Miami football: Expect wacky and wild opening transfer portal day

Five Miami football players announced their intention to enter the transfer portal last week. Monday is the first official day that players can enter the transfer portal. Expect at least two to three times as many Hurricanes to enter the transfer portal as those who announced their intention to leave Miami.

Edge rushers Jahfari Harvey and Chantz Williams, linebacker Corey Flagg, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and running back Don Chaney Jr. all announced they will be leaving the Miami football program and entering the transfer portal. With those five announcing their intentions to leave, they will not play in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Miami learned on Sunday they will play Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 28 with a 2:15 PM kickoff. Miami will also be without defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams for the Pinstripe Bowl. Kinchens, Taylor and Williams declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Monday is the opening of the transfer portal window that will close on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Players must enter the transfer portal by January 2 but do not have to make a decision on which program they will enroll at next by the day after New Year’s. The spring transfer portal window is April 16 through April 30.

Expect the Miami football team to specifically target depth at linebacker and on the defensive and offensive lines. Miami needs to find starters at quarterback and safety through the transfer portal. Defensive tackle could specifically be another area that Mario Cristobal and his staff target in the transfer portal for a starter.

There will be a myriad of names in the transfer portal that have not previously announced their intention to find new programs. Some of those transfers will surprise Cristobal and his staff. The first few days of the transfer portal will be wacky and wild. Expect the names to slow down later in the week.