The Miami football program has added Anthony Campbell, Branson Deen and Thomas Gore on the defensive line, K.J. Cloyd, Francisco Mauigoa and Rocky Shelton at linebacker and Davonte Brown, Jaden Davis and Ja’Dais Richard at cornerback as transfers on defense to the Hurricanes’ 2023 roster.
Those nine transfers are expected to have varying levels of impact on the Miami football program in 2023. Mauigoa is the most likely transfer to have an impact for Miami on defense in 2023. Mauigoa will begin the season as a starter. The early depth chart has Mauigoa ahead of returning starting middle linebacker, Corey Flagg.
Cloyd received a 71.8 run grade and a 70.8 pass-rushing grade on 326 snaps in three seasons with Louisville per Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U. Miami adds depth with Cloyd who is expected to challenge returning starter Wesley Bissainthe for snaps at outside LB. Shelton adds depth and started eight games for Duke in 2020.
Campbell provides intriguing size for Miami on the DL at 6’7 and 280 pounds. Primarily an edge rusher at Louisiana, Campbell is expected to move inside for Miami. Pro Football Focus rated Deen as the sixth-best Power Five defensive tackle in the country during the 2022 season and 14th overall.
Deen was a three-year starter that has 73 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble during his four-season collegiate career.
Gore is the highest-rated 2023 transfer interior DL
per PFF. With a 90.6 rating, Gore is the fifth-highest-rated DL in college football since 2021.
Brown and Davis are experienced and productive players who will compete to start for Miami this fall. Richard has three years of eligibility remaining and provides length with a lot of upside for Miami at CB. Davis has 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and 10 pass breakups in his collegiate career.
Brown had 86 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, 17 passes defended and one forced fumble in three seasons at Central Florida before transferring to Miami in December. At 6’2 and 185 pounds, Brown also provides Miami with needed length at outside CB. Brown will compete to be a starter for Miami in 2023.
Mario Cristobal and his staff have done an exceptional job during the 2023 offseason adding depth, experience and talent to the roster on defense through the transfer portal. Most of the transfers added to the 2023 roster will play key roles this season. Several of the transfers will have impacts beyond 2023.