Former five-star Alabama signee Ja’Corey Brooks has entered the transfer portal. The Miami football program strongly recruited Brooks in the 2021 class before he signed with Alabama. Brooks will leave Alabama with 57 receptions for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brooks missed a lot of the 2023 season with injuries.
In 2022 Brooks had his best season with Alabama recording 39 receptions for 674 yards and eight TDs. Brooks finished three yards behind Jermaine Burton in 2022 who led Alabama in receiving. As a freshman in 2021, Brooks foreshadowed the 2022 production with 15 receptions for 192 yards and two TDs.
Brooks was the 27th prospect, second WR and eighth player in Florida in the 2021 class out of IMG Academy after originally attending Miami Northwestern. Brooks is a transfer to monitor. It would be surprising if Mario Cristobal, Shannon Dawson and Kevin Beard don’t at least inquire about Brooks’ interest in Miami.
After playing in all 28 games during his first two seasons at Alabama, Brooks only played eight games in 2023. Brooks did not play after November 4 due to a shoulder injury. Brooks had only three receptions for 30 yards in 2023 but added a blocked punt. Miami projects to have a young receiving corps in 2024 beyond the starters.
Starting WRs Jacolby George, Xavier Restrepo and Colbie Young are all expected to return to Miami in 2024, but have other options. All three are eligible for the NFL Draft or could enter the transfer portal. There has been some speculation that Restrepo could follow quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to wherever he transfers to.
Miami adds four-star WRs Ny Carr, Chance Robinson and Joshisa Trader in the 2024 class. Miami loses WRs Ty Harrell and Frank Ladson. Harrell who transferred from Alabama after the 2022 season finished his eligibility and Ladson entered the transfer portal for a second time after coming to Miami from Clemson in 2022.
Ray Ray Joseph and Robby Washington are back in 2024 after completing their freshmen seasons in 2023. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported Breshard Smith could transfer for a bigger role in 2024. The Miami football program also has seldom used WRs Isaiah Horton, Shemar Kirk and Michael Redding III on the roster.