likely the most important transfer Miami has added defensively. Mauigoa projects as a starter for Miami in 2023. In two seasons at Washington State Mauigoa had 77 tackles, six TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defended, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

K.J. Cloyd from Louisville and Rocky Shelton from Duke add depth to the Miami LB corps. Cloyd follows Miami LB coach K.J. Cloyd to Miami. In three seasons at Louisville, Cloyd had 40 tackles, 0.5 sack, two passes defended and one fumble recovery. Shelton has 48 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one pass defended and one fumble recovery.

Cristobal and his staff have done a good job identifying experience and talent through the transfer portal to add depth and upgrade the roster. Led by Mauigoa, the transfers should upgrade the production Miami has defensively in 2023. Brown and Davis are also projected starters for Miami defensively in 2023.